Evil

“With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.” (Mark 1:28).

Last Judgement and Hell (Fresco by Buonamico Buffalmacco)

I have been thinking about the miracles of Christ.  If you really stop and think about it, those miracles can seem quite absurd.  After all, what is the point of Christ raising someone from the dead if that person will certainly die at some time in the future?  What is the point of curing the sick if at some time in the future that sick person will again become sick and die?  What is the point of comforting the grieving if that loss remains?  Or teaching the people, if they will one day forget what you have said?

If you really stop and think about it, miracles – the sorts of miracles that we ask for in this world are really quite absurd.

When my little niece was born and very very sick, we prayed fervently for a miracle so that she would be healed.  And she was in many ways.  And we were healed.  As God healed her heart, He healed ours as well as we grew closer to Him.  Now, my little niece – like all of us – will one day get sick and die (God willing when she is a very very old woman) and so one might ask, what is the point of praying for the miracle of her health?

But there was so much that happened in the process of that miracle…  Not only was that child healed (temporarily – as we all are), but our prayers for her, healed us spiritually and encouraged us to build a relationship with God.

You see, Christ came not only to cure the sick, but to eradicate evil…

“And they went into Capernaum; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.” (Mark 1:21-28).

Christ told the demon to BE SILENT.  He told them to stop.  And they obeyed – because they had to obey the word of God because God’s power is far superior to any other power in the universe.  And I have been reflecting on that today.  Perhaps every time I pray for a miracle, all I am doing is allowing God to show me how He triumphs over evil – even when I think He is not listening to me at all…?

For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.