For us, this statement about Jesus getting his power from the demons is a laugh out loud moment (LOL). He is certainly no demon. But for those people, it was probably a scary sight to see. I have not been privileged to see a demonic possession cured, so I can only imagine.
How about the folks that were testing Jesus. There are some in every crowd. Those that jeer and try to rile. They are not my favorite people. I never understood the intent. They must be weak individuals who are a bit uncomfortable in their own skin – they need to tear down others. I can only guess. I pray for them.
I always love it when Jesus rises to the occasion with integrity and wisdom. He knows the thoughts of men (good and bad). He didn’t let their mockery phase him. He took this opportunity to teach a very good lesson about evil and sin. There are actually several nuggets we can glean from today’s reading. Let’s take a look.
We all know that if there is division in a family, a church, or any group of people, that group is weakened. We all know families that have “issues.” Most families do. It becomes the reaction to those issues that will separate the families who crumble from the families who grow stronger. We hear so many tragic stories of families broken apart by illness, death, or bad choices. While Jesus doesn’t counsel on how to avoid this division, suffice it to say that standing together, no matter what, will be helpful.
What about when evil overtakes you and me? I’m sure you can remember a time when you were tempted and perhaps gave in to the temptation. After dealing with the ill effects of that poor choice, perhaps you were eventually “cured” or set free from that sin. Jesus warns that the evil spirit will depart for a time, but it is also very likely to return, even stronger. We need to stand strong and be prepared.
I saw examples of this in our recovery ministry. People would get clean for a couple months, or even longer. Then, something would happen and they would “fall off the wagon” and be even worse off than before. Just knowing how evil works is helpful in keeping us safe. Evil spirits are crafty, just waiting for us to have a moment of weakness.
My favorite words of Jesus in this reading are, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” That’s empowering, isn’t it? He’s talking to us. We have heard the word of God. Did we simply hear it, or did we listen and absorb? Do we have intentions of putting it into practice?
The word of God is instruction for us. We need to pay attention and follow what it says. Think of an example: what happens if we buy a computer or some other object that needs to be put together but don’t read the instructions? Or if we just read the instructions but never assemble the object? We miss out on the enjoyment of that object.
What is God’s word telling you to do today? Go and do! Enjoy!
Let’s pray. Lord you amaze me with your wisdom and honor. Your great example of integrity and love is one to be followed. Instead of being angry at the ridicule, you kept your cool and used the moment to teach. Help me to use moments that arise to teach and share about you. May I live my life out loud as a testament to my faith and allegiance to you. Bring the weary and lost into my path. Show me how I can share my faith and bring your word alive for them. I stand against division and strife within the church and pray for your redemption to come. Lord bless this day like only you can bless. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
