Healing of a Demoniac.

(Mat. 17:14-23; Mark 9:14-32 and Luke 9:37-45).

This healing is narrated by the three synoptics, indicating that this was performed by the Lord, directly after He Transfigured and came down from the mountain. During this time, many people gathered around Christ’s disciples, waiting for Him at the foot of the mountain. According to Saint Mark, the disciples were arguing with the Scribes. The same Evangelist witnesses that in seeing Christ descend from the mountain, “all the people were greatly amazed.” Apparently, this was because His face and His whole appearance retained some of the glow of that glory, which the Lord glistened with through Transfiguration on mount Tabor. A man came to the Lord with an appeal to cure his son who, with every new moon, frenzies and suffers greatly by throwing himself first into fire, then water. With this, he added that he had already approached His disciples, but they weren’t able to cure him. Upon hearing about His disciples’ failure, even though He gave them authority over evil spirits, the Lord exclaimed: “O faithless generation (not having faith), how long shall I be with you? How long shall I bear with you? Bring him to me.”

Some commentators relate this Lord’s censure to His disciples, because they were unable to cure the demoniac due to their lack of faith, while others — to the whole Jewish people. Saint Matthew then narrates that the Lord directed the youth be brought to Him, and “rebuked the demon, and it came out of him.” Evangelists Mark and Luke bring up some additional detail. When the youth was brought before the Lord, he went into a fit of frightening, demonic frenzy. To the Lord’s question as to how long the youth had been this way, the father advised — since infancy, adding: “But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us.” To this, the Lord said: “If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.” Shedding tears, the father of the unfortunate youth cried out: “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!” i.e. he humbly acknowledged that his faith was not complete, insufficient. This humble confession was rewarded: the youth was released from the demon.

When the disciples inquired as to why they couldn’t drive out the demon, the Lord replied: “Because of your unbelief.” Perhaps having found out from the father the strength of the demon, the length of his presence and his tenacity, this time they doubted that they could drive him out, and therefore failed to do so. Just as Peter, having commenced walking on water toward the Lord, and then seeing strong winds and waves, began to have doubts in his ability to reach the Lord — started to drown. With this, the Lord added: “if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.” i.e. even the smallest faith, if only it exists, is already capable to perform great miracles, because it contains great power — similar to that hidden in a mustard seed of nondescript appearance, yet eventually growing into a huge tree. However, it shouldn’t be thought that faith has its own power: it is but an essential condition, with which God’s almighty power works. Faith is like a conductor of His almighty power. Naturally, God can perform miracles even with insufficient faith, like He cured the demoniac youth, notwithstanding his father’s little faith. “All things are possible to him who believes” means, that the Lord is ready to do anything for a person — conditional on his faith. Faith is like a receiver or conduit of God’s grace, which creates miracles.

In conclusion, the Lord said: “However, this kind (i.e. demonic) does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” This is because there is no genuine faith without deeds of prayers and fasting. Genuine faith begets prayers and fasting, which in turn further assists in strengthening it. That is why in Orthodox church singing, prayer and fasting are praised as double-edged weapons against demons and passions.

“Demons can sense a person that fasts and prays” says Saint Theophan the Recluse of Vishensk, “and flee from him so as not to receive a painful blow. Can it be surmised that where there is no fasting and prayer, there are demons? — Yes, it can.”

During the stay in Galilee with His disciples, the Lord once more “taught His disciples and said to them, ‘The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him. And after He is killed, He will rise the third day.’ But they did not understand this saying, and were afraid to ask Him” (Mark 9:31-32). The Lord saw that it was especially now, that His disciples needed to know about His impending sufferings, death and resurrection. Consequently, in order to prepare them for this, He reiterates this to them so that it is implanted in their minds more firmly. However, not having divested the usual Jewish ideas on the Messiah, all this was incomprehensible.