37 The next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 A man in the crowd called out, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, for he is my only child. 39 A spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams; it throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It scarcely ever leaves him and is destroying him. 40 I begged your disciples to drive it out, but they could not.” 41 “You unbelieving and perverse generation,” Jesus replied, “how long shall I stay with you and put up with you? Bring your son here.” 42 Even while the boy was coming, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the impure spirit, healed the boy and gave him back to his father. 43 And they were all amazed at the greatness of God. (Luke 9:37-43)
This passage is about the Lord Jesus healing a child with epilepsy. This child was an only child, possessed by a demon; in the parallel passage of Mark, it says that he was possessed by a mute demon. His father asked Jesus’ disciples to cast out the demon, but they could not. Jesus said, “This is an unbelieving and perverse generation!” Earlier, Jesus sent his twelve disciples out to preach the gospel, giving them authority to heal the sick and cast out demons, but because of their lack of faith, they could not cast out the demon. Jesus then cast out the demon himself, and the child was healed. In the parallel passage of Matthew, the disciples privately asked Jesus why they could not cast out the demon, and Jesus said it was because of their lack of faith. He then said, “This kind of demon needs prayer and fasting to be cast out.” Fasting often increases the effectiveness of prayer. In the parallel passage of Mark, Jesus also said, “All things are possible to those who believe.” To man it is impossible, to God all things are possible.
May God bless you and your family!
