A 40-DAY JOURNEY WITH THE KING: Lenten reflections from Mark’s Gospel (25)

 


“Someone from the crowd answered him, “Teacher, I brought you my son; he has a spirit that makes him unable to speak; and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him down; and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid …Jesus asked the father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood. It has often cast him into the fire and into the water, to destroy him; but if you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us.” Jesus said to him, “If you are able!—All things can be done for the one who believes.” Immediately the father of the child cried out, “I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9.17-18, 21-24)

     Once Peter, James, John and Jesus come down the mountain after the transfiguration of the Son of God, they come upon a great crowd which is surrounding the other disciples, who are arguing with some scribes (9.14; cf. 3.22; 7.1; 8.31; 9.11).  The scribes do not (have the chance to) respond to Jesus’ question as to what they are arguing about with the disciples (9.16).  This episode focuses on an exorcism and hinges on the question of “faith”, or “belief” in Jesus.  Peter has previously confessed his belief that Jesus is the Messiah (8.27-29); Jesus’ messianic identity was dramatically confirmed during the transfiguration (9.2-8) – now it’s time to see what people in the wider world believe.  The parallels with chapter 3 are intriguing.  Both passages involve Jesus coming down a mountain with (his) disciples (3.13-19; 9.9, 14); both involve scribes and a crowd (3.20-22; 9.14); both center on Jesus as an exorcist (3.22-30; 9.17-29).

     The repeated use of the verb “to see” in this passage is instructive.  First of all, the crowd “sees” Jesus, and is overcome with awe, and they run forward to greet him (9.15).   “Someone from the crowd” says that he brought his son to Jesus in order to have him exorcised, since he is possessed by a demon that makes him unable to speak, and that the disciples had been unable to cast out the evil spirit (9.17-18).

     Jesus responds in harsh terms:

“You faithless generation,

how much longer must I be among you? 

How much longer must I put up with you?” (9.19; cf. 4.40)

 

This is the third of four occurrences of the word genea (“generation”) in Mark’s Gospel, and it is of great significance (cf. 8.12, 38; 13.30).  By and large, Jesus considers his “generation” to be ripe for God’s judgment, akin to the generation that had perished in the wilderness with Moses (cf. Numbers 32.13).  This is a generation that is, like that of the prophet Isaiah, deaf and blind to the word of Yahweh (cf. 4.10-12; Is. 6.9-10).  This is a generation whose hearts are hardened, and are doggedly obstinate to God’s will (cf. Ps. 95.8-11; cp. Mk. 8.12).

     Though this is the last of Jesus’ exorcisms depicted in Mark’s Gospel, this is the first demon in the narrative that does not declare (through their human host) Jesus’ identity – this demon is a mute spirit, who prevents this boy from speaking and hearing (9.25).  Does this boy perhaps represent the entire “faithless generation” who is incapable of “hearing” the “word” proclaimed by Jesus and of “speaking” his identity (cf. 4.1, 21-25; 3.22-30)?  Jesus commands the father to bring the boy to him (9.19; cf. 1.32; 2.3; 7.32; 8.22; 9.17, 20).

     When the unclean spirit saw Jesus, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground, and rolled about, foaming at the mouth (9.20; cf. 9.18; 3.11; 5.6).  Jesus asked the father how long this had been happening to his son and he replies “from childhood” (9.21).  The father continues, “If you are able to do anything, have pity on us and help us” (9.22).  Jesus is indignant at the father’s request and exclaims “If you are able!—all things can be done for the one who believes” (9.23).  Immediately the father cried out with what is probably the most honest statement in the Bible: “I believe; help my unbelief!” (9.24).  Upon hearing this, Jesus rebuked the demon and commanded it to come out of the boy and to never enter him again.  After “crying out” and convulsing the boy terribly, the demon came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of the bystanders said ‘He is dead’ (9.25-26; cf. 9.18; 1.26).  However, Jesus took the boy by the hand and raised him to his feet (9.27; cf. 1.30-31; 5.41-42).  In the end, it is the father’s faith (“prayer”; cf. Lk. 18.1-8) that creates the conditions in which his son is restored (9.22-25; cf. 2.1-5).  When the disciples ask Jesus why they were unable to cast out the demon, Jesus replies: “This kind can come out only through prayer” (9.29).  This is Jesus’ second-to-last “deed of power” (cf. 10.46-52), and in a way, sums up many of his previous healings.  The Messiah whose power to heal has been on full display will now take on a more passive role, as he prepares to undergo his “passion”.

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