9:28,29
The disciples were probably feeling rather sheepish, having been unable to help the boy. They would not want to air this matter publically, not wishing to do anything to highlight their failure. So they wait to speak to Jesus privately. All of us fail, and when we do so we should inquire of the Lord to learn from our failings. Jesus tells them that “this kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer” (ESV), or “prayer and fasting” (NKJV). Now this raises a question. Jesus did not pray or fast, He just cast the demon out. So this does highlight a difference between us and Jesus. If we cast demons out it is not through power that we have, but it is the power of Jesus, or the name of Jesus, that casts the demon out. Yet God delegates authority to us. When Jesus sent the disciples out it says that He gave them authority over demons, and to heal. Our natural tendency is to look for the power within ourselves, but although Jesus gives us authority, it is the power of God that does the healing or casting out. There is also the question of “this kind” means, to which I have no answer! Or at least it is not clear why a demon that causes fits are any harder to deal with than other kinds of demons.
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