Luke 9:37 - Meaning and Application

This part of the story in Matthew and Mark comes right after Christ’s transfiguration and his talk with the disciples afterward. Luke says it happened the next day, as they were coming down from the mountain. That fits the idea that Christ was transfigured at night, and it seems that, even though they did not build tents as Peter had suggested, they still found some shelter to rest in through the night.

It was not until the next day that they came down from the mountain, and then Christ found things somewhat unsettled among his disciples, though not as badly as Moses did when he came down from Sinai. When wise and good people enjoy their private times away, they should think about whether they are needed in their public duties.

In this account, notice, first, how ready the people were to receive Christ when he returned to them. He had been away only a short time, yet many people met him, just as at other times many people followed him. This matched what had been foretold about him, that the nations would gather to him.

Second, notice how urgently the father of the boy with the seizures asked Christ for help (Luke 9:38). “I beg you, look at my son,” he said. This was a humble request, and it was enough. One compassionate look from Christ is enough to set everything right. We should bring ourselves and our children to Christ, asking him to look on us with mercy.

The father added, “He is my only child.” Those who have many children may soften one sorrow with joy in the others. Still, if the child is an only one, that grief can be met by remembering God’s love in giving his only Son for us. Only-begotten means the one and only Son.

Third, notice how terrible the boy’s condition was (Luke 9:39). He was under the power of an evil spirit that seized him. Such sickness is more frightening than illnesses that come from natural causes. Whenever the attack came without warning, he suddenly cried out, and many times those cries must have pierced his father’s heart. The evil spirit tore him, bruised him, and left him only with great struggle, as if making one last deadly grip before leaving.

What misery the afflicted face in this world, and what harm Satan does wherever he gains control. But how happy those are who can come to Christ!

Fourth, notice how weak the disciples were in faith. Christ had given them authority over unclean spirits, yet they could not cast this one out (Luke 9:40). Either they doubted the power they were meant to use, or they questioned the authority given to them, or they did not pray as they should have. For this, Christ rebuked them: “O faithless and twisted generation.” Dr. Clarke takes this as a rebuke to the disciples themselves, as if Christ were asking, “Will you still be so faithless and distrustful that you cannot carry out the mission I gave you?”

Fifth, notice how complete the cure was that Christ worked on the boy (Luke 9:42). Christ can do what his disciples cannot. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit just when it was raging hardest. The devil threw the child down and twisted him, as if he meant to tear him apart. But one word from Christ healed the boy and repaired the damage the devil had done.

It is also said that Christ gave him back to his father. When our children recover from sickness, we should receive them as though they have been given back to us. We should receive them as if brought back from death to life, just as if we were receiving them for the first time. It is a comfort to receive them from Christ’s hand and to see him giving them back to us. “Take this child, and be thankful,” as it were. “Take him, and raise him for me, because you have him again from me. Take him, and do not set your heart on him too tightly.” Parents should receive their children from Christ with these warnings in mind, and then with comfort place them back into his hands.