Mark 9:25-29
Only by Prayer
Read the passage
25When Jesus saw that a crowd had come running, He rebuked the unclean spirit. “You deaf and mute spirit,” He said, “I command you to come out and never enter him again.”
26After shrieking and convulsing him violently, the spirit came out. The boy became like a corpse, so that many said, “He is dead.”
27But Jesus took him by the hand and helped him to his feet, and he stood up.
28After Jesus had gone into the house, His disciples asked Him privately, “Why couldn’t we drive it out?”
29Jesus answered, “This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”
Berean Standard Bible
Read aloud
As a crowd comes running, Jesus commands the deaf and mute spirit to leave the boy and never return. The spirit cries out and convulses him violently before coming out. The boy lies so still that many say he is dead.
Jesus takes his hand and helps him stand. The scene that had appeared hopeless ends with the child on his feet. The Lord who commands the spirit also attends to the boy left lying before Him.
Later, in the house, the disciples ask privately why they could not drive it out. Jesus answers:
“This kind cannot come out, except by prayer.”
They had previously been given authority to cast out demons. That gift has not made dependence on God unnecessary. Their question is answered by directing them to prayer, not by supplying a stronger formula to pronounce.
Mark does not recount every prayer the disciples did or did not offer before this encounter. We should stay with what Jesus makes clear: this work cannot be treated as an ability independent of God. The father has asked for help with his unbelief, and the disciples now learn about their own need to depend on the Lord.
The boy’s deliverance is Jesus’ work. Our confidence belongs in Him, while our service remains prayerful and dependent.
Questions
1 What does Jesus command the spirit to do?
AnswerLeave the boy and never enter him again. His command addresses both the present oppression and its return.
2 What happens when the boy appears lifeless?
AnswerJesus takes his hand and helps him stand. The child is not left in the condition that alarms the crowd.
3 How does Jesus answer the disciples’ question?
AnswerHe says this kind can come out only by prayer. Their earlier authority does not remove their need to depend on God.
4 Where might experience make us forget that dependence?
AnswerIn work we have done successfully before, we may rely on familiarity alone. Bring that responsibility to God and seek His help while using the skills and support available.
What This Means for Us
A responsibility can become familiar enough that we stop bringing it to God. Jesus’ answer calls us back to prayer within our service. We need His help in ordinary work as well as in situations that expose our limits.
Before a responsibility you know well, ask for wisdom and care for the people involved. Prayer is not a technique that guarantees our preferred outcome. It expresses dependence on the Lord whose gifts we are using.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for freeing the boy and helping him stand. Keep us dependent on You in the work we know well and the needs beyond us. Teach us to pray with trust rather than treat Your gifts as our own power. Amen.