Luke 9:36-40

Luke 9:36 (KJB)
And when the voice was past, Jesus was found alone. And they kept it close, and told no man in those days any of those things which they had seen.

Then when they finally looked around them, they saw that Jesus was the only one who was there with them. This verse gives us a good principle for the Christian life. We too should only see Jesus and not look to man. This mountaintop experience was not given for the disciples enjoyment but it was part of their preparation for ministry as there were many needy people in the valley below where they would soon start ministering again. It is the same in our Christian life, whenever we receive a mountaintop experience, it is for the purpose of further training in our Christian walk.

Luke 9:37 (KJB)
And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.

Once the crowd of people had seen that Jesus was coming toward them, they had gone toward Him and were greeting Him. They may have had joy because Jesus came at an opportune time to help the boy possessed by a devil. This is the way the Christian life goes. We go from a mountaintop experience to hand to hand combat with the forces of Satan. Some believe that Jesus had some of the glow from the Mount of Transfiguration still on Him when He descended the mountain and that is why they were amazed. (Exo 34:29 KJV) And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him. Moses had the same residual glory.

Luke 9:38 (KJB)
And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.

Then Jesus and Peter, James, and John had now returned to where the other disciples were and encountered a multitude. Then a man who had waited for Jesus comes up to Him and kneels down in front of Him. This crowd gives evidence that this took place in the Upper Galilee near Mount Meron because there have been ruins of ancient synagogues found there and multiple synagogues means a large population.

Luke 9:39 (KJB)
And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.

This boy was indwelled with a very violent devil. “it teareth him” refers to the violence of the convulsions and the involuntary dashing of the boy’s body by the devil. “He foameth” refers to the fact that a white foam comes out of his mouth as if he was rabid. (Mark 9:18 KJV) And wheresoever he taketh him, he teareth him: and he foameth, and gnasheth with his teeth, and pineth away: and I spake to thy disciples that they should cast him out; and they could not. “Gnasheth with his teeth” refers to the grinding of the teeth. “Pineth away” has to do with withering away as a plant dries up from lack of water.

Luke 9:40 (KJB)
And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.

Then the man states that he had already tried bringing his son to the disciples which had stayed behind while the others were up on Mount Meron with Jesus. For some reason the disciples could not free the boy from the devils. (Mat 10:1 KJV) And when he had called unto him his twelve disciples, he gave them power against unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Previously they had been given the authority to cast out devils from people but this time they seemed powerless to be able to do this.

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