THE immediate thing that is so striking between these verses and the previous verses is the sharp contrast that exists between them. In the previous verses we see something of the glory of the heavenly kingdom. Here in these verses we are faced with the darkness and sorrow of this earthly condition. It is one of Satan's greatest triumphs that he keeps people from seeing the darkness he has brought about in the world, so that people never ask questions or seek deliverance from it. John tells us that human beings love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil (John 3:19). This illustrates the bondage to Satan that exists in every human being.

There are times in everyones life when the darkness of the world does force itself on our attention. It was one of these for this father whose son was afflicted with a serious case of epilepsy, and also demon possession (v.18). Mark and Luke give us more details of the condition. It is at times like these that the darkness of our world makes itself none. There is no real explanation for the universality of sickness other than the answer the Bible gives, that since Adam sinned the world has been under the dominion of Satan, and separated from God. God's original creation did not include sickness and death.

In times when the darkness of the world impinges on people's lives, people turn to God and pray. God has given much knowledge and skill in medicine these days, and when sickness comes we have much more hope than this father had in the verses we are looking at. People still pray in their need, but when the darkness has been lifted, then they forget God again. Such is Satan's hold upon people, and the corruption of the human heart.

In the case of this father we have much to learn. We have much to learn from his approach to Jesus. Firstly he knelt before Jesus. He honoured Jesus as Lord. He gave Jesus worship. Whenever we come to Jesus we are coming to our God, and it behoves us to come to him in worshipful submission. In the next place the father came calling for mercy. How much this expressed of the condition of this man's heart we can't tell, but it is true that the only approach any one of us can make as we come to Jesus is to plead for mercy. There is nothing in any of us that deserves God's favour. As the old C of E prayer book speaks of us, we are all miserable sinners. Mercy is the only thing we can ask for from God, and it is the testimony of God's word here that Jesus delights to show mercy.

Whenever God deals kindly with us it is an act of mercy. Our forgiveness, salvation and the gift of eternal life is an act of mercy. The Christ gave his life for us on the cross in God's mercy poured out upon us. God is a God of mercy and grace. The giving of Jesus to offer himself to God as a propitiatory sacrifice for our sin is an monumental act of mercy. God is merciful to all who come to him as this father did, acknowledging his need of mercy. Any who come pleading for acceptance and recognition on any other ground than God's mercy in Christ, will receive no acceptance or recognition from God. This is illustrated so vividly in the case of Cain and Abel. Cain came with a sacrifice which proclaimed that he felt he deserved something from God on the ground of his works. Abel's sacrifice of a lamb from his flock, which he then offered as a sacrifice for sin, showed he came pleading for mercy, and God accepted his sacrifice as atonement for his sin in the place of Abel.

Let us notice how grieved Jesus is at the condition of darkness in the world. He describes the world as illustrated by the people present on that occasion as a perverse and unbelieving generation. In different ways the people present showed this. The Jewish leaders by their gloating over the disciples impotence. The disciples because of their unbelief and impotence. The father in his hopelessness. Jesus had been ministering for nearly 3 years, and still people were not coming to him and believing on him. The disciples still were not seeing him in faith as the Saviour and the Son of God. We still struggle in the same way today. Even we who believe and rest on Jesus for our eternal salvation, still find ourselves unbelieving and perverse. How we should repent of this and seek Jesus so that we may know him better and believe on him more fully.

Lastly, let us for our comfort and faith take to heart the revelation we have of Jesus in these verses. We see him compassionate and merciful. How the devil likes to create in us thoughts which cause us to doubt the kindness and love of Jesus to us. Satan paints Jesus so often as always chiding and rebuking, but there is with the rebuke here and immediate merciful action to bring relief and blessing to this father and his son. Let us never allow Satan to keep us from believing and accepting the truth of the words of Jesus that if we come to him he will not cast us out, and that he gives rest to the burdened and heavy-ladened.

Then let us take to heart the wonderful revelation of Christ's supreme power over Satan and his kingdom. Jesus rebuked the demon and the demon had to obey and come out of the boy, and cease to afflict him. We are safe in the arms of Jesus, and safe leaning on his gentle breast. We need no fear when he is near. Let us draw near to him in faith always, and rest our soul and life on him, never doubting he can deliver us from Satan, and save us for his glory in heaven.