May 9: RECOGNIZING AUTHORITY (part 3)
When Jesus saw that the people came running together, He rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it: “Deaf and dumb spirit, I command you, come out of [this little boy] and enter him no more.” Mark 9:25
The boy’s father had described the alien spirit in his son as a mute spirit (v.17). The traumatic attacks on the boy left him unable to speak. But Jesus called it a deaf and dumb spirit, not that the unclean spirit itself could not hear, but – in addition to blocking the boy’s speech – it so preoccupied the thoughts of the father that he was rendered spiritually deaf. It is likely that the mother and other family members were likewise driven to distraction. The unclean spirit’s presence was an obstacle to the family’s spiritual sense of hearing.
A crowd was out on the streets that day. The boy’s seizure (v.20) and the father’s cry (v.24) directed the focus of the crowd onto them. Jesus, full of compassion, rebuked the unclean spirit. After ordering the spirit to leave the boy, the Lord added the command: “enter him no more.”
Then the spirit cried out, convulsed him greatly, and came out of him. And he became as one dead, so that many said, “He is dead.” (v.26) The torturing spirit obeyed the command of Jesus to leave. But not in a spirit of cooperation. Indeed, the very opposite. In animosity, he created as much trauma as he could muster on the way out in a display of hatred toward the Lord and His people.
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose (v.27). The authority that Jesus exercised over unclean spirits is authority that He wishes to delegate to His followers. But not in the sense of simply wielding power; or even with the relief of suffering as the ultimate goal… but that we may confidently know of the ultimate and final authority of the Lord.
We need to understand the reality of our spiritual enemy to keep from being deceived, for he is an intelligent entity who conceals himself as he works to spread the belief that he does not exist. No one is in greater danger from the influence of evil than someone who denies the existence and agency of the devil and his angels. Though there is ample evidence in the direct testimony of the Scriptures (not to mention the news that grows worse by the hour), our enemy is working feverishly to lead the world to believe that those who desire to live under the authority of Jesus are the real enemies of society (see Revelation 12:17). When we die daily (1 Corinthians 15:31) to the satanic influences that permeate our culture, we may suffer temporarily from the critical opinions of others. But the hand of the Lord is ready to lift each of us up in His own time.
Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your cares upon Him, for He cares for you. 1 Peter 5:6-7
Look further: Matthew 7:21; Luke 8:21; 11:28; Romans 2:13; James 1:21-22; Revelation 14:12