Why couldn’t Jesus’ disciples cast a demon out of this particular boy? Well, Jesus said that their whole generation was “unbelieving,” lacking faith. And that was certainly true of the boy’s father. For when Jesus Himself showed up, the man asked Jesus to help them, “if,” in fact, He could (9:22). No, the bnoy’s father didn’t seem to have very much faith in Jesus at all.

And maybe that’s where you find yourself today. Maybe you’ve been wrestling with guilt or grief, sickness or sadness, discouragement or despair as long as that demon had been afflicting this man’s son. Maybe you’ve given up hope that things could ever get any better. And maybe you think your lack of faith is the reason your situation hasn’t improved.

In contrast, the disciples couldn’t have been more confident. After all, back in chapter 6, Jesus had sent them on a mission trip. And on that occasion, they had not only preached the gospel of repentance, but had also healed people who were sick. They had even cast out demons (6:13).

So, when this man showed up with his demon-possessed son, the disciples did exactly what all those prosperity gospel preachers urge us to do. For unlike the unbelieving man, they had supreme confidence in the power of Christ within them. And they stepped out boldly in faith, claiming victory over the demon in Jesus’ name.

But the demon didn’t budge. And according to Jesus, the problem was that they were just as unfaithful as the man whose son continued to be afflicted. “Name it and claim it” theology thus turns out to be just as impotent as bitter hopelessness.

So, what finally made the difference? In verse 29, Jesus said that prayer was the only way to cast out that particular demon. And isn’t that what the boy’s father eventually did? Instead of arrogantly telling the disciples to heal his son (9:18), he threw himself on Jesus’ mercy, begging for help in spite of his admitted lack of belief. And Jesus answered that sort of humble, desperate prayer, even while He had ignored His disciples’ presumptuous claims on His power.

So the good news is that it doesn’t matter how much or how little faith you might have. Just place it in Jesus, not only relying on His power, but also resting in His sovereign will. And trust Him to help you in the way and at the time that He knows to be best.

Mark 9:14-29 (NASB)

14 And when they came back to the disciples, they saw a large crowd around them, and some scribes arguing with them.
15 And immediately, when the entire crowd saw Him, they were amazed, and began running up to greet Him.
16 And He asked them, “What are you discussing with them?”
17 And one of the crowd answered Him, “Teacher, I brought You my son, possessed with a spirit which makes him mute;
18 and whenever it seizes him, it dashes him to the ground and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and stiffens out. And I told Your disciples to cast it out, and they could not do it.”
19 And He answered them and said, “O unbelieving generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him to Me!”
20 And they brought the boy to Him. And when he saw Him, immediately the spirit threw him into a convulsion, and falling to the ground, he began rolling about and foaming at the mouth.
21 And He asked his father, “How long has this been happening to him?” And he said, “From childhood.
22 “And it has often thrown him both into the fire and into the water to destroy him. But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us!”
23 And Jesus said to him, “‘If You can!’ All things are possible to him who believes.”
24 Immediately the boy’s father cried out and began saying, “I do believe; help my unbelief.”
25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd was rapidly gathering, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of him and do not enter him again.”
26 And after crying out and throwing him into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, “He is dead!”
27 But Jesus took him by the hand and raised him; and he got up.
28 And when He had come into the house, His disciples began questioning Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?”
29 And He said to them, “This kind cannot come out by anything but prayer.”