From the desk of Pastor Ben

The Powerlessness of the Disciples

“I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him.”
(Matthew 17:16)

While Jesus had been on the mountain with Peter, James, and John, the man had brought his demon-possessed boy to the other disciples for healing. But they couldn’t heal him. It seems strange that the disciples now failed where once they had succeeded. When Jesus had sent them out the previous year (Matthew 10: 6-8), the disciples were highly successful in “casting out many demons and were anointing with oil many sick people and healing them” (Mark 6:13).

What had gone wrong or changed? They still had Jesus’ promise and His power, yet “they could not cure” the boy. The explanation for their failure is therefore obvious. They failed to use the power available to them. With increasing frustration and anguish, the father understandably turned away help from the disciples and turned to Jesus Himself.

Throughout the history of the church, the faithlessness, weakness, and indifference of Christians has caused many seeking unbelievers to turn away help from God’s people. Sometimes, like the father in this story, they turn to the Lord Himself. And He is always the best One to turn to.

Ask Yourself:
What have you sometimes sought help in, only to find the resulting help to be unsuccessful or (at best) incomplete? What have you learned fro putting more trust in others than in Jesus, from allowing your faith to be dependent on even the most faithful people in your life?