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Monday 4 November 2013

Luke 11:14-28 - Casting out demons

Most of the casting out of demons seems to have been fairly quick. Here it says He "was driving out" which may imply it was taking a little longer, but equally that could be reading too much into it. The demon had caused the man to be mute and after the demon was gone the man could speak. Some conditions are related to demonic causes. Now this does not mean that if someone is mute then the effect is always the result of a demon, but it does mean that demons can be the primary cause of physical conditions. So when a demon is driven out the "patient" will experience a direct physical benefit, as happened here. 
Most of the crowd were amazed because they saw the reality of what had happened. However, others said He was using satanic powers to do this, and asked for a sign from heaven. Now this seems strange at first, for they had just seen a veritable miracle, so what is the sign they want? However, what they are asking for is a sign that Jesus is acting in Godly power, not satanic power.
Jesus points out they are talking a load of nonsense. Why would Satan drive out Satan? So it is patently ridiculous for satanic power to be used to drive out demons.
Conversely it is precisely the thing that you would expect God to do. If Jesus was indeed using Godly power (which of course He was), then the kingdom is here. When the kingdom comes there will be power demonstrations. Jesus has come to set people free, some are bound up by demons, so it is logical for Him to go around setting people free from demons.
Jesus then takes things further, lest anyone thinks that having a demon cast out is all that they need. It might be necessary, but it is not sufficient. If nothing else happens the demon may come back with several friends and the person ends up in a worse condition. We need to be filled with the Holy Spirit.
Someone calls out that Jesus' mother is blessed, and Jesus replies that it those who hear the word of God and obey who are blessed. People will often find a way to avoid believing and obeying the word of God. They will see or hear something that is truly Godly, and then make some statement of praise, but they are not committing themselves to God.

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