Jesus Heals a Boy the Disciples Couldn't Help

When Jesus came down from a mountain with three of His disciples, He found a big crowd gathered around the other disciples. Everyone was arguing and asking questions. A man pushed through the crowd and kneeled in front of Jesus. 'Lord, please help my son!' he begged. 'A demon makes him suffer terribly. It throws him into fire and water trying to kill him! I brought him to Your disciples, but they couldn't make the demon leave.'

Jesus was sad that people didn't have more faith. He said, 'Bring the boy to Me.' When they brought the boy to Jesus, the demon saw Jesus and immediately threw the boy on the ground. The boy started rolling around, foaming at the mouth. It was a scary sight! Jesus asked the father, 'How long has this been happening?' The father answered, 'Since he was a little child. This demon has tormented him for years. Please, if You can do anything, help us!'

Jesus said something important: 'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.' It wasn't about whether Jesus could do it - Jesus can do anything! It was about whether the father had faith. Right away, the father cried out with tears, 'Lord, I believe! Help me with my unbelief!' He was being honest - he had some faith, but he also had doubts, and he needed Jesus to help him with both. That's a prayer we can all pray when we're struggling to believe!

Jesus saw more people running over to see what was happening, so He spoke firmly to the demon: 'You deaf and mute spirit, I command you to come out of him and never enter him again!' The demon screamed and threw the boy around violently one last time, then left him. The boy lay on the ground so still that people thought he was dead. But Jesus took the boy's hand, lifted him up, and he stood up - completely healed! The father must have been so happy!

Later, when Jesus and His disciples were alone in a house, the disciples asked Jesus privately, 'Why couldn't we cast out that demon? We've done it before!' Jesus gave them an important answer: 'Because you didn't have enough faith. Even faith as small as a tiny mustard seed can move mountains! Nothing is impossible with faith. But some demons only come out with prayer and fasting.' Jesus was teaching them that they needed to spend time praying and growing closer to God. Some spiritual battles need special preparation. This story teaches us to have faith in Jesus's power, to be honest with God about our doubts, and to remember that prayer is very important!