There are two thoughts here. The first is that the devil is at the foot of the hill. The second makes a difference in what will happen when we meet the devil. Master, look upon my son.
Luke 9: 37 And it came to pass, that on the next day, when they were come down from the hill, much people met him.38 And, behold, a man of the company cried out, saying, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child.39 And, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him.40 And I besought thy disciples to cast him out; and they could not.41 And Jesus answering said, O faithless and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you, and suffer you? Bring thy son hither.42 And as he was yet a coming, the devil threw him down, and tare him. And Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father.
Luke 9 is the entire Bible in one chapter. We get the idea of the kind of person Jesus is and can be to us. There was a lot taking place in this story. They were at the foot of Mount Herman in the far north part of Israel. Regardless of how far south or north of God you feel, God is there. Jesus took the disciples to the mountain, the highest in Israel, and left all of them at the foot of the mountain except for Peter, James, and John. He took these three with him to the top. Things are different at the top than the bottom of any mountain. There is probably still snow on Mount Rogers and Whitetop while ours down here is gone. It’s colder up there than here. Jesus is the same whether we’re at the top or bottom of our mountains. The Jesus of the gospel is truly the Son of God and he wanted Peter, James and John to see him in his true form. He allowed them to see him inside out so they could see his glory, power and majesty. They saw Jesus as he was before he came to earth and how he is now.
The devil knows what Jesus looks like. Though man could only see his earthly body, the devils could see the divine. In his presence demons had to confess who he was even though they tried to convince people he was nothing. He’s more than the subject of a Sunday school lesson or sermon. He’s more than the theme of a song. Jesus is true and real. If we’ll stop listening to the devil and look at the truth, we’d all see who Jesus is. John said they beheld him full of grace and truth. Peter said they were eye witnesses of his majesty. All of us need to see Jesus for who he is. What a blessing for these disciples! We cannot survive off the mountain without seeing and knowing who Jesus is. Our salvation hinges on our faith that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. That’s where the victory comes.
When they came off the mountain, the devil met them. The people couldn’t see him, but he was there. A crowd was gathered that had many different issues, all waiting on Jesus. The devil was behind all their problems and was with them at the foot of the mountain. Never think the devil is far away. He’s where you are. He’s working on you one way or another.
Verse 38 tells us about a father who came to Jesus about his only son. He said, Master, I beseech thee, look upon my son: for he is mine only child. This father’s only child was filled and possessed with the devil. He couldn’t move and think on his own. He was helpless under the power of Satan. The father was helpless as well and came to the only begotten Son of God—the only one truly free of the devil. He doesn’t have to put up with the devil and his tricks. He’s the only one to win total victory over Satan. The Father of this Son was God Almighty. He had just spoken on the top of the mountain.
Jesus sees the devil all around us. He knows what the devil does to us, how he injures and hurts us. The devil took this boy at will and did as he pleased. He deceives us to keep us from Jesus. The boy tried to get to Jesus and the devil threw him to the ground to keep him away. His father asked Jesus to look upon him. He didn’t ask for money or to have his bills paid. His concern was for his son who was being destroyed by the devil. Right before the eyes of family and friends, the devil seeks to destroy you. He’ll injure you in ways that will even lead you to think you have no sin. Without Jesus Christ we’re a goner. That’s why we must cry out for the Lord to look upon us. This boy’s father was confident that it would be all right if Jesus would look upon his son.
Verse 39 says and, lo, a spirit taketh him, and he suddenly crieth out; and it teareth him that he foameth again, and bruising him hardly departeth from him. It’s as if the boy was on the devil’s leash being jerked around. The devil has lots of people on his leash. Everyone who is not surrendered to Jesus is on it. The devil would like to eat us up right now. Our only prayer is for Jesus to look upon us. Jesus came so every child of Adam could be released from Satan.
Jesus was greater than the power of Satan over this boy. Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, and healed the child, and delivered him again to his father. He reached out and slapped the devil right out of the boy. I’m tired of the devil slapping me around. I can’t slap him out, but I know someone who can—Jesus! He reached down and healed the wounds the devil had inflicted upon the boy and handed him to his father.
The devil is at the foot of the hill, but Jesus is coming. Call out to him. He’ll hear you. No matter how the devil works, ask the Lord to look upon your family and friends. Ask him to look at your life. He will deliver.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 