“Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. 15 But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” 16 Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven. 17 Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. 18 If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. 19 Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. 20 But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.” Luke 11.14-20
We could easily stop after verse 14 and be amazed. Jesus was driving out demons like it was no big deal. Here we are, more than halfway through His ministry, and this had happened many times before. Luke writes about it as if it were common, normative—even a natural part of Jesus’ ministry. And it was.
And yet, it is not so common for us in our cultured USA. We are so “advanced” that we believe only what we can see. We think all sickness can be explained by medical science. Yet in third-world countries, where modern medicinal remedies are rare, people know that much is linked to the spiritual realm—the demonic, the evil spirits lurking about.
Jesus had limited hospitals, so He became the Great Physician of our bodies and our souls. His early work, and the work of the disciples, was straightforward: preaching the gospel, healing the sick, and casting out demons. How different this looks from our ministry today!
He was even accused of casting out demons by the power of demons. This is ridiculous, and He says so. But He was driving demons out, setting people free by the “finger of God,” and implying, “The kingdom of God has come upon you.” The power of God is among you—meaning there is a spiritual dimension around us now that is just as great as, or greater than, what we see with our eyes.
Many have been blinded by this truth. We think lust, greed, depression, anxiety, addictions, and sin in general are all based on our own human fallen flesh. And some of it is. But the old “shoulder angel/demon” idea is not far from the truth. Our spiritual ears are being whispered to by both God’s beautiful angels of mercy and the dark devils from hell. God’s Spirit and His Word encourage us to walk the path of scriptural holiness, while the devil wants us to do “whatever feels good.”
What is my point? Recognize that the battle is real. Know that this world has two dimensions—physical and spiritual—and that Jesus came to win the day in both. He is with you. He is near you. Call upon His Holy Spirit to bring healing to what ails you. Ask the Lord to save you and rescue you from your worries.
Jesus is near. He is here. He loves you and will never leave you. The same Great Physician of the 1st century AD is with you now.
“O Lord God, I beat myself up because I think I am so weak, such a sinner, unable to fully devote myself to You. But I forget the battle is real! The more I love You, the more the enemy hates my choices. But thanks be to You, Lord God—You have won the victory. You defeated sin and death on the cross, and You fill me with Your grace and love. By Your blood I am redeemed. Come now, Holy Spirit, draw me close, be my healer, save my soul. For You are good and Your love endures forever.” Amen.