Failure!

The new scene is recorded in Matthew 17:14-20; Mark 9:14-29; Luke 9:37-43. Stop and read it, please. Ok, what do we see? After some extended absence on the mountain with the three apostles, Jesus comes back into town, perhaps Caesarea Philippi. It was the day after Jesus discussion about resurrection and restoration as he came down Mt. Hermon. A crowd had gathered around the nine left behind. By this time some local scribes became involved in some argument with the nine. Nay-sayers are drawn to failure like vultures to a carcass. It is always a good place to pick up converts. Deal hunters flock to dead people's estates. Church leaders flock to the problems of other churches thinking they need to offer the remnant a place to escape. This was a great opportunity for the scribes to offer some Jesus followers an invitation to come back to the fold of traditional Judaism. In the middle of this confusion was a desperate man with his only son who was in great distress due to a demon. It seems the man comes looking for Jesus, finds only the nine disciples, settles for their exorcism skills, is disappointed when they fail, and is now caught up in a crowd who likes a good show. Jesus and the three have visions of transfiguration fresh in their heads, and discussions of resurrection and restoration on their lips. But, reality greets them. Failure!

As Jesus and the crowd approach one another, the excitement must have grown in each heart. The crowd had a new element come into play. The man of the hour was here. They surely thought, "This is going to get interesting." The scribes may have had a bit of fear and heartburn at seeing Jesus. Taking on nine failures was one thing, but here comes the champion, like David entering the battle with the Philstines. Surely their bravado shrunk. And, what might the disciples have been thinking. Perhaps mixed feelings seeing Jesus. On the one hand they may have thought, "Yeah...Jesus is coming to save the day." On the other hand, they may have thought, "O, if only we could be here with a perfectly healed boy in front of us, and Jesus could see how 'good' we are, even when He is gone." But, it was what it was. There was one other player who saw Jesus coming, and he was the one whose voice rose above the crowd, rose above the scribes, and rose above the disciples. It was the father of the boy.

The voice of an excited crowd, an arrogant band of scribes, and a failed band of disciples was drowned out by the voice of a desperate man who wants his son back. Jesus will deal with his disciples later. But, the squeeky wheel will get the grease, first things first, priorities. The father approaches Jesus, taking the three witnesses of Matthew, Mark, and Luke, with three questions. First, there is the what. What does the man want? Matthew 17:15: Mercy. He wants mercy. He is looking for compassion and healing and relief and wellbeing for his family. Second, there is the who. Mark 9:17: "Teacher, I brought YOU my son." The man didn't know Jesus was out of town. He didn't know he would have to settle for faithless and unprepared apostles. He was looking for Jesus, and now that Jesus has showed up surely his hope revived. Thrid, there was they why. Luke 9:38, "Teacher, I beg YOU to look at my son. for he is my only boy."  Let the words "my only boy" ring in your ears. Do you hear the voice of God to Abraham echoing, "Take your son, your only son, whom you love...?" Does Jesus understand something about "only son?" Perhaps Jesus hears His own Father's voice in this man's plea. So the stage is set. The drama is unfolding. What will emerge out of this failure. Will Jesus be able to snatch victory out of defeat? Wait and see.