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Commentary Index | Return to PrayerRequest.com | DownloadJabez Burns Sermons: 052. Mar 11:17. The Dumb Spirit Cast Out
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Mar_11:17. The Dumb Spirit Cast Out
"And one of the multitude answered and said unto him, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit."—Mar_11:17.
In this affecting narrative we have three things, calculated both to instruct and profit us.
I. The Case of the Sufferer.
1. He was under the influence of an evil spirit.
Satan seems to have exerted great influence both on the bodies and souls of men, at the time of Christ's appearance on earth, Perhaps it was permitted, that Christ's power might be more manifest. This child is a fit emblem of the sinner—every man in his natural state under the power of the prince of darkness. Notice 2. The effects of this influence.
(1) He was dumb. Gift of speech of incalculable worth.
(2) He often tore him, and cast him into the fire and into the water; ver. 22.
(3) The consequence was, he pined away. Health destroyed—constitution broken—symptoms of death were evident; ver. 18.
(4) He had long been possessed, so that his case appeared hopeless; Mar_6:21. How applicable is the whole to the sinner's wretched condition! Dumb to prayer and praise; wretched, miserable, &c. In imminent danger; humanly speaking, hopeless. Notice,
II. The Course adopted by the Father.
1. He brought him to Jesus.
He had heard of him, seeks him out and presents his child before him. This was both wise and affectionate.
2. He confessed a previous error.
"I spoke to thy disciples, and they could not;" ver. 18. None can save but Jesus. Instruments and ordinances are useful; but they only are so in bringing us to the true Physician.
"None but Jesus,
Can do helpless sinners good."
"To whom shall we go, but unto thee. &c.
3. He fully states the case to Christ.
He does this simply and earnestly, (see ver. 18;) details the whole. How necessary to tell Christ all our condition! He will condescend to hear; and it is a sign we feel our true state.
4. He presents a most fervent prayer on his behalf.
"If thou canst do any thing for us, have compassion on us, and help us," ver. 24. He entreats compassion; then help; the one will always produce the other. He prayed with tears of love to his child—of anxiety, &c. His faith faltered a little as to the power of Christ. "If thou canst." He fully confided in his benevolence, &c. Let the convinced sinner come in like manner to Christ, only resting more implicitly on Christ's almighty arm; seeing "he is able to save to the uttermost," &c. Observe, then,
III. The Cure wrought by Christ
Notice,
1. The preliminaries of the cure.
(1) Christ states the potency of faith. If thou canst believe, all things are possible." No fear of my power, if thy faith can lay fast hold of it. Faith can "remove the highest mountains," &c. All things possible to him who believeth, &c.
(2) The man instantly exercises his faith. "Lord, I do believe." I feel every word of thine to be giving me additional confidence—all my energies are in this matter.
(3) He laments, and strives against the remains of unbelief. "Help thou mine unbelief." He did this with tears; he felt, that Christ had thrown the cure upon his faith, and all his feelings were excited lest that faith should be insufficient. Observe,
(4) Satan raged with increased fury—employed all his power to retain his possession. Child appeared as if dead in the dreadful conflict.
2. The cure itself.
Christ now entered upon his blessed work of saving the child, and destroying he works of the devil; and,
(1) He rebuked the foul spirit, and commanded him to come out. Christ's power made the spirit to tremble, and relinquish his possession;ver. 25.
(2) He forbade his re-entrance. "And enter no more into him." How desirable this! how perfect the cure! how happy the child!
(3) He took him by the hand, and he arose. He did this to comfort and encourage, to support and strengthen.
Application
1. Learn Christ's all-sufficiency to save from all present and from all future evils. 2. Learn the right and acceptable way of coming to him—by persevering, believing prayer. 3. The success that shall invariably attend importunate application to him for his saving aid. He will hear—he will compassionate—he will save.