Jesus replied, "This kind can come out only by prayer." 

 It doesn't surprise me the disciples inquired of Jesus privately after they had gone indoors away from the large crowd which had witnessed their futile efforts at being spiritually efficient.  What a defeat this had been for them. 

I assume they tried to command the demon.  That was a bust.  Who knows what techniques they may have used to no avail.  Did they hush the crowd?  Did they made a performance of it?  Did they go to frantic lengths?  They may not have been as theatrical at the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel at the time of Elijah, but the result was no less a debacle.

The disciples had been of no use to a desperate father and a distressed child.  If anything, they had even been detrimental.  Their failure had sparked argument in the townspeople and from religious authorities.  The boy was clearly no better and the father despondent.  And their stunted efforts grieved Jesus who groans out an uncustomary lament, "O unbelieving generation.  How long shall I put up with you?"  Those are pretty strong words of Christ.  So, it's no surprise they didn't want now a public discussion about how they spiritually bungled things.

 It is far more honest when we Christians acknowledge how useless we are than if we contend everything is just peachy with our faith.  The keyword in the disciple's question is "we."  Why couldn't WE drive it out?  Even in their awkwardness and the discredit of having to stand by incapable and ridiculous, they still found it so difficult to disentangle themselves from the idea that the work of the church is not their work but the application of Christ and his merit and mercy.

 Jesus bewailed their unbelief, not their disappointment, discomfort, or public humiliation.  Jesus didn't zero in on how they were feeling or how they might improve their public relations next time.  He wasn't interested in their image or how they might improve their performance.  He cares most about our faith in Him. 

 We have it all wrong these days if misguided aims have the attention.  It would be like asking Jesus, "How come we can't get more people to come to church?  How come we can't seem to catch up with our congregation's bills?  How come our statistics aren't as good as the Mormons or the Muslims or even another Lutheran church down the road?  How is it that I prove so clumsy in my witness and inelegant in my ways.  It's uncomfortable, Jesus.  Am I not supposed to be successful?  Shouldn't I or we be able to overcome these hurdles?

 I don't know anywhere in the Bible where Jesus said we were to be successful, comfortable, appreciated, respected or credited.  What he does say is that we are to be faithful. 

Did the disciples lack power?  No.  Did they lack the means?  No.  Did they lack support?  There were probably seven or eight of them against one false spirit.  No, the weakness was their faith.  The cure is Christ. 

That day it wasn't just the demon-possessed boy who was delivered.  It was the disciples who were delivered another beautiful testament of divine compassion.  Jesus swallowed his indignation.  He conversed with the distraught father, he arrested the evil spirit, he set free the child.  He stopped the judgment of the people, and abided with his poor disciples - not to outline for them a better strategy, an improved methodology, a more winning style - but an encouragement simply to pray; to trust the Lord even when we are embarrassed; to rely on his Word even though we have screwed up royally; to rejoice in his solution to every need even if WE are frail, even if WE have sinned.

Even though WE could not drive out the foe, He has done so.  Our faithfulness is often shown to be threadbare, but Jesus would not have us give up on the righteousness which is by faith. 

 Remember, Jesus asked, "How long shall I stay with you, O unbelieving generation?"  He answered his own question.  He stayed with us all the way to the cross.