John Calvin Commentary Mark 9:17

"And one of the multitude answered him, Teacher, I brought unto thee my son, who hath a dumb spirit;" — Mark 9:17 (ASV)

Master, I have brought to you my son. Matthew describes a different kind of disease from what Mark describes, for he says that the man was lunatic. However, both agree on these two points: that he was dumb, and that at certain intervals he became furious.

The term lunatic is applied to those who, around the waning of the moon, are seized with epilepsy or afflicted with giddiness.

I do not accept Chrysostom's fanciful notion that the word lunatic was invented by a trick of Satan to throw disgrace on God's good creatures. For we learn from undeniable experience that the moon's course affects the increase or decline of these diseases.⁴⁸⁸ Yet this does not prevent Satan from mixing his attacks with natural means.

Therefore, I am of the opinion that the man was not naturally deaf and dumb, but that Satan had taken possession of his tongue and ears. And, as the weakness of his brain and nerves made him liable to epilepsy, Satan availed himself of this to aggravate the disease.

The consequence was that he was exposed to danger on every side and was thrown into violent convulsions, which left him lying on the ground, in a fainting state, and like a dead man.

Let us learn from this how many ways Satan has of injuring us, if he were not restrained by the hand of God.

Our infirmities of both soul and body, which we feel to be innumerable, are so many darts with which Satan is supplied to wound us.

We are worse than stupid if such a wretched condition does not arouse us to prayer.

But in this we also see an amazing display of God's goodness: though we are liable to such a variety of dangers,⁴⁸⁹ He surrounds us with His protection, particularly when we consider with what eagerness our enemy is intent on our destruction.

We ought also to recall the consoling truth that Christ has come to bridle Satan's rage, and that we are safe in the midst of so many dangers because our diseases are effectually counteracted by heavenly medicine.

We must also pay attention to the circumstance of the time.

The father replies that his son had been subject to this grievous disease from his infancy.

If Satan was permitted to exert his power to such an extent on a person of that tender age, how much more reason do we have to fear?

We continually expose ourselves by our crimes to deadly strokes, even supplying our enemy with darts.

Indeed, Satan might justly be permitted to unleash his rage upon us, if it were not kept under restraint by the astonishing goodness of God.

⁴⁸⁸ On the opinion expressed by calvin, as to the influence of the moon on these diseases, the reader may consult on these diseases, the reader may consult Harmony, , vol. 1 p. 245, n.l. — — Ed.

⁴⁸⁹ “Combien que nous soyons subiets a mille dangers et inconveniens;” — “though we are liable to a thousand dangers and inconveniences.”;” — “though we are liable to a thousand dangers and inconveniences.”