We live in a world that is “reality” oriented. Those of us who grew up as scientific discoveries were being made exponentially learned that if you couldn’t see it, touch it, or taste it, it didn’t exist. Yet, as we read the Bible, Jesus was frequently casting out demons. Many have decided that they are psychological events, brain chemistry issues, or that a person is just “messed up”. What are demons? We can’t see them, touch them or taste them. Or can we?
In the Gospels, we see several versions of the story of a demon possessed man. He lived in the region of the Gerasenes. He was seen as someone totally out of his mind – out of control and dangerous to others and himself. Today we would have him on the psych ward in the hospital heavily sedated with drugs. While no one could “see” the demons that possessed him, Jesus could. He talked to them and told them to leave the man. I wonder why Jesus allowed the demons to go into the pigs. That farmer lost a lot of income and/or food!
But today as I read this story once again, I realized that one of the reasons Jesus could have allowed the demons to enter the pigs and allow the pigs to run into the lake and drown was to demonstrate that demons are real. They do horrible things to people. And people are helpless to free themselves of these demons.
So I wonder then, do demons exist in people today and if so, what do they look like?
Yesterday, I spent several hours with a friend whom I love dearly. She is about 5 feet tall and a few years ago, she weighed about 125 pounds. She was joyful and enjoyed life to the max. A couple of days ago, she weighed in at a new low of 80 pounds. She is skin and bones and is beginning to look like a holocaust victim. No, she doesn’t have cancer. She is anorexic. Does she want to die? She says not. Why then does she refuse to eat enough to stay alive, I ask. “I don’t know,” is her simple answer. “I just don’t know. I think I can fix it, but I can’t.” Is it an addiction, I wonder? “Yes,” she says, “I am addicted to losing weight. Seeing the scale keep going down brings me great joy.” Even if it keeps taking you closer to death, I wonder. “I can’t stop,” is her answer.
As I sit and gaze at her fragile, pale, cold body (it is 80 degrees F and she only takes her sweater off when in the full sun) I begin to wonder, is this what demon possession looks like today. If Jesus were to come upon her, what would He say to her? Would He talk to her or to the demons possessing her? Would He set her free from this addiction that binds her and brings her closer and closer to death? I believe He would. Would He wait for her to accept Him as Lord of her life before healing her or would He heal her instantly? And out of her gratefulness would she would want to stay with Him forever?
I try to broach the subject of Jesus being able and ready to heal, but she does not appear to be interested in that right now. She is not sure what to do with the historic Jesus so tries not to think about it too much. But what of Jesus in me through His Holy Spirit? Am I willing to release Him to do His work in me and others with whom I engage in friendship and conversation? How much will He do if she says she is not interested in being healed?
I watch Jesus extend healing in many ways in the recorded stories throughout the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. Sometimes He is walking by and sees a need and responds. Sometimes people come to him and ask and He freely touches and heals. It seems to be His heart to heal anyone who comes and asks.
But one story leaves me pondering… Matthew 19:16-22, Mark 10:17-22, and Luke 18:18-23 all tell the story of a rich young ruler who comes to Jesus wondering what he must do to inherit eternal life? After talking about what he is already doing, Jesus gives him an answer. He was to sell all his possessions and give to the poor. Why did Jesus ask him to do that? Was the man addicted to wealth? Was that what bound him and had his full focus? Was that what he trusted to take care of him?
What was the man’s response? “After he heard this, he became extremely sad, because he was very rich.” Luke 18:23 He apparently walked away from Jesus sad but still bound. I don’t see Jesus running after him saying, “Wait! Come back! Let’s talk some more about this.”
It seems that the one ingredient of being freed from an addiction is a desire to be free. How sad it is to watch someone continue in the chains realizing that they cannot help themselves but refusing the help that is extended to them. It is like handing bread to a hungry, starving person and have them say, “No thank you. I am content to continue starving.” I believe that not only was the man grieved, but Jesus was grieved as well.
And I grieve with Him for all those who are bound by addictions even after healing has been extended to them. They are those to whom Scripture refers, “And He replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.” Isaiah 6:9-10
Oh LORD God! Open the eyes of the blind! Open the ears of the deaf! Open the minds that are closed! Help them to see your hands stretched out to them desiring to heal them. Teach me when to pursue and when to allow them to walk away. Oh that they would see you and be free from the chains that bind them! My heart weeps for them – for all of us who find ourselves bound by things that take us further away from You. Teach us to trust in Your healing grace and to walk free beside You, learning from You, breathing in Your grace and breathing out Your praise. Amen.
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