I Know Who You Are

Mark 1:22-25 -- "They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (23) Just then there a man in the synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, (24) saying, 'What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who You are -- the Holy One of God! (25) And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, (literally ... be muzzled) and come out of him!'"

When you were a kid, did you mom ever call you by your entire name; especially when you were in trouble? You know ... the proverbial, "Nancy Murphy Geer, get in this house!" Whether it was a mother, father, or in this case a demon, when someone uses one's entire name, they are attempting to exercise authority over that person.

Of course, no demon has greater power than Jesus Christ, God incarnate. 1 John 4:4b says, "... greater is He (Jesus) who is in you than he who is in the world." No created being, neither angel, fallen angel, nor man/woman has greater authority than Jesus Christ. The demon in this passage could not control or manipulate Jesus, even when calling Jesus by His full name. The demon knew who Jesus was but he had no love or allegiance for Jesus. He belonged to another, Satan.

Every evil spirit knows Jesus as the Son of God, but their intellectual assent does not mean that they worship Jesus or belong to Him. Be a child of God is based on our love, adoration, devotion, worship, and obedience to Him. Intellectual belief is based on facts and knowledge. Belonging to God (through the work of Christ on the cross) is based on faith and receiving salvation as a free gift.

Do you know about Jesus intellectually; the same way one believes the sun will rise in the east or the ocean is wide? Or do you know the Son of God by faith; have you asked Him to be the most significant Person in your life? There is a huge difference between the two.

Have you drifted away from Him? Has the personal relationship He desires with you weakened through lack of attention on your part (not His)? If so, what can you do today in response to His ever present call for an intimate, love relationship with you?

Tell me what you think ...