In Mark 9:2-13, the gospel writer (i.e., Mark) records what happened during what we call Jesus’ Transfiguration. This was an amazing event, and if Mark wrote his gospel based on the teachings of Peter (as we suspect), then this was recording an eyewitness account!
The next passage describes what awaited Jesus, Peter, James, and John after they left the mountain of transfiguration and returned to the other disciples, though.
When they came to the other disciples, they saw a large crowd around them and the teachers of the law arguing with them. As soon as all the people saw Jesus, they were overwhelmed with wonder and ran to greet him.
“What are you arguing with them about?” he asked.
A man in the crowd answered, “Teacher, I brought you my son, who is possessed by a spirit that has robbed him of speech. Whenever it seizes him, it throws him to the ground. He foams at the mouth, gnashes his teeth and becomes rigid. I asked your disciples to drive out the spirit, but they could not.”
Mark 9:14-18 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.9.14-18.NIV
I didn’t catch this at first, but commentator Matthew Henry suggests that Jesus may have still looked different after returning from the Transfiguration (like Moses’ face shone after He had met God on Mount Sinai), causing the people to be “amazed” [NASB] or “overwhelmed with wonder” [NIV] at Him.
Regardless, the context of Mark 6:7-13 is important here, which records how Jesus sent out His 12 apostles for visiting other cities, as well as how they returned and reported back to Him. Their previous ministry was successful, but the apostles could very well have continued to teach and perform signs in Jesus’ name after that particular “mission” was completed. However, this was a case that stumped the disciples. They had cast out other evil spirits [see Mark 6:13], but this one appears to have exceeded their abilities. That is interesting, since the power of their ministry was ultimately from God, and He certainly had authority over this particular evil spirit, just as God has authority over all spirits – good and evil.
Now, I had mentioned in an earlier article that sometimes evil spirits are allowed – or even invited – into people’s lives. With a child experiencing this problem, though, it seems that embracing evil isn’t the only way to be tormented by a demon. Followers of Jesus should not fear that for ourselves, though, since I’m pretty sure that the Holy Spirit living in us cannot share our hearts with an evil spirit (see 1 John 4:4).
Do you wonder how the inability to cast out this particular evil spirit was related to an argument with “the teachers of the law”? I wonder if Jesus’ opponents were using His disciples’ inability (i.e., to perform this specific healing) as supposed “proof” that He wasn’t actually from God. Of course, Jesus was God and He was sent from God the Father. However, when the concerned father and afflicted son had arrived earlier, Jesus was still up on the mountain, and perhaps the disciples weren’t as good as Jesus was at shutting down arguments from the religious leaders of their day.
Now, I don’t want to read more into the next verse than the Bible says.
“You unbelieving generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring the boy to me.”
Mark 9:19 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.9.19.NIV
This is a good time to remember that Jesus was human, and while He remained sinless, He could still feel frustration and disappointment. If experiencing difficult feelings was OK for Jesus, then they aren’t sinful for us, either. While we do need to manage how we act upon our feelings, we don’t have to run away from them or pretend that they don’t exist.
So, there’s the situation. Rather than waiting for the next couple of articles, I encourage you to read Mark 9:14-29 on your own today, and see what God has to say to you from that passage.
From Sunday School lesson prepared for November 2, 2025
References:
- Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
- Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.
- The College Press NIV Commentary – Mark, by Allen Black. © 1995 College Press Publishing Co.
- Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible (Complete). Matthew Henry. 1706, via BibleGateway.com.
Those Who Sin Differently 