Father of the epileptic boy. - Matthew 17:14 ff , Mark 9:14, Luke 9:37
I had heard that the Rabbi was in town so I had taken my son to try to see him as I had heard that many miracles were being performed. My son, Thomas, had started having fits when he was about two years old and had them so many times a day that sometimes we didnt know how he had the energy to stay alive. He needed constant care. If he was left alone for the shortest time he could have a seizure and bash his head off the floor, roll into the fire or swallow his tongue. So we had to watch him 24 hours a day. My wife and I took it in turns to sleep next to him and most nights we were up with him three or four times. He had no life. When he was not experiencing seizures he was exhausted. His speech was very difficult to understand and he spent his time in the house because people in our neighbourhood thought that he was possessed by a demon. People can be cruel.
So when we heard about the miracles that Jesus had been doing we were excited and hopeful. We explained to Thomas that there was a man in town who might be able to help him, and we took him out into the bustle of town, praying that he wouldnt have a seizure in public.
When we got to the place we had been told Jesus was supposed to be teaching that afternoon, he wasnt there. Instead some of his disciples were talking to a crowd of people and offering to pray. We pushed through to the front of the crush of townsfolk and shouted that our son needed help. People made way for us and we found ourselves in front of two big blokes who looked to be unschooled, working class, country folk. Like us. However, we were desperate , we had told Thomas that something was going to happen and we couldnt leave without at least trying to get a miracle. So we explained that Thomas had had multiple seizures ever day since he had been little. The two men looked at each other and then asked if they could put their hands on Thomas and pray for him. We all agreed and my wife and I stood back whilst the two guys started to pray. They put their hands on Thomas's head and then commanded the spirit of infirmity to leave him. Nothing happened. They said the same thing again and then they prayed that the power of God would fall on him. Thomas stood quietly. I wasnt sure what had happened, if anything. After a few minutes the two disciples turned to us and said ' We are really sorry but we dont think we can do this. We dont think anything is happening here. We need Jesus to be here. he will be back soon. Can you wait for a while?' We said that we could and moved over to Thomas to check that he was OK.
Thomas seemed to be calm and unconcerned. He was happy to wait until Jesus came. We sat in the shade and watched the people who were gathering. Some of the scribes from the synagogue seemed to be arguing with the disciples about the fact that they had prayed for Thomas. I was a little concerned that our presence was going to cause some sort of a conflict but then I heard some shouting and people started running towards the mountain path. In the distance I could just make out a small group of men who were coming down from the mountain. As they approached the town the crowd met them and started to mob them with shouts and cheering and lots of noise. I looked at Thomas. Sometimes loud unexpected noises could cause him to have a fit. He seemed alright, but I didnt want to take any chances and said to my wife that perhaps we should think about going home.
Thomas stood up. He indicated that he wanted to go forward towards Jesus. not back towards home. My wife looked at me, I shrugged. If Thomas was keen then we might as well go for it. So, taking his arm, we pushed forward towards Jesus.
And then, right in the middle of the crowd, I felt Thomas start to shake and I knew that he was about to go down. I looked at him and he was grey and sweaty. his eyes started to roll back into his head and he crumpled to the ground. People round about moved aside and stared as Thomas became rigid on the floor and vibrated violently. My wife got down on her knees and cradled Thomas's head in her lap waiting for the episode to pass. I looked up and saw Jesus coming towards us. He looked....... shiny. It's weird but thats the only way I can think of to describe it. He was shining. Im not sure if it was the way the sun was catching his hair, or if it was the dust that was rising from the ground as Thomas was fitting. But something about Jesus reminded me of the stories of Moses.
I shouted at the top of my voice ' Lord, please help us. My son has a demon which throws him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth. Look, here he is, please do something to release him from this torment.' Jesus came over to us and looked down at Thomas. He said ' how long has he been like this?' ' Ever since he was a small child sir' I replied. ' I brought him to your disciples but they weren't able to help him. Can you do anything for him Lord? ' By this time I was down on my knees in front of the Rabbi, pleading with him. Jesus looked at his disciples and seemed to be cross. He said ' Oh this is such a faithless generation. Im not going to be with you forever you know. You are going to have to do this yourselves someday' Then he looked down at me and said ' If you have faith that this is possible then it is possible. All things are possible to someone who believes'
I felt so scared when he said this. Was Thomas's healing going to depend on how much I believed in it?? With tears streaming down my face I said ' Lord I do believe that its possible. But if my belief isn't enough then can you increase my faith and help me to believe more. I just want Thomas to be well. Whatever it takes I'll do it.'
People were starting to crowd around us and jostle and push. There was every chance that Thomas was going to be trampled underfoot. He was still stiff and twitching and his eyes were still rolled back. Jesus leaned down and took him by the hand saying ' unclean, mute spirit come out of him at once' He said it so quietly I could barely hear it - but as soon as those words were out of his mouth my son stopped shaking and went completely limp. Someone in the crowd gasped and said ' He's killed him!' But seconds later Thomas opened his eyes, smiled and stood up.
Previously after Thomas had come out of a seizure he was disorientated, sleepy, unwell for hours and not himself until the next day. But this time he looked completely normal. He grinned and shook Jesus by the hand then hugged his mother and me. He started talking immediately and was completely fluent in a way that we had never heard before. My wife burst into tears. We both knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that our son was completely healed.
Everyone in the crowd was astonished. People were staring at us. Several of my friends had gathered and were in tears as they watched Thomas fully restored walking and talking and behaving completely normally. Jesus said ' Listen up, you have seen deliverance today, but soon you will see another sort of deliverance, Im going to be delivered up to the schemes of men. ' I had no idea what he was talking about and to be honest not many people in the crowd seemed to be listening to him. It was only later that I remembered him saying that and I wondered if even then he knew what was going to happen to him.
