The power of Jesus’ words astounds me. Today, I read a one-word command and those He said it to obeyed Him immediately. Do we do that? Do we recognize both the importance of who Jesus is and the need for immediate obedience to Him? Today’s questions are inspired by an intriguing story in the book of Matthew.
I’m still reading through the book of Matthew. Today, I read a particular story in chapter 8 that caused me to pause and ponder.
As the story goes, after Jesus calmed a furious storm on a lake, he arrived on the other side. When He got off the boat, He was met by two men, two demon-possessed men who had come from the tombs. That’s kind of a creepy scenario if you ask me.
Demon-possessed means demons lived in them. That’s hard for most of us maybe to imagine because how many of us have personally met someone demon-possessed? Still, it’s true.
They must have been vile. Seriously, they came from the tombs. How disgusting do you think they looked?
We know they were violent too. People were so scared of them, they would not pass by them.
When these two demon-possessed men approached Jesus, they were not holding a sign that said “Jesus” like some chauffeur in an airport. I imagine they were dirty, tattered, and crazy acting. They must have been dreadfully brutal.
Jesus wasn’t afraid. Listen to this interaction.
First thing the demons did? Acknowledge who Jesus was. “What do you want with us ‘Son of God?’”
Interestingly, Jesus didn’t answer their question.
Then they taunted Jesus. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
Again, no answer from Jesus.
I can imagine the tension was high. Powerful demons and one powerful God facing each other.
But then what happens next is so unexpected. The demons start begging Jesus for mercy.
The Bible says, “The demons begged Jesus.”
Jesus didn’t have to say anything for those demons to know who He was and His power.
Now they were scared.
They knew Jesus was not afraid of them. They knew they were doomed. So the begged Him for mercy…to send them into a nearby herd of pigs rather than torture them like they knew they deserved.
I love how Jesus responded. I’m sure Jesus turned, looked at the pigs, then looked back at these demons who were controlling these two men (who He wanted to heal from this torture by the way). Then Jesus spoke one word.
“Go!”
Just one word is all Jesus had to speak and those demons flew out of those two men and went into the pigs. Even the pigs were scared. They were so scared and became so crazy they rushed down a steep cliff and into the lake. Boom! Dead! All of those pigs! Demons gone! The End.
Oh my goodness! Can you imagine being in that crowd of people? My eyes are wide-open and I wasn’t even there.
Jesus spoke one word and the demons obeyed.
They knew Jesus was the Son of God. They knew His power. They knew their time was up. They knew what their future held.
Do we?
Do we recognize who Jesus is? Do we know the power of the Son of God? Do we obey His commands immediately?
When Jesus tells us to “Go!” Do we?
One command that comes instantly to my mind is to “Go and make disciples…teach them to obey everything I [Jesus] have commanded you.”
Friends, we are to “Go!”
First we each are to obey Jesus’ commands. Second we are to go tell others to do the same.
If there is some area of your life you are not obeying Jesus, I encourage you to pause for a moment. Ask yourself why you are not obeying. Talk with Jesus Himself.
Yesterday I had three words I shared with you: Ask. Seek. Knock.
Today, I add “Go!”
Let’s all acknowledge who Jesus is and obey Him.
Let’s Go!
Scripture:
Matthew 9:32 – He said to them [demons], “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water.
Matthew 29-19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Leave a Reply