Ended in One EncounterSample

Day 4: The Ultimate Gameplan

When Jesus steps into the scene in Mark 9, He does something that changes everything. He doesn't speak to the boy who is suffering. He speaks directly to the demon. Jesus bypasses the behavior and goes straight to the source. That’s the ultimate gameplan, dealing with root causes instead of just reacting to symptoms.

The boy had been throwing himself into fire and water, driven by something destructive within. His father focused on those outward expressions, the visible danger and chaos. But Jesus focused on the unseen force beneath it all: a mute and deaf spirit. What looked like self-harm was really the result of spiritual oppression. The real issue wasn’t fire or water. It wasn’t even the boy’s behavior. It was the presence of something internal that needed to be addressed with spiritual authority.

How many of our problems persist because we’re only addressing what we can see? We chase relief from symptoms, but never confront the real source. Sometimes the breakthrough we’re looking for requires more spiritual discernment. Other times, we may have discernment but lack the spiritual authority to do anything about it.

This passage is a reminder that spiritual matters often have the greatest impact on our natural lives. Jesus names the spirit clearly and directly. He calls it out for what it is. The father saw destruction. Jesus saw deafness and muteness. It’s a powerful reminder that sometimes what seems large and overwhelming is actually being driven by something smaller that’s been overlooked. A deaf and mute spirit may not seem like much, but it had hijacked this young man’s life.

Thank God for Jesus, who not only sees what we can’t but also has the power to deal with it.

Paul reminds us in Romans that when we pray, we don’t always know what to pray for. But the Spirit intercedes with groanings too deep for words. That’s the level of insight we need. Maybe we’ve been working too hard in the natural when the solution has always been spiritual.

Jesus models this perfectly. Before His sacrifice, people had to offer repeated sacrifices for sin. But with one act on Calvary, He dealt with the root problem of sin once and for all. That’s the power of addressing the source, not just the symptoms.