the Third Week after Easter
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Daily Devotionals
Day by Day Devotional - Year 3 of 5
Mark 9:14-32
Having come down from the mountain, the Lord again takes up His service of love, which the apostle Peter, who was privileged to witness it, summarizes so beautifully in the book of Acts. "Jesus of Nazareth," he says, "went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Acts 10:38-39). The Lord finds a great multitude of people talking and arguing among themselves. The object of all this consternation is a poor boy who, in spite of his youth, suffers from terrible fits of demon-inspired hysterics. In vain had the poor father brought the need of his only son before the disciples; they were not able to cast out this spirit. Before setting the boy free Himself, the Lord Jesus puts His finger on the reason for their failure: unbelief; for "all things are possible to him that believeth". Then, in tears, the man yields himself to the Lord. He understands that it is not an effort of will which can give him faith and recognizes that he is incapable of it himself. Divine help is needed not only for the deliverance itself, but even to ask for it.
In v. 26 the demonic power shows itself once more, so that the victory of the Lord is evident. He tenderly takes the child by the hand and lifts him up.
