Jesus now returned to his work of ministering to the people. As the throng caught sight of the Saviour, they ran to meet him, greeting him with much reverence. But he perceived that they were in great perplexity. This was because of a circumstance that had just transpired: A man had brought his son to the disciples to be delivered of a dumb spirit that tormented him exceedingly. But the disciples had been unable to relieve him, and therefore the scribes had seized upon this opportunity to dispute with them as to their power of working miracles. These men were now triumphantly declaring that a devil was here found whom neither the disciples nor their Master could conquer. {2SP 333.1}

Jesus vendte nu tilbage til sin gerning blandt folket. Da skaren så Frelseren komme, løb de ham i møde og hilsede ham med megen ærbødighed. Men han lagde mærke til, at de var i stor forlegenhed. Dette var på grund af en omstændighed, som netop havde hændt sig. Der var en mand, som havde bragt sin søn til disciplene, for at de skulle uddrive en stum ånd, der plagede ham overordentlig. Men disciplene kunne ikke uddrive den. De skriftkloge havde derfor grebet denne anledning til at stride med dem om deres magt til at gøre mirakler. Disse mennesker erklærede nu jublende, at her havde de fundet en djævel, som hverken disciplene eller deres Mester kunde overvinde.