They came down the mountain and were immediately confronted with the reality of life. There was a crowd and they ran to Jesus.
A boy kept having fits, possibly epileptic, possibly demonic. The crowd thought they were demon related, and the disciples who had not gone up the mountain were unable to deal with the problem.
Jesus' reaction is one of almost despair, despair at the lack of faith of the people. Notice the implication that Jesus wants us to have faith to deal with issues like this. The implication is that if we believed and obeyed Jesus properly we would not need Him here in order to sort out the problems.
The boy was brought to Jesus and the evil spirit threw the boy into a fit. Notice that Jesus' remains calm, there is no "added drama". Exorcism is simple exercise of Godly authority, it does not need a big show. The boy's father asks Jesus to have pity on them "if He can do anything". Jesus tells him to believe. Like most of us, the father is in a state somewhere between belief and unbelief.
Jesus commanded the spirit to leave the boy for good.
Later the disciples asked why they failed to get anywhere. Jesus replies that this sort only comes out by prayer. In Matthew it says prayer and fasting. Now what does Jesus mean here? For Jesus did not pray on the spot, He simply told the evil spirit where to go! I think the lesson is that we need to have a lifestyle of prayer if we are to increase our effectiveness.
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