Matthew 9: 32 While they were going out, a man who was demon-possessed and could not talk was brought to Jesus. 33 And when the demon was driven out, the man who had been mute spoke. The crowd was amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” 34 But the Pharisees said, “It is by the prince of demons that he drives out demons.”
Jesus was still in Capernaum and had just healed the two blind men because of their faith. As Jesus was walking out the door, a demon – possessed man who could not speak was brought to him. How did people realize that this man was demon – possessed? Perhaps this man once was able to talk quite well, but then something happened..
“Stay away from the high places! They are evil and full of devils!” Samuel’s mother had told him that repeatedly ever since he was an inquisitive small boy. But that night, Samuel had been drinking with friends. And as the wine flowed freely, Samuel had made a terrible mistake; he boasted that he could stay all night at the old high place where the pagans used to worship Molech without suffering any consequences. Samuel’s friends tried to dissuade him and convince him to stay home. But, full of wine and bravado, Samuel had staggered up the mountain and had lain down where the pagan altar used to be. And in the morning, Samuel was unable to speak and had a wild desperate look in his eyes. From that day onward, not only was Philip unable to speak but he was also unable to work. Ssamuel’s widowed mother and his two brothers had to support him, and it wasn’t easy. If left alone, Samuel was likely to wander out into dangerous places as the demons that had entered him drove him from the lake to a high cliff and back again. Finally hearing that Jesus was in Capernaum and that He was healing people, Samuel’s brothers dragged him down the street. dropping him at the feet of Jesus. And Jesus, recognizing what had happened and recognizing the demons, wasted no time but uttered a single command, “Get out!” Samuel collapsed to the ground but then stood up straight and looked Jesus full in the face. “Son of David, Messiah,” Samuel said, “blessed be your name! I will follow you for the rest of my life!”
The townspeople realized what had happened. Although there were itinerant healers who claimed to be able to cast out demons, nobody had ever witnessed a case in which the demons had left permanently. But the local religious leaders were furious! This upstart was interfering with their teaching and threatening their prestige. Some of them had prayed for Samuel in the past without any results, had prayed for several hours, invoking all the Names of God and quoting all the scripture they could think of. Now this carpenter showed up, speaking one simple command, and the demons left! What power did this man have that they didn’t? Surely this man must be in contact with the prince of demons to be able to order lesser demons around! There could be no other explanation!
The poetess Elizabeth Barrett Browning once said, “Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees takes off his shoes; The rest sit round and pluck blackberries.” God was doing a brand new thing right in front of these Pharisees, and they were too prejudiced to recognize what was happening. They were too blind to see that a Holy God had touched this man, filling him with the Holy Spirit and driving out the demons. Caught up in their own teachings, the Pharisees could not recognize a miracle when they saw one.
PRAYER: Father God, please help us to see what you are doing and to recognize your power that is working in our lives. Lord, forgive our blindness and help us to be grateful and not critical when you heal with only a touch. In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
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