What do you want with us, Son of God? Matt. 8:29
What do you want with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?In case you've missed it, I write a lot about believing in God. (OK, that's an understatement; it is what I write about). Believe, is my reminder. Set your hope in Jesus. Have faith that the one you have not seen is real, that the stories you read about him are true. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, mind and strength. Of course, I am not just reminding you; I am reminding myself, in a large part because of today's passage.
You realize, demons believe in Jesus, don't you?
Oh, wait? Demons are real, you ask? Of course they are real! Why would we need a savior if there are no demons? Yes, demons are very real; they really do possess people; they are going to hell, and they know it. And they want to take you and me with them.
Demons are intimately aware of who Jesus is. In fact, they not only recognized the son of Joseph and Mary, they recognized him as the Word made flesh (John 1:14). "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they cry. Yes, the demons believe! Satan knows God so intimately I wouldn't be surprised to learn that he actually had sang in a special heavenly choir for a spell before his fall (Luke 10:18; Isaiah 14:12-14). He apparently still talks with God (Job 1:6-7).
So, what gives? The demons believe in God, and they aren't going to heaven. They know what's coming: "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" they asked Jesus. Yes, that appointed time would be Judgment Day (Rev. 20:11-15). Until God's appointed time, they have the run of the place.
Make no mistake, the demons believe in one true God (Jesus), and they shudder (James 2:19).
But you know, a lot of people believe in God. Most of them say there is only one God, too. But sadly, only one third of the world says they believe in Jesus, and worse yet, many of them don't even really believe. That's bad news as Jesus illustrated in his parable about the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-46).
Make no mistake, the demons believe in one true God (Jesus), and they shudder (James 2:19).
But you know, a lot of people believe in God. Most of them say there is only one God, too. But sadly, only one third of the world says they believe in Jesus, and worse yet, many of them don't even really believe. That's bad news as Jesus illustrated in his parable about the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-46).
So what is it that separates the sheep from the goats? What separates Satan from Gabrielle?
Belief.
Can you believe it? Belief.
There is a huge difference between those who believe in God, and those who "believe" in God. Listen to the story of the sheep and goats again (Matt. 25:31-46). Both groups asked Jesus the same question: When did we see you hungry? But the goats turned their eyes away (Luke 10:25-37). The goats thought they were doing the right thing by staying away from the lepers of life.
The sheep actually did the right thing: They listened to the Word of God (Romans 10:17). They followed it (John 10:27-28); they trusted God to help them in their every need (John 6:37); they sought forgiveness for their daily sin (1 John 1:9); they remembered the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. Most importantly, in faith, they declared that Jesus is Lord, and believed in their heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9), without having to stick their finger in the holes in Jesus' hand (John 20:26-29).
This reminds me of a nice Tweet I stumbled on the other day: How deep can your darkness be to chase away Jesus?
Jesus doesn't ask much of us. In fact, he asks almost nothing at all. Believe, he says. The demons live in such darkness, they scatter like roaches when Jesus -- the light of the world -- comes near. What do you want with us, Son of God, they call.
Belief.
Can you believe it? Belief.
There is a huge difference between those who believe in God, and those who "believe" in God. Listen to the story of the sheep and goats again (Matt. 25:31-46). Both groups asked Jesus the same question: When did we see you hungry? But the goats turned their eyes away (Luke 10:25-37). The goats thought they were doing the right thing by staying away from the lepers of life.
The sheep actually did the right thing: They listened to the Word of God (Romans 10:17). They followed it (John 10:27-28); they trusted God to help them in their every need (John 6:37); they sought forgiveness for their daily sin (1 John 1:9); they remembered the Sabbath Day by keeping it holy. Most importantly, in faith, they declared that Jesus is Lord, and believed in their heart that God raised him from the dead (Romans 10:9), without having to stick their finger in the holes in Jesus' hand (John 20:26-29).
- "Did I not tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?" (John 11:40)
- "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in me will live ..." (John 11:25)
This reminds me of a nice Tweet I stumbled on the other day: How deep can your darkness be to chase away Jesus?
Jesus doesn't ask much of us. In fact, he asks almost nothing at all. Believe, he says. The demons live in such darkness, they scatter like roaches when Jesus -- the light of the world -- comes near. What do you want with us, Son of God, they call.
He wants you to believe.
Jesus paid the price for your sin. He paid the price for mine. He paid the price through his life, his blood, his pain -- so that you can believe, so that you can be set free from the torment the demons cause you. And he overcame the death that awaits the demons by rising from the grave.
Why do we need anything else?