Demon Possessed Boy – Jesus Heals by Faith

What do you do when you’ve tried everything—and nothing works? This short moment in Matthew’s Gospel (17:14–20) reminds us that faith is not about trying harder. It’s about trusting deeper. In this lesson, we learn how Jesus heals a demon possessed boy and what it teaches us about faith, prayer, and depending fully on God.

The story is often titled “Jesus Heals a Demon Possessed Boy,” but at its heart, it is also a lesson about faith under pressure.

When trouble comes, faith doesn’t always follow. Our first instinct is often to fix the problem ourselves—without God.

That approach rarely works.

Let’s move through this reading from Matthew and see what happened when the disciples tried to help on their own—and what changed when Jesus stepped in.

A Question of Faith: Jesus Heals the Demon Possessed Boy

When they came to the crowd, a man came up to Jesus, falling on his knees before Him and saying, “Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is a lunatic and very ill; for he often falls into the fire and often into the water.”

“I brought him to Your disciples, and they could not cure him.” (Matthew 17:14–16)

This father had already done what many of us would do. He sought help from people close to Jesus. Yet, despite their best efforts, the disciples could not heal the boy.

And Jesus answered and said, “You unbelieving and perverted generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I put up with you? Bring him here to Me.” (Matthew 17:17)

Jesus’ words sound sharp, but they reveal a deeper frustration—not just with the crowd, but with misplaced trust.

And Jesus rebuked him, and the demon came out of him, and the boy was cured at once. (Matthew 17:18)

In a single moment, Jesus heals the boy completely. What the disciples could not do, Christ accomplished instantly.

Why Couldn’t the Disciples Heal the Demon Possessed Boy?

Then the disciples came to Jesus privately and said, “Why could we not drive it out?” (Matthew 17:19)

This is an honest question—and one worth asking. After all, these were men who had already witnessed miracles.

And He said to them, “Because of the littleness of your faith; for truly I say to you, if you have faith the size of a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move; and nothing will be impossible to you.” (Matthew 17:20)

Jesus points directly to the issue: faith. Not the absence of belief, but faith that had shifted away from God.

Are We Mountain Movers?

Years ago, our church vocal ensemble sang a song called “Mountain Mover.” It was catchy, uplifting, and based on this very passage.

Yet this verse challenges us:

Are we really trusting God enough to move mountains—or are we relying on ourselves?

Mustard Seed Faith

Most of us have heard the phrase, “If you have the faith of a mustard seed…” multiple times.

Jesus was not asking for enormous faith. He was asking for genuine faith—faith placed in the right source.

The problem was not the size of the disciples’ faith. It was where that faith was directed.

The Power to Heal – Whose Power?

Yes, there was a lack of faith. But let’s look deeper.

It is possible the disciples tried to drive out the demon using their own strength rather than relying on God’s power.

They missed an essential truth: they could not heal anyone on their own—but God could.

This same lesson appears again and again in Scripture–and in daily life.

Do We Count on Ourselves—or God?

How often do we try to solve problems our own way instead of seeking God first?

I can’t speak for you, but I know I can be stubborn. More than once, I’ve believed my answer was better than God’s. In truth, that path never leads to peace.

Faith grows when we surrender control. It deepens when we listen instead of rushing ahead. That mindset also helps us confront issues like bias and judgment, which Jesus addressed clearly—something discussed further here.

Prayer Can Help

If we will pray to God—and truly listen—we will begin to see His power at work.

This is how ordinary believers become “mountain movers.” Not by strength, but by trust. And yes, even today everyday miracles point us back to God’s power.

Love in Christ,
Bob

If you would like more Bible lessons that strengthen faith and point to Christ, you can always visit the homepage of Making Christ Known.

Or, if you would like to learn more about receiving the love and life-changing hope found in Jesus Christ, please take a moment to look at these verses from John 3:16.

*Verses from New American Standard Bible (NASB).