Mark 9:25 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

NIV: When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."

NASB: When Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again!'

CSB: When Jesus saw that a crowd was quickly gathering, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, "You mute and deaf spirit, I command you: Come out of him and never enter him again."

NLT: When Jesus saw that the crowd of onlookers was growing, he rebuked the evil spirit. 'Listen, you spirit that makes this boy unable to hear and speak,' he said. 'I command you to come out of this child and never enter him again!'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and enter him no more!”

It isn't clear why the appearance of a crowd accelerates Jesus' actions. They are already surrounded by a great number of people (Mark 9:15), but more are coming. Unlike with the deaf man (Mark 7:33) and the blind man (Mark 8:23), there is apparently no time to draw the boy away.

We don't exactly know where Jesus and the disciples are. They are seven days out of Caesarea Philippi which is far north of Bethsaida and the Sea of Galilee, and one day away from a tall mountain (see Mark 8:27; 9:2; Luke 9:37). They will have to travel through at least part of Galilee to get to Capernaum (Mark 9:30, 33). But His intentional, public ministry in Galilee is over (Mark 8:12–13), and for quite some time, He has tried to find quiet places to teach the disciples, even as He willingly heals those who cross His path.

So, it's likely that Jesus cuts short His lesson on faith to take care of the demon before yet another crowd can mob Him (Mark 3:7; 4:1). Although it would do the crowd well to learn more about having faith in God, it is more important that Jesus have the opportunity to teach the disciples what they need to know to develop the church. A quick object lesson as He expels the demon will have to do.

This may be the only time Jesus expels a demon and demands that it not return. He has made it clear that a person who is freed from a demon can expect the demon to reappear with other spirits (Matthew 12:43–45). The only permanent cure is for the person released from demonic possession is to accept the Holy Spirit. But it's safe to assume this demon obeyed Jesus' command.

Mark 9:14–29 follows the transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John went up a mountain with Jesus and saw a display of His glory as God. They also saw Moses and Elijah and heard God affirm Jesus as His Son. Now the three disciples and Jesus return from the mountain and find the remaining disciples arguing with Jewish scribes. The disciples have tried to expel a dangerous demon from a young boy but have been unable despite having performed exorcisms before (Mark 6:7–13). Jesus explains that to do God's work, we need faith in Him and to be empowered by Him. This section is parallel to Matthew 17:14–20 and Luke 9:37–43.

Mark chapter 9 contains an account of Jesus' transfiguration, where three of the disciples witness Him in a glorified form. In this passage, Jesus also heals a demon-possessed boy. His teachings in this section include a prediction of His death and resurrection, and corrections to the disciples' errors on questions of pride and temptation.

Mark 9 continues Jesus' efforts to teach the disciples who He is, what He has come to do, and what their role is in His mission. The chapter begins with the transfiguration, where Peter, James, and John catch a glimpse of Jesus' glory, and ends back in Capernaum. Jesus spends most of that time teaching. Although the disciples do quarrel with the scribes, the misconceptions and errors Jesus addresses come from the disciples, themselves, not outsiders. In the next chapter, He will leave Galilee and travel toward Jerusalem and the cross.

The Gospel of Mark emphasizes both Jesus' servanthood and His role as the promised Messiah: the Son of God. This is done through a concise, action-packed style. Mark provides relatively few details, instead focusing on actions and simple statements. This relates to the Gospel's authorship, which is believed to be based on the memories of the apostle Peter. These include many of Jesus' miracles, in contrast to other Gospels which include many more of Jesus' teachings and parables. Mark also makes frequent mention of Jesus' ministry being misunderstood by others.