Declaring War

When it comes to Jesus, there is little that irks me more than the idea of a tame, nice Jesus. It may surprise some to know this, but the authors of the Gospels hardly saw Jesus as tame. In fact, much of what He did, and how they portrayed what He did, would have come across as a declaration of war against Satan and the powers of the world he controlled.

Kingdoms are at war with whatever threatens their sovereignty. Satan, from the very beginning, waged war against God. His lone victory was in getting humanity of this world to give over control to him. This world being God's creation, it was a threat to the Kingdom.

Matthew 8, when you read it with this in mind, takes on different meanings than we might otherwise apply.

From Verses 1-4...

"Then a leper appeared and went to his knees before Jesus, praying, 'Master, if you want to, you can heal my body.'

"Jesus reached out and touched him, saying, 'I want to. Be clean...'"

From Verses 10-12

"'I've yet to come across this kind of simple trust in all of Israel... This man is the vanguard of many outsiders who will soon be coming from all directions... Then those who "grew up in the faith" but had no faith will find themselves out in the cold, outsiders to grace...'"

Verse 22: "'Your business is life, not death. Follow me. Pursue life.'"

Verse 26: "'Why are you such cowards, such faint-hearts?'"

Verse 27: "'Wind and sea come to heel at his command!'"

Verses 28-34 spell this out. Jesus and His disciples had been through an amazing night. Jesus calmed wind and waves at a single command before they came to shore at a region called "Gadarenes" (Garasenes). The very word, in Greek, meant "Those who come from pilgrimage or fight." They were in Gentile territory, a culturally Greek place likely filled with Hellenistic Jews. They worshipped the Greek and Roman gods, such as Zeus and Jupiter, at their temples. In their worship, it was expected that pigs would be used in sacrifices.

This was about as anti-God a place as it comes. It should not surprise us that demons inhabited people here. Satan was in full control, toying with these people and their superstitions.

Why would Jesus land here? May I suggest that this was bringing the fight to the enemy? 

The word itself... to come from a fight... is interesting. Satan fought for control of this world and won when Adam and Eve sinned. Jesus came to take control away, and went to the very places Satan was most in control.

He defeated sickness. He defeated unbelief. He defeated death. He defeated Satan and his use of the very forces of nature.

And in this land of idol worship and sacrifice, He sent the demons into the objects of the sacrifice and over the cliff. A full frontal assault on the enemy of souls.

The Gospel teaches us that Jesus wins. He restores us from the fall. He went to war for us!

May your day be full of confidence and simple trust in Jesus. May you fight with the winning and bold warrior today!