Mark 9:28 meaning

In this passage, the focus is on the failure of Jesus' disciples to cast out a particularly strong demon from a boy, which leads to a moment of teaching from Jesus about the nature of spiritual authority and reliance on God's power. The disciples, having been unable to perform the exorcism, sought to understand the reasons behind their failure. This situation emphasizes the disciples' misunderstanding of the source of their power, which was not inherent but rather dependent on prayer and spiritual discipline.

In Mark 9:28, the disciples privately ask Jesus why they could not succeed, highlighting their sense of inadequacy and the humiliation they experienced from their public failure. Jesus responds by revealing that the nature of this specific exorcism required a level of spiritual preparation that they had not employed, specifically mentioning prayer as a vital element. This moment reinforces the lesson that effective ministry and victory over spiritual challenges do not simply depend on experience, but on a deep, faithful reliance on God through prayer—an essential discipline for all disciples.