Let us read about what he did.
Mark 9:14-15. And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him, were greatly amazed, and running to him saluted him.
There was a glory about his face not altogether unlike that of Moses when he came down from the other mountain, so that the people were struck with wonder when they looked upon him.
Mark 9:16. And he asked the scribes, What question ye with them?
The battle had been raging between Christ’s enemies and his disciples but now that their Captain has come, he rallies his forces, and at once attacks his foes: “What question ye with them?”
Mark 9:17. And one of the multitude answered and said, Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit;
We do not know if the scribes gave any answer to Christ’s question; and it does not signify at all. What does always signify is practical, living, earnest prayer. So what the scribes may have said is not recorded, but the prayer of the poor father is: “Master, I have brought unto thee my son, which hath a dumb spirit.” If any of you have come here to cavil, we shall take no notice of that; but if there is a soul that has come here to pray, the recording angel will write it down in the eternal book.
Mark 9:18. And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not.
No, it was no use going to the disciples, it is of no avail to pray to saints and angels; go to the Master himself. “Straightforward makes the best runner.” There is nothing like carrying your case to headquarters. Get to the Court of King’s Bench as soon as you can, for there the matter will be finally settled.
Mark 9:19. He answereth him, and saith, O faithless generation, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I suffer you? bring him unto me.
Grand words: “Bring him unto me.” Lord, he has a dumb spirit. “Bring him unto me.” It is the devil who is his enemy. “Bring him unto me.”
Mark 9:20. And they brought him unto him: and when he saw him, straightway the spirit tare him; and he fell on the ground, and wallowed foaming.
What a dreadful sight! He struggled on the ground, like one in a fit of epilepsy.
Mark 9:21-22. And he asked his father, How long is it ago since this came unto him?. And he said, Of a child. And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us.
“Help us,” he cries, identifying himself with his child. Father, mother, when you pray, use the plural, as this man did, “Have compassion on us and help us.” That is the way to pray for every sinner whom you bring before Christ. Join yourself to the poor soul for whom you are pleading and say, “Have compassion on us, and help us.”
Mark 9:23. Jesus said unto him, If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.
Hear that, any of you who have come in here, desiring to be delivered from sin, to be made holy, to break off old habits, and to become new men in Christ Jesus. “All things are possible to him that believeth.” So, take courage, trust in Christ, and cry unto him to save you.
Mark 9:24. And straightway the father of the child, cried out, and said with tears, Lord, I believe; help thou mine unbelief.
There were within him two men, as it were, a believing man, and an unbelieving man, and the two struggled for mastery; “Lord, I do believe; but there is so much unbelief in me, I pray thee to drive it out, that I may believe in thee wholly.”
Mark 9:25-26. When Jesus saw that the people came running together, he rebuked the foul spirit, saying unto him, Thou dumb and deaf spirit, I charge thee, come out of him, and enter no more into him. And the spirit cried, and rent him sore, and came out of him:
It must obey Christ. The Master bids that dog of a devil to lie down, and he must do so. It shows what an abject creature, after all, the prince of darkness is; he must obey the voice of Christ. Lord, speak to him at this moment, and drive him out of other souls by thine omnipotent word!
Mark 9:26. And he was as one dead; inasmuch that many said, He is dead.
It was not a case of “kill or cure,” but it seemed to be one of “cure and kill,” and, sometimes, poor sinners, in their struggles with sin and Satan are brought to such despair that they are afraid that they will die before they get a glimpse of hope. “Many said, He is dead;” but he was not.
Mark 9:27. But Jesus took him by the hand, and lifted him up; and he arose.
So may the Lord come, and take by the hand any here who seem to be dead in despair! A touch of his hand will enable them to stand.
Mark 9:28-29. And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out? And he said unto them, This kind can come forth by nothing, but by prayer and fasting.
The watchword for Christ’s disciples is “intensity.” Here was the devil in an intensely terrible form, and he could only be driven out by intense grace. There must be prayer and fasting. Even Christ himself must exert the greatness of his power to work a cure in such a case as this. Oh, for more intensity in us all! Carry that word in your ear as we read on.
Mark 9:30-32. And they departed thence, and passed through Galilee; and he would not that any man should know it. For he taught his disciples, and said unto them, The Son of man is delivered into the hands of men, and they shall kill him; and after that he is killed, he shall rise the third day. But they understood not that saying, and were afraid to ask him.
See how intense he was; always thinking of his approaching death, that cruel, bitter death, yet he hasted towards it, longed for that baptism to be accomplished, for the great redeeming price to be paid. Oh, that you and I were as fully absorbed in the service of God as our great Master was!
Now let us see what intensity he requires of us.
Mark 9:43. And if thy hand offend thee, cut it off: it is better for thee to enter into life maimed, than having two hands to go into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched:
Anything is better than the loss of your soul. It is better to lose the greatest joy, skill, comfort, honour, that you ever had, than to lose your soul for ever.
Mark 9:44-46. Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched. And if thy foot offend thee, cut it off; it is better for thee to enter halt into life, than having two feet to be cast into hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
That is the second time he said these words. Our Lord was not fond of dreadful metaphors and terrible language, but he knew that they must be used, though some of his servants shrink from the use of them. Are they more loving than he is? Is it, after all, a greater love for souls that makes men keep back terrible truths? Is it not more honest and loving to tell the whole truth, whatever it may be? It is harder to speak, but does it not show a tenderer heart to be able to speak so as to warn men of their peril? If anything should seem as necessary to you as your foot, so that you can make no progress in life without it, yet if it would cost you your soul, give it up. Just as it would be better to live without a foot than to die, so is it better to go to heaven without even the necessaries of life on the road than to perish everlastingly.
Mark 9:47. And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out:
Notice how severe our Saviour is, how deep he goes. He does not say, “Shut it, cover it up with a green shade;” but, “Pluck it out.”
Mark 9:47-48. It is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of God with one eye, than having two eyes to be cast into hellfire: where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched.
That is the third time he has uttered those terrible words; then they must mean something, what do they mean? Can they mean anything less than everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord? Oh, that we might be prepared to sacrifice everything rather than be lost for ever! Dear hearts, are you saved or not? If you are not saved, see first to this all-important business; let everything else go sooner than that, in eternity, you should find yourself for ever shut in where hope can never come.