While they were leaving, some people brought before Jesus a man with a demon spirit who couldn’t speak. Jesus cast the demon out of him, and immediately the man began to speak plainly. The crowds marveled in astonishment, saying, “We’ve never seen miracles like this in Israel!” But the Pharisees kept saying, “The chief of demons is helping him drive out demons.” [Matthew 9:32-34 TPT]
Movies like The Exorcist, and ones like it, come to mind when we hear the word demon.
This passage indicates that religious leaders had a narrow theology about them.
When they mention the 'chiefs of demons', they describe a sinister invisible kingdom.
Like the Pharisees, many religious folks today have developed a complex theology of demons.
Some believe that they are fallen angels following and led by Satan, the chief of demons.
Some deny their existence and relegate their appearance in history to superstition and myth.
I think that the truth lies somewhere between the two extreme views of demons.
When I consider human history, it seems evident that evil has existed from the beginning.
People have done, and still do, evil things to each other creating much pain and suffering.
When I read passages like this one, I am reminded that Jesus came to restore humanity.
Throughout his ministry Christ rebuked demons and restored people to wellness.
Perhaps verses such as these were written to give us hope in dark times?
That said, I am reticent to expound in detail on the nature of demons.
The existence of the Holy Spirit seems to indicate that there are also unholy spirits.
It makes sense that they exist and have probably always influenced human beings.
It does explain, to a degree, why people sometimes do awful things to others.
Things like addictions seem to have more than just a physiological aspect to them.
Yet, like sickness and diseases, unholy influences are mostly not quickly dealt with.
I love that Jesus had power over all things physical and spiritual.
He healed people who were physically sick and those who were spiritually sick.
Yet today, these miracles of healing are rare even though we pray much for them.
The takeaway for me is that we must do all we can do to stay healthy.
And when we are sick, we must do all that is in our power to return to health.
In the end, we pray for health believing that Jesus has the power to heal and deliver.
Open our inner eyes Lord, that we might discern and rebuke the presence of evil.
... this devotion is part of the Red Letters series. Click here to read more.
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