Mark 9:22 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

NIV: It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us.'

NASB: It has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to kill him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!'

CSB: "And many times it has thrown him into fire or water to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us."

NLT: The spirit often throws him into the fire or into water, trying to kill him. Have mercy on us and help us, if you can.'

KJV: 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.

NKJV: And often he has thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.”

The fact that the boy's seizures often throw him into water or fire give evidence that they are caused by a demon and not an illness. Epileptic seizures do not have intent to harm; they're caused by abnormal brain activity. Epilepsy, itself, is often caused by head trauma, stroke, infections, or tumors. Although seizures can be dangerous, there is no conscious will that directs them to occur in intentionally dangerous situations. Demons, on the other hand, delight in harming God's creation.

The father's reticence in trusting Jesus is understandable. He has just spent time with nine of Jesus' closest students who could do nothing for his son. While they vainly struggle to heal the boy, Jewish scribes apparently argue that they do not have the power or authority to do so (Mark 9:14). In fact, it was scribes from Jerusalem who declared Jesus' power came from Satan (Mark 3:22).

Many people become disillusioned with the church or Christianity because of what they see in other people. Sometimes professing Christians act like fearful, powerless hypocrites, or non-Christians barrage beliefs they don't understand with critical editorials. Those who reject Christ cannot be experts on Him. And those who follow Christ are growing more like Him; we are not perfect representatives. To know what Christianity is all about, we need to look to Jesus. Our faith should be in God, not others (Mark 9:23).

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.