Reflecting on Mark 1:21-28“I know who you are — the Holy One of God!” (Mark 1:24)
As a Jesus follower, I agree with this impure spirit.
Jesus is the Holy (set apart like God) One of God.
But unlike this impure spirit, this brings me joy.
I know what Jesus wants with us, not to destroy us.
I do not know what or who or how impure spirits are.
Whatever they are, these spirits do want to destroy us.
Forget for a moment the pictures of demons in your minds.
Like angels, they are messengers (the meaning of the word).
And their message is either good or evil, helpful or harmful.
I find it more helpful to see these impure spirits as ‘voices’
‘Voices’ in my head that discourage, distract or disturb me.
All of us hear these ‘voices’, though we imagine them as our own thoughts.
Negative thoughts that tempt, taunt and torture us, if we let them.
When Jesus, the Voice (Word) of God speaks, these voices go ballistic.
They counter what Jesus says, they destroy the hope He brings.
Jesus offers love, joy and peace… and voices within me argue about it.
So why do we prefer to listen to these impure voices?
Why do we cling to the negative thinking, which is actually destroying us?
I think its because we’ve been possessed by them for so long.
We cannot let go of them, they hold us in the grip of fear.
I have come to believe that the Voice of Jesus is good and true!
I am always reading the gospels so that I hear His Voice continuously.
He speaks with a good authority, not an oppressive authority.
When He speaks, I sense love, joy, peace, hope, freedom, welcome.
When He gently rebukes, I still hear these same things.
Jesus speaks with an authority different from many religious people.
Not condemnation that drives me away, but compassion that draws me near.
How I wish that news of this Jesus would spread quickly.
There is a gentle, humble authority to Jesus and the Jesus Way.
Jesus does not get into an argument or debate with this voice.
He silences it and dismisses it, no yelling or forceful posturing.
This makes me think when I am with a spiritual antagonist.
I do not need to argue, debate or convert them to my way.
I simply need to speak Jesus into the conversation.
Describe Jesus, and how Jesus loved and served people.
Guaranteed they will criticize or even mock your weak words.
But the authority of Jesus and the Spirit will speak.
Some may be silenced, others may look for some pigs to hide in.
Still others will shake violently and shriek, to frighten us.
Don’t play their game, or join their debate; just focus on Jesus.
Jesus is our apologetic, our message, our ‘Voice’, and He works!
I need to handle the negative voices in my own head in the same way.
Don’t argue, don’t fight, just fix my eyes and ears on Jesus, listen to Him!
You know Who He is… let His loving, gracious authority silence those voices for you.
Jesus is with me, Jesus does not condemn me, Jesus came to set me free!
I am loved, I am God’s, I am forgiven, I am set free, I am secure…
Let those words sternly silence the negative voices, and send them away!
(Listen to this song by Casting Crowns, it may help!)
PRAYER
Lord Jesus, I know Who You are! You did not come to destroy me, but to set me free! Your Voice is the voice of truth, and I choose to listen to You. You are the Holy One of God, and I am set apart by You, with You, for God as well.
Help me to keep listening to Your Voice when the other voices tempt, taunt or torture me, to disturb, distract, discourage and destroy me. May Your gentle, gracious authority silence those voices and send them away!