Word for Wednesday
And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! For with authority and power He commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. Luke 4:36
A man once responded to a vegetarian’s invitation to join her unhealthy diet by saying, ‘I didn’t fight my way to the top of the food chain to eat soy beans!’ That might be a good response as long as the man was not in shark-infested water, when he would realize that some other creatures would see him a little further down the food chain than them. But there is no question that mankind is the dominant species on our planet, the ones who God placed in charge of His creation. We often assume – but assume wrongly – that we are the highest of all created beings. Although we can’t see them (as far as we know), angels are a higher order of creation. Although they lack physical bodies, they have much more power than us, and they also have a closer relationship with God. Much of that is a mystery to us, but we can accept their higher status. So what about the demons, or evil spirits? These were originally angels, and so would outrank us on the creation scale, although they have no doubt lost much of their power because of the eternal condemnation under which they have been placed. They derive much of their power from the devil, whom they serve. The people in Capernaum were right to be amazed that these evil spirits would submit to the authority of any.
The evil spirit that Jesus cast out was apparently comfortable in the synagogue, which is a strong condemnation of the religious activities there. But he fled before the authority of the ‘Holy One of God’. The evil spirit had no argument, no challenge for the Lord Jesus. There was nothing he could do or say in response to the eviction notice. He was an enemy and the Lord Jesus disposed of him. This example of His power displays Jesus’ authority over all of creation, even to those who do not acknowledge Him as Creator. Scoffers and mockers of our day are becoming ever more bold in their scoffing and mockery. Let us remember that they can continue to scoff and mock only as long as the Lord Jesus allows them to do so. When He issues the eviction order, they will be gone.
The Lord Jesus, in His absolute authority over the evil spirits, is also in absolute authority over all of His enemies, whether of the spirit world or of humanity. With the demons He showed little patience, because the doom of those pathetic creatures is sealed. But with humans He is more patient, knowing that all have the opportunity to repent, because of the amazing grace of God. In His patience, He withholds for a while the wrath and destruction that we all deserve. But only for a while. There are no scoffers and mockers in hell. And those who scoff and mock today will cease when they lift up their eyes being in the torments of hell.
The Lord Who commanded absolute authority over the evil spirits will exercise complete authority over all of humanity. How much better for us to bow to His authority in this day of grace! – Jim MacIntosh