Demons

Have you ever wondered what the bible means when it talks about demons and evil spirits? On almost every page of the gospels, Jesus is dealing with people who were troubled with these things. In our enlightened days, some have argued that it is referring to mental health issues or Jesus is using primitive belief systems.

The bible and experience points us to the fact that the world is more mysterious and spiritually layered than a purely materialistic philosophy. The spiritual realm is inhabited by created beings who are loyal or disobedient to their creator. The good are known as angels and the bad are referred to as fallen angels, demons or evil spirits.

As humans, we are both physical and spiritual and so are subject to a certain influence of these beings. The one thing that is very clear from Jesus, is that he has complete authority over them. It is equally clear that he gives his people the same authority. We regularly pray ‘deliver us from evil’ and so our heavenly Father does. We are able to live totally free from their influence in our lives because of Jesus.

Friend of Sinners

Over the past few weeks I have been challenged to define what is the gospel, the good news. How would you attempt it?

The first thing I would say is that it’s the good news of Jesus. It is when people interact person to person with Jesus that they discover something ‘good’. It is not just that people hear good teaching or even are healed but encounter a man full of ‘grace and truth’. Jesus is Good News.

The good news is also for a certain category of person. Those who find themselves to have failed, messed up and lost their way are most blessed. Jesus says that those who have been forgiven much, love much. The heart of this that we need to fully own our need of the forgiveness that Jesus offers. We all can know that we are forgiven much but only on the condition that we come to Jesus in the truth of who we are.

The good news is that we can encounter Jesus as we actually are and not as we pretend to be.

The Hope for New Life

Jesus would have seen and been to many funerals in his life time. They would have been as devastating as they are today, especially for those of young children. In today’s gospel reading, Jesus interrupts the ceremony and does an unparalleled miracle.

If there was a pray that the family might possibly dare to hope that would be answered, it surely would be to have their son back. Jesus grounds a hope for all humanity - power and authority over death.

While Jesus did not raise every son or daughter from the grave, he did show that he had the capability. Hope has been restored to humanity in the face of our ultimate enemy. This sign of hope has been witnessed through the ages since Pentecost with people raised from death in Jesus name. However, the real hope does not reside in our temporary evasion of death, but our permanent place in life through the resurrection. Jesus has the capability, desire and authority to do this. We therefore can be filled with hope.