I was dealing with a severe case of asthma and made an appointment to see a pulmonologist. He was a young, Indian doctor with a gracious disposition. He made a few suggestions, reduced my medicine, and sent me on my way. Almost immediately as I left the office building, the symptoms of my asthma disappeared. I realized that this was a “Jesus thing”—that I had been healed. Several months later on the follow-up appointment, I told the doctor that my asthma had gone from a level “9” to a level “2.” I added: “I give you 50% of the credit, and God 50% of the credit.” Smiling, he pointed to the sky and said, “Oh no, give God 100% of the credit.”
What a witness to me. This talented doctor realized that God was the healer and that he was his instrument. There was something more going on that day that went beyond the power of medical know-how.
When Jesus invaded human history, his presence released a power that goes beyond medical know-how. We see this today (Mark 1:21-28).
“Jesus came to Capernaum…entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’”
Evil spirits cannot remain hidden in the presence of Jesus. The power that went forth from him drew the evil spirit out of the man’s body. It “barked” at Jesus and taunted him. This spirit could see that Jesus was the Holy One of God, and it shouted this out though it was not time for Jesus to reveal his true identity to the people.
“Jesus rebuked (the spirit) and said, ‘Quiet! Come out of him!” The unclean spirit convulsed him, and with a loud cry came out of him.”
An instant exorcism! A command from the mouth of Jesus set the man free from the tormenting spirit; the spirit left his body screaming out. Jesus had, and continues to have, power over evil spirits.
The people said to one another,
“What is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”
Of course, the people could not understand who Jesus really was. He taught with authority and exorcised demons because he was God himself, become man. He taught and acted in a way that goes beyond human experience and human power.
We live in an age in which the limitations of human knowledge and power are evident. Confusion fills the air and evil seems to be gaining ground. Men, in their arrogance, believe that with enough money, power, and expertise they can impose truth on the world and eliminate the presence of evil. As is evident, the harder they try and the more arrogantly they boast, the more things get worse. Will the world have to hit bottom before it realizes that its own solutions have failed, and that until they invite God into the mix, it will be swallowed up by darkness?
God, in his mercy, sent Jesus into the world precisely because human being cannot save themselves. Jesus is the door who brings us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of light. As we invite him into our lives, we will be a living testimony to who Jesus is and what he can do in the world.
