Thursday | 30 April 2026
When a family rejects the shepherding fatherhood of the presbytery in the right hand of Christ, their children wend their way through life, and in the church, in trouble, for they have no Shepherd, having been trained to take no heed to the Shepherd’s voice. As the prophet Zechariah declared, ‘The people wend their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd.’ Zec 10:2. Zec 12:2. Christ the Shepherd is to them only a resource to support them as they are taught to rely on the law of their own mind. Because of this, they are Satan’s prey. 1Pe 5:8‑9.
The man said to Jesus regarding the unclean spirit, ‘I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Luk 9:40. Jesus responded by saying, ‘O faithless [lit: unbelieving] and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you?’ Luk 9:41. Christ’s statement was not an expression of impatience or exasperation. Rather, it was the word of a King rebuking a generation that was unbelieving. Their unbelief was the cause of their perversity as they continued to go astray in their hearts. Heb 3:10. Unbelief was the cause of stumbling for the disciples, and the reason for the inadequacy of their ministry. Mat 17:19‑20. His wrath was kindled towards them, but this was, in the first instance, for the purpose of establishing them in faith.
Jesus also addressed the man himself. He said to the man, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Mar 9:23. Having received this word, ‘the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”’. Mar 9:24. Jesus then directed the man to bring the son to Him. As the father approached Christ, the demon threw the boy down and convulsed him. It was as if the demon spirit was endeavouring to rebel in the presence of Christ. The King rebuked this insubordinate spirit, healed the child, and then gave him back to his father. Luk 9:42.
Further Study:
Luke 9
References:
Zec 10:2
For the idols speak delusion; the diviners envision lies, and tell false dreams; they comfort in vain. Therefore, the people wend their way like sheep; they are in trouble because there is no shepherd.
Zec 12:2
Behold, I will make Jerusalem a cup of drunkenness to all the surrounding peoples, when they lay siege against Judah and Jerusalem.
1Pe 5:8-9
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.
Luk 9:40-42
‘So, I implored Your disciples to cast it out, but they could not.’ Then Jesus answered and said, ‘O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you and bear with you? Bring your son here.’ And as he was still coming, the demon threw him down and convulsed him. Then Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the child, and gave him back to his father.
Heb 3:10
Therefore, I was angry with that generation, and said, ‘They always go astray in their heart, and they have not known My ways.’
Mat 17:19-20
Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, ‘Why could we not cast it out?’ So, Jesus said to them, ‘Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.’
Mar 9:23-24
Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.’ Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, ‘Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!’