The Surprise of Who Knows Jesus.

Scripture Passage that Caught my attention today: Acts 19:13-16 Then some itinerant Jewish exorcists tried to use the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “I adjure you by the Jesus whom Paul proclaims.” 14 Seven sons of a Jewish high priest named Sceva were doing this. 15 But the evil spirit said to them in reply, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” 16 Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on them, mastered them all, and so overpowered them that they fled out of the house naked and wounded.

Observation: Even the evil spirits can tell who is authentic and who is not.

Application: You gotta love the line from the evil spirit: “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?” It’s ironic, but sometimes it’s the evil spirits who really know what’s going on. In the gospel of Mark it is the evil spirits/demons who are presented as the only characters in the story who know who Jesus really is.

The modern-day parallel is that, ironically, people without a church background (or without a deep connection to a particular church) often-times are among the first to sense when a church has failed at its mission and/or has lost its way. At that point it’s almost as if those who claim no direct affiliation with Christ are actually closer to him than those that do. Perhaps that’s what Jesus was getting at when he once said that the last shall be first and the first shall be last. Still, the good news is that it's better to be last than not in line at all.

Prayer: Dear Lord, there are a number of congregations of which I am aware that are most certainly struggle these days to find a sense of mission. Help them to discover some clarity in this regard and to become an authentic sign of your kingdom on earth. In Jesus’ name. Amen.