In our gospel reading for today, Jesus has been busy in Judea and Galilee curing people of their diseases, and casting out people's demons. And so, as large crowds gather in his home town, they wonder about HOW Jesus is able to do these miraculous things. Some people are scared of his power, and they want Jesus' family to take him away, and treat him as you would treat the insane. The scribes from Jerusalem, in their jealousy, say that Jesus' power comes directly from Satan's right hand demon. But Jesus assures the crowd that his ability to cure diseases and cast out demons comes directly from God. And as Jesus now lives within US, we too can expect that we will be used by God to bring about and to be witnesses to miraculous things....
Have you ever heard this saying before? “She made a pact with the devil.” Usually this saying is used when someone has had an extraordinary run of good fortune. And this saying points to a bias that our culture holds – that when it comes to getting the outcome you want, the most consistent, most powerful, and most available help, comes from Satan. If God were truly ready and able to do everything we ask of him, would anyone ever “sell their soul” for anything? Or just for things we KNOW God does not want us to have? And just for things we value more than we value our eternal soul?
Jesus in our gospel reading today has had an extraordinary run of good fortune – in the sense that he has been able to cure many, many people from demon possession and disease that were otherwise considered incurable. And so some people got spooked by his display of power – a power coming from outside the limitations of man and nature, a power that makes it easy to distrust the one who wields it. The scribes go one step further – they claim that Jesus has made a pact with the devil – that the spirit of Beelzebul is residing within him, and he is casting out demons STRATEGICALLY as their commanding officer. In any event, no one seems to be making the connection that the ability of Jesus to do these miraculous things, is coming directly from God.
How do we react to the miraculous? When folks on our prayer list are healed, or their relationships are straightened out, or they get through the challenges they face against all odds, do we slough it off as something that would have happened anyway without God's intervention? Do we feel uneasy at the thought of witnessing God displaying power outside the limitations of man and nature? Would WE be comfortable talking to others about experiencing a miracle? Or have we been trained SO WELL to deal with what can be seen, that we have lost touch with what cannot be seen? If we continually discount the miraculous things that are happening around us, then how can we place our trust in God for help and healing? We will give up hope much too quickly, and resign ourselves to living with whatever Satan has arranged for us.
But in our gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples that he has Satan all tied up! Is SATAN giving Jesus the power to drive out demons? Ridiculous! Satan would never give an inch to God's kingdom willingly. The reason Jesus can cast out demons is because God gives him the power – enough power to defeat Satan and plunder his house. Through his death and resurrection, Jesus has FREED God's people from slavery to Satan. And in baptism into his death and resurrection, Jesus promises his believers that he will abide in them, and continue his work of healing and casting out demons through them.
So we can expect the miraculous to happen around us! We can proclaim Jesus's victory over Satan and bring a word of hope to people under Satan's tyranny – that regardless of what the temporary looks like, the eternal outcome has been secured. We can spread the word that Satan's influence can shrink in this world, at least among us who know his arms are tied. We can get involved in plundering Satan's house, and claim people and situations for God's kingdom. And we can witness to the miraculous things we do see, to encourage each other, and build each other up in faith. We do not need to FEAR the strong man whom Jesus has tied up. And we most certainly do not need to LISTEN to his offers for our eternal soul.
Gracious God, we thank you for showing your power through Jesus Christ abiding within us. Help us recognize the situations where we should proclaim your victory, and help us to witness to the miracles we have already experienced, in Jesus name, amen.