Exorcisms & The Greatest In The Kingdom (Lk. 9:37-50)

On the next day, when they came down from the mountain, a large crowd met him. 38 There was a man in the crowd who cried out, “Teacher, I beg you, look at my son; he is my only child. 39 For a spirit seizes him and he suddenly screams and it convulses him until he foams at the mouth; it releases him only with difficulty, wearing him out. 40 I begged your disciples to cast it out but they could not.” 41 Jesus said in reply, “O faithless and perverse generation, how long will I be with you and endure you? Bring your son here.” 42 As he was coming forward, the demon threw him to the ground in a convulsion; but Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, healed the boy, and returned him to his father. 43 All were astonished by the majesty of God. While they were all amazed at his every deed, he said to his disciples, 44 “Pay attention to what I am telling you. The Son of Man is to be handed over to men.” 45 But they did not understand this saying; its meaning was hidden from them so that they should not understand it, and they were afraid to ask him about this saying.  46 An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. 47 Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side 48 and said to them, “Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”  49 Then John said in reply, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.” 50 Jesus said to him, “Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.”

Jesus came down the mountain after his transfiguration and was met by a man in the crowd who pleaded with him to be merciful to his only son who was possessed by a demon.  The disciples who did not go up to the mountain with Jesus and witness the transfiguration had previously failed to exorcise the demon.  There is no clear consensus as to the meaning of Jesus’ reply, “O faithless and perverse generation (v. 40).”  He could have been speaking to some in the crowd who failed to believe in spite of his demonstration of power over evil and his works that showed he was the Son of God (Lk. 4:41).  Jesus exorcised the powerful demon and returned the boy to his father.  The crowd again expressed astonishment that God has visited his people (Lk. 7:16).  

Jesus referred to himself as the “Son of Man (Dan. 7:13-14)” and made the second prediction of his passion (cf. Lk. 24:6-7) which was the ultimate act of mercy for mankind (v. 44).  The disciples would only understand what Jesus said (v. 45) after his resurrection when he appeared to two of them on the road to Emmaus (Lk. 24:13-35).  

The disciples had not yet understood what it meant to be a disciple and began to argue about which one of them was the greatest after Jesus was “handed over (v. 44).”  Jesus explained to them that whoever welcomes the least in his name welcomes both he and the Father.  Greatness is rooted in seeking the least (vv. 46-48).  The disciples following Jesus did not understand that Jesus welcomed those who performed works in his name whether they were members of the group that traveled with him or not.  The man believed in the power of Jesus’ name to heal (vv. 49-50).  

Almighty God, our greatness comes from obedience to all that your Son taught through his words and deeds, and most of all through his suffering and resurrection.  Help us to be good and humble stewards of the gifts you have given us as we use them in accordance with your will to help lead others to salvation.  This we pray through Christ our Lord.  Amen!

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References
Chiu, José Enrique Aguilar, et al. The Paulist Biblical Commentary. Paulist Press, 2018.
Brown, Raymond Edward, et al. The New Jerome Biblical Commentary. Upper Saddle River, NJ, United States, Prentice Hall, 1990.