Thomas is growing up to be a fine young man. He tells everyone he meets about the day he met Jesus. I don't tell it as much but I think about it every day. And I often pray and ask God to increase my faith. Because with faith all things are possible.
So when we heard about the miracles that Jesus had been doing we were excited and hopeful. We explained to Thomas that there was a man in town who might be able to help him, and we took him out into the bustle of town, praying that he wouldnt have a seizure in public.
When we got to the place we had been told Jesus was supposed to be teaching that afternoon, he wasnt there. Instead some of his disciples were talking to a crowd of people and offering to pray. We pushed through to the front of the crush of townsfolk and shouted that our son needed help. People made way for us and we found ourselves in front of two big blokes who looked to be unschooled, working class, country folk. Like us. However, we were desperate , we had told Thomas that something was going to happen and we couldnt leave without at least trying to get a miracle. So we explained that Thomas had had multiple seizures ever day since he had been little. The two men looked at each other and then asked if they could put their hands on Thomas and pray for him. We all agreed and my wife and I stood back whilst the two guys started to pray. They put their hands on Thomas's head and then commanded the spirit of infirmity to leave him. Nothing happened. They said the same thing again and then they prayed that the power of God would fall on him. Thomas stood quietly. I wasnt sure what had happened, if anything. After a few minutes the two disciples turned to us and said ' We are really sorry but we dont think we can do this. We dont think anything is happening here. We need Jesus to be here. he will be back soon. Can you wait for a while?' We said that we could and moved over to Thomas to check that he was OK.
Thomas seemed to be calm and unconcerned. He was happy to wait until Jesus came. We sat in the shade and watched the people who were gathering. Some of the scribes from the synagogue seemed to be arguing with the disciples about the fact that they had prayed for Thomas. I was a little concerned that our presence was going to cause some sort of a conflict but then I heard some shouting and people started running towards the mountain path. In the distance I could just make out a small group of men who were coming down from the mountain. As they approached the town the crowd met them and started to mob them with shouts and cheering and lots of noise. I looked at Thomas. Sometimes loud unexpected noises could cause him to have a fit. He seemed alright, but I didnt want to take any chances and said to my wife that perhaps we should think about going home.
Thomas stood up. He indicated that he wanted to go forward towards Jesus. not back towards home. My wife looked at me, I shrugged. If Thomas was keen then we might as well go for it. So, taking his arm, we pushed forward towards Jesus.
And then, right in the middle of the crowd, I felt Thomas start to shake and I knew that he was about to go down. I looked at him and he was grey and sweaty. his eyes started to roll back into his head and he crumpled to the ground. People round about moved aside and stared as Thomas became rigid on the floor and vibrated violently. My wife got down on her knees and cradled Thomas's head in her lap waiting for the episode to pass. I looked up and saw Jesus coming towards us. He looked....... shiny. It's weird but thats the only way I can think of to describe it. He was shining. Im not sure if it was the way the sun was catching his hair, or if it was the dust that was rising from the ground as Thomas was fitting. But something about Jesus reminded me of the stories of Moses.
I shouted at the top of my voice ' Lord, please help us. My son has a demon which throws him to the ground and makes him foam at the mouth. Look, here he is, please do something to release him from this torment.' Jesus came over to us and looked down at Thomas. He said ' how long has he been like this?' ' Ever since he was a small child sir' I replied. ' I brought him to your disciples but they weren't able to help him. Can you do anything for him Lord? ' By this time I was down on my knees in front of the Rabbi, pleading with him. Jesus looked at his disciples and seemed to be cross. He said ' Oh this is such a faithless generation. Im not going to be with you forever you know. You are going to have to do this yourselves someday' Then he looked down at me and said ' If you have faith that this is possible then it is possible. All things are possible to someone who believes'
I felt so scared when he said this. Was Thomas's healing going to depend on how much I believed in it?? With tears streaming down my face I said ' Lord I do believe that its possible. But if my belief isn't enough then can you increase my faith and help me to believe more. I just want Thomas to be well. Whatever it takes I'll do it.'
People were starting to crowd around us and jostle and push. There was every chance that Thomas was going to be trampled underfoot. He was still stiff and twitching and his eyes were still rolled back. Jesus leaned down and took him by the hand saying ' unclean, mute spirit come out of him at once' He said it so quietly I could barely hear it - but as soon as those words were out of his mouth my son stopped shaking and went completely limp. Someone in the crowd gasped and said ' He's killed him!' But seconds later Thomas opened his eyes, smiled and stood up.
Previously after Thomas had come out of a seizure he was disorientated, sleepy, unwell for hours and not himself until the next day. But this time he looked completely normal. He grinned and shook Jesus by the hand then hugged his mother and me. He started talking immediately and was completely fluent in a way that we had never heard before. My wife burst into tears. We both knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that our son was completely healed.
Everyone in the crowd was astonished. People were staring at us. Several of my friends had gathered and were in tears as they watched Thomas fully restored walking and talking and behaving completely normally. Jesus said ' Listen up, you have seen deliverance today, but soon you will see another sort of deliverance, Im going to be delivered up to the schemes of men. ' I had no idea what he was talking about and to be honest not many people in the crowd seemed to be listening to him. It was only later that I remembered him saying that and I wondered if even then he knew what was going to happen to him.
Thomas is growing up to be a fine young man. He tells everyone he meets about the day he met Jesus. I don't tell it as much but I think about it every day. And I often pray and ask God to increase my faith. Because with faith all things are possible.
Comments
Post a Comment