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Mark 1:23-24
In Mark 1:23 we learn that as Jesus taught in the synagogue, a man with an unclean spirit cried out to Him. An “unclean” spirit is the same as an “evil” spirit, or as we might say today, a man possessed by an unclean/evil spirit. In Mark 1:24 we learn that the unclean/evil spirit knew who Jesus was as he said to Jesus, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!” But we must beg the question, How did the unclean/evil spirit know who Jesus was as Jesus came to reveal Himself to the world/humanity? The Bible teaches us in John 20:30-31 (NKJV), “And truly Jesus did many other signs in the presence of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in His name.” The unclean/evil spirit already knows Jesus/God because the evil spirit was cast out of heaven with Lucifer as one of those consisting of the angels that followed Lucifer in his defiance of the LORD God Almighty (Revelation 12:7-9). We may deduct then, that the fallen angels are wiser than humans as they are certain of the existence of God and of His judgement on them. The Bible teaches us in James 2:19, “You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe – and tremble!” The reason that the demons tremble at their knowledge of God is because they know that their time is short until they are destroyed forever. In Matthew 8:28-29 we learn, “When He had come to the other side, to the country of the Gergesenes, there met Him two demon-possessed men, coming out of the tombs, exceedingly fierce, so that no one could pass that way. And suddenly they cried out, saying, ‘What have we to do with You, Jesus, You Son of God? Have You come here to torment us before the time?”
This is a promise that the evil spirits know who Jesus is – and they tremble!
Satan and his demons know that their time is short. They know that the day will come when they will no longer be allowed to temp and torment God’s greatest creation of humanity, but they themselves will become the eternally tormented. They are envious – they are jealous that we will be able to bask in God’s glory as a reward for our obedience to Him, in which they have been cast out forever. This should be a wake-up call for us as those who Jesus came to reveal Himself to so that we may become aware of the reality of Jesus who came to save us from the same demise as that which the evil spirits will receive in the end. All our lives will end physically one day. After that there is no repenting to be done as it must be done while we live physically. The gift of salvation is for the spiritual world of eternity that God, through His Almighty power, allows us to experience in part now if we will believe in Him. The Apostle Paul states in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” Do not let the time for salvation pass you by – put your faith in Jesus today as your Savior and profess Him Lord, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9-10).
Dear LORD,
Please help us to realize and understand the importance of putting our faith in Jesus whom You sent to save the world from sin (John 3:16-21) so that we will not be condemned for eternity with Lucifer and his unclean/evil angels. Please help us to believe – to believe in the saving power of Jesus. In Jesus name I pray, amen.