An Exorcism
In this passage, Jesus and his three disciples come down from the Mount of Transfiguration, and he exorcises a demon from a boy. His other disciples, who had been given authority to cast out demons, had been unable to do it when Jesus and the three were gone. The disciples ask him why they weren't able to drive out the demon; Jesus responds that "this kind" can only come out by prayer.
The primary form of spiritual warfare in the NT is primarily focused on truth over falsehood. This doesn't mean that there's no room for demons, possession and oppression, and exorcisms.
Jesus showcases his frustration with "this generation" (his other nine disciples); "How long do I have to put up with this?"
As soon as the father brings the boy to Jesus, the boy is thrown into convulsions. This isn't a display of power, or a taunt to Christ, but an act of desperation; the demon is squirming. All throughout the gospels, the demons are terrified of Jesus. They know who he is and have a grasp on what he is here to accomplish.
The father tells Jesus, "Help my unbelief!" He didn't wait to come to Jesus until he had no unbelief; no, he brought his unbelief to Christ and laid it out on the table. The father believed but also wrestled with unbelief; how often does this plague you and me? We can become worn down my life's trials, by sins in our lives, by our own weak frame. He knows we are made of dust and has pity on us. The boy's father shows us how to approach Christ - honestly and humbly, not pretending we have it all together when we don't.
Jesus commands the demon, "Don't enter him again." The demon is exorcised, extracted from the boy, but the demon has the ability to reenter, which is why Christ expressly forbids it. The demon is exorcised and left to wander, to find a new host, and has been barred from the boy.
What does Jesus mean when he says that 'this kind' can only come out by prayer? Two theories:
(1) Remember that the disciples had authority to exorcise demons, but this authority was theirs by virtue of their connection to Christ. It is possible that the disciples were leaning on their own power and authority, which was insufficient to the task at hand; they needed the power and authority of God, and it is by prayer that they connected with that power over the demon. This is why Jesus says all things are possible for they who believe; faith is the linchpin upon which successful exorcisms operate.(2) The disciples' early successes at casting out demons may have emboldened them, so that they are going about exorcisms without prayer! Maybe this worked for some, but it didn't work in the demon possessing this boy. Spiritual power isn't something we possess on our own and exercise at will; our spiritual power comes from Christ and is only there if we maintain our connection with Christ.
There are three modern Christian views on demons:
(1) Charismatic view - demons lie behind every sin, failure, and misstep. Deliverance ministries become the core of pastoral care.(2) Minimalist view - yes, demons are real, because the Bible says so, but they don't do much. Most of what has been attributed to demons is mental illness and physical maladies.(3) Historical view - demons are real, they do stuff, and they do a lot, but they don't do everything.
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