Jesus asked the boy’s father,This phrase highlights Jesus’ direct engagement with the boy’s father, emphasizing His personal and compassionate approach. In the cultural context of the time, addressing the father would have been significant, as fathers were seen as the primary authority figures in the family. This interaction also demonstrates Jesus’ method of involving the family in the healing process, which can be seen in other instances, such as when He healed Jairus’ daughter (Mark 5:22-43).
“How long has this been with him?”Jesus’ question indicates His desire to understand the full extent of the boy’s condition. This approach is consistent with His ministry, where He often sought to reveal deeper truths and address root causes. The question also serves to highlight the chronic nature of the boy’s affliction, underscoring the severity of the situation. This mirrors other instances in Scripture where Jesus inquires about a person’s condition before performing a miracle, such as with the man at the pool of Bethesda (John 5:6).
“From childhood,” he said.The father’s response indicates that the boy has been suffering for a significant period, which adds to the miraculous nature of the healing that is about to occur. In biblical times, long-term illnesses were often seen as particularly challenging to cure, and this detail emphasizes the power and authority of Jesus over even the most entrenched conditions. This phrase also evokes compassion, as it highlights the prolonged suffering of the child and the desperation of the father. The mention of “childhood” can be connected to other biblical narratives where children are central to God’s work, such as the calling of Samuel (1 Samuel 3) and the prophecy of the suffering servant in Isaiah 53, which speaks to the innocence and vulnerability of those who suffer.1. JesusThe central figure of the New Testament, the Son of God, who performs miracles and teaches about the Kingdom of God.2. The Boy’s FatherA desperate parent seeking healing for his son, who is possessed by a spirit causing seizures.3. The BoyA child afflicted by a spirit that causes him to have seizures and other harmful behaviors.4. The DisciplesFollowers of Jesus who were unable to cast out the spirit from the boy.5. The CrowdOnlookers who witness the interaction between Jesus, the boy’s father, and the disciples.The Importance of FaithJesus’ question to the father highlights the need for faith in the process of healing and deliverance. Faith is not just belief in God’s power but trust in His timing and methods.The Role of Persistence in PrayerThe father’s continued search for healing for his son demonstrates the importance of persistence in prayer, even when immediate results are not seen.Understanding Spiritual WarfareThe disciples’ inability to cast out the demon reminds us of the reality of spiritual warfare and the need for spiritual preparedness and reliance on God’s power.Jesus’ Compassion and AuthorityJesus’ interaction with the father and the boy shows His compassion and authority over evil, encouraging believers to trust in His power to intervene in their lives.The Community of BelieversThe presence of the disciples and the crowd underscores the role of the faith community in supporting individuals in their struggles and in witnessing God’s work.1. What is the meaning of Mark 9:21?2. How does Mark 9:21 demonstrate Jesus’ concern for individual circumstances and needs? 3. What can we learn about faith from the father’s response in Mark 9:21? 4. How does Mark 9:21 connect to other healing stories in the Gospels? 5. How can we apply Jesus’ attentive approach in Mark 9:21 to our ministry? 6. In what ways does Mark 9:21 encourage us to seek Jesus in our struggles?7. Why does Jesus ask the boy’s father about the duration of his son’s condition in Mark 9:21?8. What significance does the father’s response hold in the context of faith and healing?9. How does Mark 9:21 reflect the importance of personal testimony in the healing process?10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Mark 9?11. What defines the concept of Lordship Salvation?12. Mark 9:14-29 – What proof exists that this exorcism was not merely a medical or psychological case misunderstood by ancient people? 13. What did Jesus mean by ‘prayer and fasting’?14. What is the Bible’s perspective on doubt?jesus asked
• Mark presents a factual, historical moment: “Jesus asked…” (Mark 9:21).
• Jesus often begins a healing encounter with a question (Mark 10:51; John 5:6).
• The question is never for His information—He is omniscient (John 2:24-25)—but for the benefit of the hearers:
– It draws the sufferer into honest dialogue (Mark 5:30-32).
– It showcases Christ’s compassion, proving He is personally engaged, not mechanically performing miracles (Hebrews 4:15).
– It sets the stage for a public testimony that will glorify God (Luke 17:15-19).
the boy’s father
• Scripture highlights the father, underscoring parental responsibility and love (Proverbs 22:6; Psalm 103:13).
• The father is exhausted yet still seeking help—an example of persevering intercession (Mark 9:17-18).
• In a few verses he will cry, “I do believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24), modeling honest faith that does not pretend but pleads.
• The narrative reminds believing parents that they can bring impossible situations to Jesus rather than surrender to despair (Luke 8:41-42).
how long has this been with him?
