“Even the demons….” A remedy for darkness
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven. 19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you. 20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
Luke 10 17-20
We might approach our subject tonight with embarrassment. Even though our Gospels are full of incidents in which Jesus confronts evil spirits we feel just a little awkward about it.
Our modern society is strangely ambivalent about such things. One moment it denies that evil forces exist – and the next indulges in superstitions to ward off bad luck.
THE CONTEMPORARY SCENE (1)
For the disciples of Jesus there was no such ambivalence – First Century Jews and Christians faced the issue of evil spirits head on. And in our text this evening we are confronted with the DEFEAT OF SUCH DEMONS AS A SOURCE OF JOY!
THE CONTEMPORARY SCENE (2)
Our modern age has a very different view – it is by turns fascinated by the forces of evil – and then trivialises them. After all Halloween is just round the corner.
I don’t want to get things out of proportion this evening – but I recently had a conversation about Halloween with my neighbours who have two small children.
Last year at this time their lovely little girl came to my door and was turned away because we feel that Halloween is at the fringes of evil and we are trying to proclaim a world view that celebrates light and goodness rather than the dark and evil.
Later I called round with a gift. I don’t think the child would understand why we had said we didn’t encourage it. I care desperately about today’s society and its preoccupation with the dark - but I realised that a young child would think our attitude was rejecting them.
Thinking Christians do have a problem with Halloween – because it tends to trivialise evil. The fact that it is so commercialised these days simply makes that worse. So what should our reaction be? We need to keep a sense of proportion. Fiction has frightened us since our own childhood – and we still perversely get a kind of pleasure from scary films and books. That imagined fear is a necessary part of the process of growing up and coping will real fears. But still we need to sound a note of caution in a world where values have changed so much – and so many are beguiled by things that are truly dark and truly evil.
It would be satisfying to be able to report that at this season of the year – the fashion for celebrating the dark, evil side of human nature has diminished – and that all that remains is harmless fun. Sadly it is not so.
Despite our claims to have demythologised our modern society the dark side remains – and commercial interests have adopted it. Bat shapes and witches’ hats abound, and all manner of grotesque masks are evident. And beneath the black symbolism (which, we are assured, no-one takes seriously) the real darkness persists.
So this evening I turn to LUKE 10 and the claim of Jesus’ 72 disciples that “EVEN THE DEMONS SUBMIT TO US IN YOUR NAME…”
And in response I hear my Lord respond with His own view of triumph over Satan, and a salutary reminder that there is something else far more important to be celebrated.
But it is interesting to note that Christianity – and Biblical Christianity at that – has a completely different attitude to DEMONS and POWERS OF EVIL than any other religion.
They are dealt with factually and with restraint. There are no elaborate frightening descriptions of the evil spirits and their behaviour, neither are there any of the elaborate incantations and “prayers” that marked the religions of the time. The bottom line message is that Christ has overcome!
Modern man – as we saw in the rephrasing of Bunyan’s hymn – is embarrassed and also fascinated by such matters. No one sings that verse anymore:
Hobgoblin nor foul fiend
Can daunt his spirit,
He knows he at the end
Shall life inherit.
The New Testament makes it plain that Christ has conquered the forces of Evil.
For a world racked with violence and sin, and for a generation afflicted by evil forces dressed up as “trick and treat” – the Bible offers this word from the Lord to His disciples:
EVEN THE DEMONS
Even the demons….
I saw Satan fall…
I have given you authority
However … rejoice that your names are written in heaven.
In one sense it is about NAMES - His Name – all powerful
Our NAMES written in heaven.
THE DISCIPLES REJOICE
A. The disciples rejoice at His triumph
17 The seventy-two returned with joy and said, “Lord, even the demons submit to us in your name.”
Luke tells us nothing about the detail of their mission – other than that the Lord prepared them for it carefully and empowered them for the work. He only tells us that THEY RETURNED WITH JOY and that the Lord shared in that JOY.
We can only imagine with what a mixture of anticipation and trepidation they set out on their trip in pairs. But coming back, it seems there was one topic of conversation:
EVEN THE DEMONS SUBMIT TO US IN YOUR NAME…
There are many sources of JOY for the believer – and the joy of service well done, and of the VICTORY THAT COMES WITH FOLLOWING THEIR MASTER.
I do not hear them speak of converts, or even of healings – just that the powers of Satan had been made to submit.
This is a radically different perspective on working with Jesus!
Their comment implies that other things happened too “…even…” but this was the highlight of their experience.
Do we EVER rejoice in anything like that?
Do we explain it away by saying such things don’t happen now?
I was brought up in a missionary context in Africa where the evidence of demonic forces was a reality. My parents frequently exorcised in the name of Christ. They also knew remarkable deliverances from terror and the darkness.
I have grown up and moved on. And often I wonder whether I have lost that immediacy of the spiritual battle.
Of course there are modern equivalents – deliverance from addiction and from extreme forms of evil. The Gospel is still the power of God to transform lives.
