Moving forward
Mark 9:28-29 And when He had come into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why could we not cast it out?” 29 So He said to them, “This kind can come out by nothing but prayer and fasting.”
Christ had taken Peter, James, and John up onto the mountaintop. He wanted his closest three to be with him during this incredible time. It was on that mountaintop, that we learn of his transfiguration. Christ changed before their eyes; they were privy to a glimpse of his glory, in all of his glory. Elijah and Moses appeared and spoke with Jesus, this was happening right before their eyes. Peter, oh the outspoken Peter, had to say something, when nothing was truly needed to be said. 5 Then Peter answered and said to Jesus, “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here; and let us make three tabernacles: one for You, one for Moses, and one for Elijah”– 6 because he did not know what to say, for they were greatly afraid. The next scripture is God speaking, Peter hush, listen to God. 7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!” As they came down the mountain, Christ told them to keep it to themselves what they had seen.
They came down to find the remaining disciples being questioned by the scribes. They had not been able to heal a man who was demon possessed. I cannot help but picture Peter in his zeal from the mountaintop, wanting to say, “I got this one”. Christ steps in and frees the man from his demon possession; the father’s faith grew & it was evident for all to see the power of Christ before them. The father had pled for Christ to help his unbelief. The disciples were perplexed as why they could not perform the exorcism. The hold on the boy that the evil spirit had was likely a strong one, since it had been there from birth. This demon was not likely an easy one to cast out for the disciples; Christ was encouraging them to strengthen their faith in these scriptures above.
When you have big things in life before you, there should be a deep desire to draw closer to God. Hopefully you do not run from, but run to. God either allows or designs these things to draw you closer, to show you your need for him. A heart that desires God and the things of God daily is a heart that responds to God when big things arrive. The backstory of Christ healing the man when the disciples could not is to encourage them to be in constant pursuit of drawing closer to God, to growing their faith, to never feel able in their own power, but to be in pursuit of His power.
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