1) Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy whose disciples were unable to cure. 2) The boy had been possessed since childhood and would suffer violent fits from the demon. 3) When Jesus rebukes the demon and heals the boy, he tells the disciples their lack of prayer and faith led to their failure to cast out the demon earlier.

1. June 4, 2011
Sunday school Notes
A Demonstration of Faith (Mark 9:14–29)
While Peter, James, and John were experiencing the glory of God on the mountain, the other
nine disciples were involved in an embarrassing situation in the valley below. A distraught
father had brought his demonized son, deaf and dumb (v. 25), for the disciples to heal, but they
could not cast out the demon. Jesus had given them this power (3:15; 6:7, 13), but they were
unable to deliver the boy. Of course, the religious leaders were having a good time arguing with
the disciples (v. 14) and trying to discredit them before the people.
Jesus delivered the boy, but the devil made one last attempt to destroy him (v. 26; Luke 9:42).
Often just before deliverance, the devil seems to get a great victory, but the Lord ultimately
wins the battle. Why had the disciples failed? Because of their unbelief (vv. 19, 23; Matt. 17:20)
and their lack of prayer and discipline (v. 29). Apparently, during the Lord’s absence, the men
had grown careless in their spiritual walk. How important it is to stay spiritually fresh; you never
know when somebody may need your help. The disciples’ lack of faith was a great concern to
the Lord (4:40; 6:50–52; 8:17–21).
RESTORATION (9:14–32) Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy.
A. The preliminaries (9:14–16): Jesus finds nine of his disciples arguing with some teachers of religious
law.
B. The particulars (9:17–29)
1. The victim (9:17–22)
a. The helpless father (9:17a): A desperate father tells Jesus that the disciples were unable to cast out
an evil spirit from his son.
b. The hopeless son (9:17b–18a, 20–22)
(1) The source of his problem (9:17b): He is demon-possessed!
(2) The symptoms of his problem (9:18a): The evil spirit throws the boy into violent fits.
(3) The span of his problem (9:20–22): He has been possessed since childhood!

2. c. The hapless disciples (9:18b–19): They are powerless to help.
2. The victor (9:23–29)
a. Jesus reassures the father (9:23–24)
(1) The strength of faith (9:23) : The Savior says, “Anything is possible if a person believes.”
(2) The struggle for faith (9:24) : The father says, “I do believe, but help me not to doubt!”
b. Jesus rebukes the demon (9:25–26).
c. Jesus restores the son (9:27) .
d. Jesus reveals the secret (9:28–29).
(1) The disciples (9:28) : “Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?”
(2) The Savior (9:29) : “This kind can be cast out only by prayer.”