Sadly we more often rejoice in the mundane and everyday answers to our prayers.
Our expectations have changed.
Jesus listened whilst they enthused about their experience of THE POWER OF HIS NAME.
I know that they were closer to Him physically and in time – but Acts and the Epistles suggest to me that that NAME IS AS POWERFUL STILL.
The disciple’s claim could be presumptuous – but is not.
In simple language they report with amazement that IN HIS NAME the demons submit.
It is a simple but profound statement of the VICTORY that belongs to CHRIST’S PEOPLE acting on HIS authority.
HIS NAME – A SUPREME SOURCE OF JOY THE MASTER’S PERSPECTIVE
B. The Master’s perspective
18 He replied, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Jesus SHARED THEIR JOY – and He shares with them HIS PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IS HAPPENING.
“I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.
Many argue about what Jesus meant – but the clearly obvious implication is that He too witnessed the downfall of Satan himself.
In an utterance that includes what they had done, and what He would do on His cross and in His resurrection Jesus claims the defeat of Satan. One day that defeat will be complete – but already in God’s Son that defeat is CERTAIN.
Perhaps the disciples were concerned that having dealt a blow against demons, Satan might threaten them with repercussions? Jesus eliminates that possibility in what He says – for what He sees is a COMPLETE DEFEAT OF THE ENEMY.
I notice that Jesus does not dispute Satan’s existence – He knew at first hand the power of the enemy of our souls -
But His view declares HIS FALL
and it underscores CHRIST’S VICTORY OVER HIM
In v 21 Jesus exults that such spiritual realities are made known to His people:-
A SHARE IN HIS POWER (1)
C. He shares His power with His disciples
Jesus now goes on to explain what this VICTORY means for them as His followers.
19 I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
This does not mean immunity from suffering or danger, nor does it promote a reckless attitude in the face of natural dangers – but it does mean ULTIMATE AUTHORITY OVER SATAN
It is the fulfilment of the promise that He will destroy Satan under OUR FEET.
I have given you authority … to trample … to overcome
Nothing will harm you.
Paul will state that in a different way: A SHARE IN HIS POWER (2)
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. ROMANS 8
He who has seen Satan fall has given us AUTHORITY.
Surely we need to share HIS VISION and to APPROPRIATE HIS AUTHORITY
Yet – it has to be said – that claiming such authority is unusual in the modern Church.
Is it because we are shielded from demons?
I dare say those who deal with life on the raw edges of human pain and anguish, who see the disturbed souls – are more able to apply Christ’s words than we are?
Nothing will harm you
I believe that in these wonderful words Jesus reassures His friends, and us, that as we are obedient to His challenge and step out in faith to do His work we can be CERTAIN OF HIS PROTECTION.
This is a great SOURCE OF JOY!
But the final thrust of Christ’s words is to SHIFT THE EMPHASIS away from SUBMISSIVE SPIRITS to OUR STATUS as HIS PEOPLE
We live too easily on the edge of the supernatural. We are so adjusted to a material view of the world that we do not see what Elisha’s servant saw:-
A SHARE IN HIS POWER (3)
2 Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)
15 When the servant of the man of God got up and went out early the next evening, an army with horses and chariots had surrounded the city. “Oh, my lord, what shall we do?” the servant asked.
16 “Don’t be afraid,” the prophet answered. “Those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
17 And Elisha prayed, “O LORD, open his eyes so that he may see.” Then the LORD opened the servant’s eyes, and he looked and saw the hills full of horses and chariots of fire all round Elisha.
D. The REAL cause for rejoicing: REAL CAUSE FOR JOY
20 However, do not rejoice that the spirits submit to you, but rejoice that your names are written in heaven.”
In this battlefield Jesus stresses that the BELONGING matters more than the BEATING
The NAMES WRITTEN IN HEAVEN are more important than however many
submissive demons.
What gives you the greatest joy?
That is a question that deserves a careful response.
I do not know what makes for the blackest moments in our human experience – but I do know what makes for the greatest JOY
And it is a different truth to that which the world expects:- MOUSE CLICK
YOUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN IN HEAVEN
Jesus – in one of those rare but significant outbursts of public adoration of His Father
rejoices in the PRIVILEGE of His friends:
21 At that time Jesus, full of joy through the Holy Spirit, said, “I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, and revealed them to little children. Yes, Father, for this was your good pleasure.
22 “All things have been committed to me by my Father. No-one knows who the Son is except the Father, and no-one knows who the Father is except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”
23 Then he turned to his disciples and said privately, “Blessed are the eyes that see what you see. 24 For I tell you that many prophets and kings wanted to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”
What does the Gospel offer for the DARKNESS? FOR THE DARKNESS
EVEN THE DEMONS …. Submit
SATAN FALLEN LIKE LIGHTNING
NOTHING WILL HARM YOU
OUR NAMES ARE WRITTEN….
Do you rejoice in that?
The alternative is the darkness!
