Jesus prevails over the demonic spirit in a boy. The father had brought the boy to the disciples for deliverance, but they had failed. Then Jesus appeared and told the man, who was struggling with unbelief, that anything is possible if a person believes. Next, Jesus demonstrated His authority over the demonic realm.
Mark 9: 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose.[1]
Restoration Power
Jesus saw the crowds approaching, and because He never performed miracles for show, He immediately commanded the evil spirit to leave the boy. The demon probably resented this command and so threw the boy into one last powerful convulsion. But the mute spirit was losing power over the boy. As the spirit weakened, the boy who had been mute, cried out.
The exhausted boy was so still that the crowd feared that he had died. Jesus is on His way to Jerusalem and His own death and resurrection. Jesus foreshadowed His resurrection power as He reached down to the boy and helped him up. Mark says that Jesus lifted him up, and he arose. Even though the evil spirit left the boy apparently dead, the words Mark uses in the Greek are used as regular resurrection words in the New Testament.[2]
This story demonstrates Jesus’ resurrection power that stops demons cold. We have a promise of wholeness for ourselves here. When evil tries to hit us, a greater power will prevail, Jesus. Think of Jesus’ hand reaching to lift you during trying times.
Prevailing in Our Faith
Through Jesus’ example and by God’s power, we are encouraged to stand firm in faith against our spiritual adversaries:
Colossians 2: 14 He (Jesus) canceled the record of the charges against us and took it away by nailing it to the cross. 15 In this way, he disarmed the spiritual rulers and authorities. He shamed them publicly by his victory over them on the cross. [3]
1 John 5: 4 For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. 5 And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.[4]
2 Thessalonians 3:3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.[5]
To learn more about how Jesus prevails, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/wholeness-through-deliverance
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Mk 9:25–27). (2025). Crossway Bibles.
[2] Wright, T. (2004). Mark for Everyone (p. 120). Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge.
[3-5] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Col 2:14–15). Tyndale House Publishers.