robbing the devil

In today's reading, from Mark 3:7-30, Jesus responds to those who accuse Him of using Satan's power to drive out demons. He says that's ridiculous, because a kingdom divided against itself will fall.

But then He says something even more interesting. He says that in order to rob a powerful person like the devil, it takes someone even more powerful. And this is just after we're told that the disciples were called and given the authority to drive out demons.

So the world when Jesus came was under the power of Satan. There were demons controlling people everywhere. And in order for Jesus and His disciples to bring about the kingdom of God, they had to drive out the demons that were waiting for them.

In church this morning, the pastor said that John the Baptist told people to believe "the gospel". But at that time, what gospel did they have? They couldn't believe in the gospel that Jesus died and rose from the dead, because it hadn't happened yet. It turns out that the gospel John was calling people to believe was the coming of the kingdom, which Jesus and His disciples then brought about by driving out the evil everywhere they went, and bringing God's will on earth as it is in heaven.

So when you face the difficulties that life brings, remember that you're not alone. God is going ahead of you, and using you, driving out the evil that opposes Him. Only someone stronger than the enemy can rob him. And Jesus is many orders of magnitude stronger. You can trust Him. He'll take care of you.

God, thanks for driving out the evil in our lives. Help us to participate in Your kingdom.