The Lord had called Peter, James and John to witness that wonderful scene on the mount of transfiguration, where He had displayed His glory. Now as they descend from the mountain they witness another scene — the display of the power of Satan. While they were on the mount the other disciples had remained below. A distracted father comes to the Lord saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son; for he is a lunatic, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water. I brought him to Thy disciples, and they could not cure him.” The disciples were unable to use the power which the Lord had committed to them. Their faith was not equal to the occasion. The Lord answers with the words, “O faithless and perverse generation ... bring him hither to Me.” He rebukes the evil spirit which possessed the child, the demon departs, and the child is cured.
Power Used Properly
The disciples want to know why they could not cast out the demon. He tells them it was on account of their unbelief, for “this kind goeth not out but by prayer and fasting.” This incident shows that while they had faith as to the Person of the Lord, they did not bring that faith into the circumstances of everyday life. However, the Lord did not allow the unbelief of His disciples to hinder the outflow of blessing. He acts and the faith of the poor father is rewarded. Whatever power is available to the servants of the Lord, it can only be used in the same spirit that the One who gave it used it. It was only available by prayer, fasting and self-denial.
“If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say unto this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove, and nothing shall be impossible unto you.” Faith brings down the power of God into our circumstances; that faith may be small, but if it is in exercise, it will avail for present trials. Even mountains, symbol of the world’s power, or whatever may hinder the child of God, will vanish before faith.
It was after this, while they abide in Galilee, that the Lord again tells His disciples of His betrayal, His death and His resurrection. “And they were exceeding sorry.”
Tribute Money
They now come to Capernaum where Jesus dwelt. The tax-gatherer who received the tribute money for the temple came to Peter and asked him if his Master paid the tribute. It seems that, for the moment at least, Peter had forgotten the vision and the Father’s voice from heaven. Desiring that his Master be considered a loyal Jew, he answered, Yes. When they were come into the house, the Lord, who knew all that Peter had said, demanded of Peter, “What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own children, or of strangers?” Peter rightly answers, “Of strangers.” What wonderful grace there is in the Lord’s words, “Then are the children free.” He is the King, and while He is about to prove His divine glory, He shows us the place that we have with Him. Peter was to go to the sea and cast in a hook. The first fish that came up would have a piece of money in its mouth — exactly the required amount for both Himself and Peter. This showed His divine power as Creator, for a fish does not hold anything, but swallows whatever enters its mouth.
Further Meditation
1. Besides faith in the person of Christ, what faith do we need?
2. What other mastery over the creatures of creation does the Lord show in the gospels?
3. A real encouragement to faith in the Lord Jesus for everything can be found in Looking Unto Jesus by T. Monod.