The above words of Jesus ended a teaching session of Jesus to his disciples, But, what - on earth - was “Holy Spirit” which, above all, the disciples could ask “the Father” to “give” to them?
And he was casting out a dumbing mini-god. But it came to be, the mini-god having come out, the dumb spoke, and the crowd marveled.
This was something new in Jesus’ miracles. Yes, evil, unclean spirits – mini-gods of all ideologies, habits and obsessions - had been “cast out” many times before. The freed person became, as it were, normal. But this instance was different because the freed person received something he did not have before. “The dumb spoke.” Was there a new spirit within?
But some of them said, “through Beelzebul, the ruler of mini-gods he casts out mini-gods” but others, testing, were seeking from him a sign from heaven.
For two different reasons, “some of them” dismissed Jesus outright. First, by a patent illogicality. “Through Beelzebul, the ruler of mini-gods he casts out mini-gods.” Second, by requiring Jesus to perform according to their wishes – to do what they specified. What thet saw was not enough.
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But he himself, knowing their minds, said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is ruined, and house against house falls. But if also the adversary is divided against himself, how will his realm stand – in that you state me to be casting out mini-gods through Beelzebul. But if I myself cast out mini-gods by Beelzebul, by whom are your sons casting out? Through this they themselves will be your judges.”
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Having exposed the illogicality, Jesus asks about their “sons” and “mini-gods.” Were their “sons” powerless in that regard? If that was the case, those “sons” would be proving the uniqueness of Jesus in all their lives.
“But if it is by the finger of God that I cast out mini-gods, then the realm of God has come upon you. When an able one, fully equipped, guards his own courtyard, his belongings are safe; but when a more able one, overcoming him, may prevail, he lifts up his panoply upon which he had convinced himself and gives over his plunders.The one not being with me is against me, and the one not gathering with me scatters.”
Jesus draws a parallel. If what they have seen is “the finger of God” then “the realm of God has come upon you.” And “the courtyard” of “a mighty one, fully equipped” has been invaded. And “a mightier than” that “mighty one” has released one person out of that one’s “plunders.” “When the unclean spirit may come out from a person, it comes across waterless places. Seeking a resting place and not finding, it states, ‘I will return into my house from which I came out.’ And, coming, it finds the house having been swept and adorned. Then it goes and brings seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they come inside and reside there and the last of that person comes to be worse than the first.”
The above words of Jesus are a shattering conclusion to the teaching which his disciples are to learn from this released and gifted person. Attempts to remove “mini-gods” from inside a person – without “holy spirit” to fill the heart – are highly likely to make matters far worse. “The last of that person comes to be worse than the first.” What then?
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But it came to be, in him stating these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting her voice, said to him, “Blessed the womb that carried you, and the breasts which you sucked.” But he himself said, “Blessed rather the ones hearing - and guarding - the word of God.”
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| This dear “woman from the crowd” was praising Mary the mother of Jesus in her ability to minister to Jesus - to give to Jesus. But Jesus said, “Blessed rather the ones hearing - and guarding - the word of God.” What does that mean? To receive from Jesus? Is Jesus “the word of God”? Is that how I can change within? |
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