Luke 11:14-28 | Acts 18:18-28
At this point, Luke is straight out chronicling Paul’s journeys. It’s almost like a simplified travel log. Paul shaving his head is interesting to us. Most scholars believe it was the result of him taking a Nazirite vow. It’s possible, likely even.
In Luke, Jesus is as wise as ever. Many of the people watching were clearly there for nothing more than the spectacle. Jesus was a show to them. Even today, so many of those who travel the world claiming to heal people seem to be a spectacle more than anything else, at least from a distance.
One woman, likely as a compliment, declared Jesus’ mother to be blessed for having been the one honored enough to give birth to such a powerful man. She’s not wrong, right? Luke himself wrote down very similar words out of the mouths of Simeon, Elizabeth, and Mary herself in chapters 1 and 2.
But Jesus makes clear what true blessing is - not status and honor, but participation in the word of God, something accessible to all.
Luke 11:14-28
Jesus was throwing out a demon that causes muteness. When the demon was gone, the man who couldn’t speak began to talk. The crowds were amazed. But some of them said, “He throws out demons with the authority of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons.” Others were testing him, seeking a sign from heaven.
Because Jesus knew what they were thinking, he said to them, “Every kingdom involved in civil war becomes a wasteland, and a house torn apart by divisions will collapse. If Satan is at war with himself, how will his kingdom endure? I ask this because you say that I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul. If I throw out demons by the authority of Beelzebul, then by whose authority do your followers throw them out? Therefore, they will be your judges. But if I throw out demons by the power of God, then God’s kingdom has already overtaken you. When a strong man, fully armed, guards his own palace, his possessions are secure. But as soon as a stronger one attacks and overpowers him, the stronger one takes away the armor he had trusted and divides the stolen goods.
“Whoever isn’t with me is against me, and whoever doesn’t gather with me, scatters. When an unclean spirit leaves a person, it wanders through dry places looking for a place to rest. But it doesn’t find any. Then it says, ‘I’ll go back to the house I left.’ When it arrives, it finds the house cleaned up and decorated. Then it goes and brings with it seven other spirits more evil than itself. They go in and make their home there. That person is worse off at the end than at the beginning.”
While Jesus was saying these things, a certain woman in the crowd spoke up: “Happy is the mother who gave birth to you and who nursed you.”
But he said, “Happy rather are those who hear God’s word and put it into practice.”
Prayer
God,
We humans value a variety of things. Some of them not good. Some of them just okay. And some things we value are those in your Kingdom: the beautiful simplicity of creation, love, joy, peace, and so on.
Lord, help me to value those things that you value. If it means I need to take a break from the world in some way to get my priorities straight, help me to know it.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.