Luke’s account of the story seems so much more centred on the boy and the human element in the story. That fits with his character as a doctor. Notice this man says he begged the disciples to cast out the demon. Now he comes to Jesus and BEGS Him too. The word beg [deomai] is a strong one. To ask, but more than just a usual asking – to implore, to beg, to beseech. Luke tells us this man brings his only son. This boy is suffering horrifically at the hands of demons, or some commentators say a mental illness or maybe epilepsy. I am not going to get into the discussion of the manifestation of the demonic and its link to mental illness at this point. Suffice to say this boy is really suffering. Therefore the father is really suffering too as he looks upon his ONLY son and sees what is happening to him. In the first instance he takes the boy to the disciples. We are not told of the incident other than what is reported here. But the end result was failure. So now he comes to Jesus and he says something interesting. I BEG you to LOOK at my son. If you are a doctor then that has a medical connotation. To be looked at by the doctor is to be examine and tested to see what is wrong with you. It is conceivable that Luke means that from his viewpoint as a doctor. “Please look at my son. Can I have an appointment for sometime today?” But I don’t think that is what is being meant here.
The word [epiblepo] means to look at, look upon or colloquially “to take an interest in”. It is not a look of examination, rather it is a look which leads to “taking an interest in”. In this case, a personal interest. Almost like, take a look at him and your heart will go out to him. The personal touch or a look which will lead to personal interest. You see Luke has started this story by telling us the man shouted from the crowd, “Teacher, I beg you to look at my boy.” Note the differences between Matthew and Mark’s account of this story. The other two writers start the story from a different perspective. All perspectives can be true and harmonise together. That is for you to do, I am not focused on the truth of all accounts. I believe they are true. I want to draw your attention to the flow of Luke’s story. A man from the crowd calls out. Then he proceeds to tell Jesus what happens to his boy in verse 39
and a spirit seizes him, and he suddenly screams, and it throws him into a convulsion with foaming at the mouth; and only with difficulty does it leave him, mauling him as it leaves.
Luke 9:39
Following that as the boy and the father come to Jesus the spirit suddenly comes upon the boy right there in front of Jesus.
While he was still approaching, the demon slammed him to the ground and threw him into a convulsion.
Luke 9:42
Jesus could see with his own eyes what was happening to the boy. He didn’t need to take tests. Besides this is Jesus we are talking about. The one who knows the end from beginning. The Alpha and Omega. So immediately Jesus rebukes the demonic spirit and heals him. Did you notice REBUKES and HEALS? Jesus rebukes the demon AND heals the boy. One would think that rebuking the demon is healing him. All other exorcisms the demon only needs rebuking and it is gone. But in this case Luke (the Physician) adds “and healed the boy”. What does that mean? Two things come to my mind. It is quite possible that there is psychological trauma that needs addressing in all of this. Also we are told that this spirit has been randomly slamming him to the ground, into water and into fire. It seems the boy has suffered great physical damage. So Jesus touches the inner issue and the other bodily damage and heals him.
When He has done that “he gave the boy back to his father”. What a poignant personal touch! The father comes with his only son, damaged and deranged. He calls out from the crowd to Jesus and asks for Jesus help. The boy manifests a demonic episode right there in front of Jesus. His heart goes out to the father and especially the son and deals with the demon, heals and restores the boy to full health and gives him back to his father. I imagine all those burns, scars and bruises disappeared right before their eyes. No wonder they were all amazed at what had just happened. Wow, when Jesus takes a personal interest in you; you have nothing to worry about.
Luke has told this story in a very different way from the other two in order to give us that personal touch, because Jesus also gives the personal touch. Jesus not only knows the number of hairs on your head. He also knows the number of scars on your body and just how you got them. He saw it happen right before His eyes because He is omniscient and omnipresent. This father and son’s experience is also yours, do you know that? Luke the doctor tells us so. The one from the crowd could be you.
It’s nice when someone remembers the small details about you. Not because you keep reminding them, but because they care.
Arthavina Baringbing
One glimpse, one taste, one sampling, and your faith will never be the same . . . God’s touch!
Max Lucado
Time for a song in the Gems again.
I haven’t given you a song during Luke yet. Here it is. (Let Jesus deal with those scars)
Heal the Wound – By Point of Grace
- I used to wish that I could rewrite history
- I used to dream that each mistake could be erased
- Then I could just pretend, I never knew the me back then
- I used to pray that You would take this shame away
- Hide all the evidence of who I’ve been
- But it’s the memory of the place You brought me from
- That keeps me on my knees and even though I’m free
- Heal the wound but leave the scar
- A reminder of how merciful You are
- I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart
- And heal the wound but leave the scar
- I have not lived a life that boasts of anything
- I don’t take pride in what I bring
- But I’ll build an altar with the rubble that You’ve found me in
- And every stone will sing of what You can redeem
- Heal the wound but leave the scar
- A reminder of how merciful You are
- I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart
- And heal the wound but leave the scar
- Don’t let me forget
- Everything You’ve done for me
- Don’t let me forget
- The beauty in the suffering
- Heal the wound but leave the scar
- A reminder of how merciful You are
- I am broken, torn apart, take the pieces of this heart
- And heal the wound but leave the scar