Mark 9:28 - Printer Friendly

ESV: And when he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

NIV: After Jesus had gone indoors, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why couldn't we drive it out?'

NASB: When He came into the house, His disciples began asking Him privately, 'Why is it that we could not cast it out?'

CSB: After he had gone into the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why couldn't we drive it out? "

NLT: Afterward, when Jesus was alone in the house with his disciples, they asked him, 'Why couldn’t we cast out that evil spirit?'

KJV: And when he was come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, Why could not we cast him out?

NKJV: And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”

We aren't told which house they are entering, but if the mountain on which Jesus was transfigured was Mt. Meron, it's possible they have returned to Andrew and Peter's house, since Capernaum is a seven-hour hike away. If so, it looks like they tour around Galilee one more time (Mark 9:30) before stopping by Capernaum (Mark 9:33) before they head south to Judea and Perea (Mark 10:1).

The disciples would have good reason to wonder why they seem to have no authority over the demon. Some time before, they traveled around Galilee, healing and casting out demons (Mark 6:13). While in Mark Jesus explains that they did not pray, Matthew 17:20 reveals that they did not have enough faith.

Faith and prayer are closely related. The more faith in God we have, the more we realize how much we need Him. Even if we have faith that He will work all things together for good (Romans 8:28), real faith keeps its eyes on the One in whom the faith is placed, not the situation in which the Faithful One acts. That attention is partially expressed as prayer. It's possible the disciples are displaying the same ironic hubris that Jesus condemns the Pharisees of: they're filled with self-importance because they're associated with God, but they allow that self-importance to feed the belief they have an autonomous power and authority outside of God.

Before long, the disciples will meet someone who better understands how faith and God's power are related. Instead of learning from the example, they will try to stop it (Mark 9:38). Eventually, with the help of the Holy Spirit, they will understand (see Acts 1:1–10).

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.