• Jesus’ specific query—“How long has this been with him?”—highlights:
– The severity and chronic nature of the affliction, distinguishing it from a passing illness (Luke 13:16: a woman bound eighteen years).
– The greater glory when deliverance finally comes: the longer the bondage, the brighter the liberation (John 9:1-3).
– A deliberate dismantling of any doubt about the miracle’s authenticity; nobody can claim a coincidence when a lifelong torment ends in a moment (Mark 5:2-5).
• For the bystanders, the question sets up a faith lesson: no duration of suffering places someone beyond Christ’s reach (Isaiah 59:1).
from childhood
• The father answers, “From childhood,” confirming the boy has never known a normal life.
• Long-term bondage from such an early age illustrates humanity’s natural state: “dead in trespasses and sins” from birth (Ephesians 2:1-3; Psalm 51:5).
• The enemy’s cruelty is exposed; he does not spare the young (Matthew 2:16), yet Christ comes “to destroy the works of the devil” (1 John 3:8).
• This timing magnifies the miracle’s significance:
– No habit, chain, or spiritual oppression is too ingrained for Jesus to break (Isaiah 46:3-4).
– Hope endures even when years of failure suggest permanence (Lamentations 3:21-23).
summary
Mark 9:21 captures a real conversation that reveals Christ’s compassionate method. Jesus’ question is purposeful, the father’s answer is honest, and the length of the boy’s suffering underscores both the enemy’s malice and the Savior’s supremacy. What humans resign to as lifelong, Jesus reverses in seconds, proving that time and torment pose no obstacle to His delivering power.(21) And he asked his father.-The question, asked as if to bring into strong relief the chronic, and therefore seemingly hopeless, character of the possession, is peculiar to this Gospel, as is the circumstantial account of the falling oft-times “into the fire and into the waters.”
Verses 21, 22. – Our Lord asks the father, not the sufferer, which in this case would have been useless – he was but a lad, and he was dumb. Our Lord’s question, How long time is it since this hath come unto him? was intended, not of course for his own information, but to inspire the father with hope and confidence. The father briefly answers, From a child; and then turns to a description of the perils to which his child was continually exposed through these paroxysms. And then, half doubting, half in despair, he says, If thou canst do anything, have compassion on us, and help us. It is as though he said, “Thy disciples have failed, perhaps thy power may be greater.” Parallel Commentaries …[Jesus] askedἐπηρώτησεν (epērōtēsen)Verb – Aorist Indicative Active – 3rd Person SingularStrong’s 1905: To interrogate, question, demand of. From epi and erotao; to ask for, i.e. Inquire, seek.[the boy’s]αὐτοῦ (autou)Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Genitive Masculine 3rd Person SingularStrong’s 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.father,πατέρα (patera)Noun – Accusative Masculine SingularStrong’s 3962: Father, (Heavenly) Father, ancestor, elder, senior. Apparently a primary word; a ‘father’.“How longΠόσος (Posos)Interrogative / Indefinite Pronoun – Nominative Masculine SingularStrong’s 4214: How much, how great, how many. From an absolute pos and hos; interrogative pronoun how much (plural) many).{has} thisτοῦτο (touto)Demonstrative Pronoun – Nominative Neuter SingularStrong’s 3778: This; he, she, it. beenγέγονεν (gegonen)Verb – Perfect Indicative Active – 3rd Person SingularStrong’s 1096: A prolongation and middle voice form of a primary verb; to cause to be, i.e. to become, used with great latitude.with him?”αὐτῷ (autō)Personal / Possessive Pronoun – Dative Masculine 3rd Person SingularStrong’s 846: He, she, it, they, them, same. From the particle au; the reflexive pronoun self, used of the third person, and of the other persons.“FromἘκ (Ek)PrepositionStrong’s 1537: From out, out from among, from, suggesting from the interior outwards. A primary preposition denoting origin, from, out.childhood,”παιδιόθεν (paidiothen)AdverbStrong’s 3812: From childhood, from early boyhood. Adverb from paidion; from infancy.he said.εἶπεν (eipen)Verb – Aorist Indicative Active – 3rd Person SingularStrong’s 2036: Answer, bid, bring word, command. A primary verb; to speak or say.Mark 9:21 NIVMark 9:21 NLTMark 9:21 ESVMark 9:21 NASBMark 9:21 KJVMark 9:21 BibleApps.comMark 9:21 Biblia ParalelaMark 9:21 Chinese BibleMark 9:21 French BibleMark 9:21 Catholic BibleNT Gospels: Mark 9:21 He asked his father How long has (Mar Mk Mr)