Mark 9:22

And ofttimes it hath cast him into the fire, and into the waters, to destroy him: but if thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. AND OFTTIMES IT HATH CAST HIM INTO THE FIRE, AND INTO THE WATERS, TO DESTROY HIM. Having told briefly the affecting features of the case, the poor father, half dispirited by the failure of the disciples and the aggravated virulence of the malady itself in presence of their Master, yet encouraged too by what he had heard of Christ, by the severe rebuke He had given to His disciples for not having faith enough to cure the boy, and by the dignity with which He had ordered him to be brought to Him-in this mixed state of mind, he closes his description of the case with these touching words: BUT IF THOU CANST DO ANY THING, HAVE COMPASSION ON US, AND HELP US - "us," says the father; because it was a severe family affliction. Compare the langu...

22._If thou canst do any thing, have compassion on us, and help us. _We see how little honor he renders to Christ; for, supposing him to be some prophet, whose power was limited, he approaches to him with hesitation. On the other hand, the first foundation of faith is, to embrace the boundless power of God; and the first step to prayer is, to raise it above all opposition by the firm belief that our prayers are not in vain. As this man did not suppose Christ to be at all different from other men, his false opinion is corrected; for our faith must be so formed as to be capable and prepared for receiving the desired favor. In his reply Christ does not administer a direct reproof, but indirectly reminding the man of what he had said amiss, points out to him his fault, and informs him how a remedy may be obtained....

14-29 The father of the suffering youth reflected on the want of power in the disciples; but Christ will have him reckon the disappointment to the want of faith. Very much is promised to our believing. If thou canst believe, it is possible that thy hard heart may be softened, thy spiritual diseases may be cured; and, weak as thou art, thou mayest be able to hold out to the end. Those that complain of unbelief, must look up to Christ for grace to help them against it, and his grace will be sufficient for them. Whom Christ cures, he cures effectually. But Satan is unwilling to be driven from those that have been long his slaves, and, when he cannot deceive or destroy the sinner, he will cause him all the terror that he can. The disciples must not think to do their work always with the same ease; some services call for more than ordinary pains....

Verse 22. _IF_ THOU _CANST_ DO _ANY THING_] I have already tried thy _disciples_, and find _they_ can do _nothing_ in this case; but if _thou_ hast any power, in mercy use it in our behalf....

See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 17:14. Mark 9:14 QUESTIONING WITH THEM - Debating with the disciples, and attempting to confound them. This he saw as he came down from the mount. In his absence they had taken occasion to attempt to perplex and confound his followers. Mark 9:15 WERE GREATLY AMAZED - Were astonished and surprised at his sudden appearance among them. SALUTED HIM - Received him with the customary marks of affection and respect. It is probable that this was not by any “formal” manner of salutation, but by the “rush” of the multitude, a

EXPOSITION MARK 9:1 TILL THEY SEE THE KINGDOM OF GOD COME WITH POWER. In St. Matthew 16:28 the words run thus: "Till they see the Son of man coming in his kingdom." In St. Luke 9:27, "Till they see the kingdom of God." All these evangelists connect their record of the Transfiguration with these predictive words—a circumstance which must not be lost sight of in their interpretation. The question, therefore, is whether or how far the Transfiguration is to be regarded as a fulfillment of these words. One thing seems plain, that the Transfiguration, if a fulfillment at all, was not an exhaustive fulfillment of the words. The solemnity of their introduction forbids us to limit them to a

AND OFTTIMES IT HATH CAST HIM INTO THE FIRE,.... When he has been near it; so that one part or other of his body has been scorched, or burnt, and his life in danger: AND INTO THE WATERS TO DESTROY HIM: when he has been near any brook, or river, it has thrown him into it, in order to drown him, as into the fire to burn him. The Ethiopic version before fire and water reads, "into the deep"; meaning either the sea or some deep pit, or off a precipice. All this is said to aggravate the case, and show the miserable condition the child was in, from the frequency of the fits, and the danger he was exposed to: BUT IF THOU CANST DO ANY THING. This man's faith was very weak, and perhaps weaker than when he first came from home with his child. He had brought him to the disciples of Christ, and they could not cure him; the evil spirit was as strong, or stronger in him than ever; he now lay in a vi...

Mark 9:2. _And after six days Jesus taketh with him Peter, and James, and John, and leadeth them up into an high mountain apart by themselves: and he was transfigured before them. And his raiment became shining, exceeding white as snow; so as no fuller on earth can white them. And there appeared unto them Elias with Moses: and they were talking with Jesus._ In the midst of all his sorrow and humiliation, our Lord let out some gleams of his glory, to remind us who he was even while he was here in the depths of his grief. He was still none other than the all-glorious Lord of heaven and earth, whose raiment, if he chose to make it so, would be whiter than snow, and brighter than the sun. Let us think of him with great love and gratitude as we see what glory he willingly laid aside for our sakes, and see how low he stooped who was in himself immeasurably high....

CHAPTER 9 _ 1. The Glory to Come foreshadowed in the Transfiguration. (Mark 9:1 .Matthew 17:1; Luke 9:28 .)_ 2. The helpless disciples and the secret of failure. (Mark 9:14. Matthew 17:14; Luke 9:37) 3. The second announcement of His death. (Mark 9:30 .Matthew 17:22;...

THE HEALING OF THE DEMONIAC BOY. This story is told in greater detail by Mk. than by Mt. or Lk., who omit the conversation between Jesus and the boy's father (Mark 9:20). Perhaps they wished to avoid representing Jesus as asking a question for information (Mark 9:21). In any case, they lose genuine and valuable material (especially Mark 9:23 f.). Possibly AV is right in giving us the singular, he came, in Mark 9:14, instead of RV, they came. If so, the story may not originally have followed the Transfiguration, and Mk. may have designed the contrast which is reproduced in Raphael's picture. The references to the scribes and their discussion with the disciples in