Peter, James, and John have just witnessed heaven touching earth as Jesus is transfigured and revealed to them as the Son of the heavenly Father. It was a miraculous mountaintop moment with God. It was so awe inspiring these disciples did not want to leave the mountain; rather they wanted to camp there and rest in the presence of God. I’m sure we would have desired the same.
In our passage today, Dr. Luke’s gospel follows Jesus down the Mount of Transfiguration and into the valley. We follow Jesus and the disciples from a spiritual realm of God’s power and glory to the valley where evil has been busy robbing God’s human creation of abundant life. I can only imagine the contrast between these two experiences for the disciples. But, Jesus takes authority and changes not just one life but many.
We know this child suffers demon possession; if it were epilepsy, Dr. Luke would have used that word. We don’t really know why the disciples could not drive out the unclean spirit, but it still teaches us a very important lesson about faith and leaves us with the reminder that we can do nothing of eternal value in our own human strength apart from the authority and power of God, as well as faith in Christ.
Not every day is a mountaintop experience; in fact, some days are hard, challenging, and painful. There is a difference between eternal life in heaven and temporal life on earth. Yet, Jesus takes each one of us up the mountain only to be led back down and through the valley. King David knew all about both parts of the journey, yet like him we must fear no evil for God is with us.
As we look at our journey in life, like the disciples, we see the contrast between the goodness of God and the work of evil. The closer we get to God the more we gain a clearer vision of the work of evil. Truth is Light. The Spirit takes us out into a dark world, so we can be bearers to the Truth of God’s love for the world. Salvation is a miracle and it comes through faith in Jesus the Christ.
Luke 9:37-43 NLT Jesus Heals a Demon-Possessed Boy
37 The next day, after they had come down the mountain, a large crowd met Jesus. 38 A man in the crowd called out to him, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my son, my only child. 39 An evil spirit keeps seizing him, making him scream. It throws him into convulsions so that he foams at the mouth. It batters him and hardly ever leaves him alone. 40 I begged your disciples to cast out the spirit, but they couldn’t do it.”
41 Jesus said, “You faithless and corrupt people! How long must I be with you and put up with you?” Then he said to the man, “Bring your son here.”
42 As the boy came forward, the demon knocked him to the ground and threw him into a violent convulsion. But Jesus rebuked the evil [unclean spiritually, morally, and physically—opposed to God] spirit and healed the boy. Then he gave him back to his father. 43 Awe gripped the people as they saw this majestic display of God’s power.
Prayer: Lord, we must thank you for every mountaintop experience you have provided, because it makes us hunger and thirst for what only heaven can offer. We pray for courage and strength to take one step after another following the Light of Truth in a world that only knows the ways of darkness. Your supply of goodness is limitless, so we call for abundant and refreshing grace as we seek to live for you in a dry and weary land. Be our constant Companion and guide us along righteous paths. In Jesus’ name. Amen.