Today's Reading: Luke 11: 14-28
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Please click this link to read Luke 11: 14-28
Bible Study
Today's passage is a complicated one to understand. Jesus was being accused of being in league with the source of power or even had a bargain with the Prince of Demons - Beelzebub.
N.T. Wright gives us a very clear explanation to this accusation. He says:
Jesus is not claiming to be simply one exorcist among others. He is not casting out demons by some magic formula, or by using the name of some mighty or holy person. He is doing so 'by the finger of God' - a phrase which Luke hopes will remind his readers of the powerful works which Moses did at Pharaoh's court(Exodus 8:19), and which the magicians of Egypt could not copy. Jesus is acting like someone who has successfully attacked and tied up the strong man who was guarding a house. He has won an initial victory over the satan, and is now able to give orders to his underlings and have them obey him at once...
The point of Jesus' exorcisms was aiming to enact God's kingdom, for Israel and the world. Israel, like a demon-possed person, had been 'cleansed' by various movements of reform. But unless the living presence of God came to dwell in her midst, Israel would remain vulnerable to the return of the demons. Jesus stood there among his people, embodying as we shall see the return of God to Israel. Unless they turned from accusation to acceptance, the demons that had led them to ruin in former days would come back in full force.
What have we got from bishop Wright's explanation? Do we have the living presence of God dwelling in us? Is Jesus really our Lord lording us everyday? Or have we been lording by the dark force and can't get away?
Jesus is not claiming to be simply one exorcist among others. He is not casting out demons by some magic formula, or by using the name of some mighty or holy person. He is doing so 'by the finger of God' - a phrase which Luke hopes will remind his readers of the powerful works which Moses did at Pharaoh's court(Exodus 8:19), and which the magicians of Egypt could not copy. Jesus is acting like someone who has successfully attacked and tied up the strong man who was guarding a house. He has won an initial victory over the satan, and is now able to give orders to his underlings and have them obey him at once...
The point of Jesus' exorcisms was aiming to enact God's kingdom, for Israel and the world. Israel, like a demon-possed person, had been 'cleansed' by various movements of reform. But unless the living presence of God came to dwell in her midst, Israel would remain vulnerable to the return of the demons. Jesus stood there among his people, embodying as we shall see the return of God to Israel. Unless they turned from accusation to acceptance, the demons that had led them to ruin in former days would come back in full force.
What have we got from bishop Wright's explanation? Do we have the living presence of God dwelling in us? Is Jesus really our Lord lording us everyday? Or have we been lording by the dark force and can't get away?
Let's have a time to be still and give the Holy Spirit space to speak through the passage of scripture we have just read. Offer this time up to Jesus as you listen to him, while listening to "Gabriel's Oboe"
Spiritual Journal
What I heard from Jesus today is: Unless we turn from accusation to acceptance!
What I received from Jesus today is a warning. Bishop Wright has given us a very good understanding on what was really happening. Jesus' power is by the finger of God. And, unless the living presence of God comes to dwell in us, no matter how much we have been cleansed by Jesus, sooner or later the dark force that had controlled us would come back in full force.
That's why we have seen so many people including God's servants would suddenly become bad guys. That's why some Christians accuse other Christians as bad guys but in fact they are the real bad guys! Because without the presence of God dwelling in us, we have no hope! Jesus is Lord is the only way! If we have the presence of God dwelling in us, we can be able to turn from accusation to acceptance, and from rebellion to obedience!
That's why we have seen so many people including God's servants would suddenly become bad guys. That's why some Christians accuse other Christians as bad guys but in fact they are the real bad guys! Because without the presence of God dwelling in us, we have no hope! Jesus is Lord is the only way! If we have the presence of God dwelling in us, we can be able to turn from accusation to acceptance, and from rebellion to obedience!
Dear Lord Jesus,
Dwell in us each day that we can be transformed to turn from accusation to acceptance and from rebellion to obedience. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.
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