Matthew 12:22 – Then a demon-possessed man, who was blind and couldn’t speak, was brought to Jesus. He healed the man so that he could both speak and see. 23 The crowd was amazed and asked, “Could it be that Jesus is the Son of David, the Messiah?”

24 But when the Pharisees heard about the miracle, they said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.”

25 Jesus knew their thoughts and replied, “Any kingdom divided by civil war is doomed. A town or family splintered by feuding will fall apart. 26 And if Satan is casting out Satan, he is divided and fighting against himself. His own kingdom will not survive. 27 And if I am empowered by Satan, what about your own exorcists? They cast out demons, too, so they will condemn you for what you have said. 28 But if I am casting out demons by the Spirit of God, then the Kingdom of God has arrived among you. 29 For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.

 30 “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. (NLT)

In this passage Jesus heals a man who could not see or speak.  Truly a miraculous event, one for which we should praise God!  The depth of the healing that Jesus offers to each and every one of us, however, goes much deeper than the physical.  Jesus speaks of this healing at the end of his response to those who questioned where it was that he received his power.

Using an analogy of a strong man, Jesus tells us that his authority is to heal that which Satan seeks to destroy.  Jesus says in verse twenty-nine: “For who is powerful enough to enter the house of a strong man like Satan and plunder his goods? Only someone even stronger—someone who could tie him up and then plunder his house.” We must recognize that we are the goods that Satan has plundered, and Jesus has come to our rescue!  In this fallen world in which we live, we are often easy pickings for Satan.  A difficult day, an unkind word, some bad news – all of these and more weaken our spirit, allowing Satan an open door to control our hearts and minds.  When this happens, we become Satan’s plundered goods.

We live out each day on the front of a great spiritual war.  Left on our own, our defenses are not strong enough to win the war.  We need someone stronger than Satan, and Jesus is that strong man!  Jesus healed the demon possessed man to show us that he is stronger than the powers of darkness.  While we know that Jesus’ death for our sins has opened to door to eternal salvation, Jesus makes it clear that the door is open for us to win the battle against evil right here and right now.

To win our current battles, we cannot retreat.  Jesus makes this clear in verse thirty: “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me.”  If we remain neutral in our spiritual warfare, we have retreated.  We must not only be with Jesus spiritually, we must be working with Jesus spiritually.  If we do not actively work with Jesus in our spiritual battles, as Jesus says, we are actually working against Jesus.

Today, let us not merely walk with Jesus in spirit, let us work with Jesus.  Let us work with Jesus through prayer, through staying in God’s Word, through praise and worship, through Christian fellowship.  There is nothing in our lives that must stay under Satan’s control! 

Posted by Ramón Torres