The miracles of Jesus - Classical Christian Literature by Athleo.net

SYNAGOGUE AT CAPERNAUM 145
spirit of lies. Are they not rather the expression of
an abject fear that felt its own evil sway already
slipping from its grasp, and was constrained to admit
itself to be in the presence of its conqueror Between
Jesus, wholly consecrated to God's service, and the
spirits whose rule was of the devil, there was nothing
in common, nor could there be any truce. Jesus,
in the exercise of His healing mission, might save
others : them He could only destroy.
" And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace,
and come out of him" (Luke iv. 35). The twofold
command was designed to meet the twofold offence.
The spirit's confession, though in itself true, could not
be accepted as coming from unholy lips (compare
Mark i.
34; iii. 12). The invasion of the poor
victim's spirit by an alien power must now be ended.
And the spirit had no course but to obey, though in
doing so he displayed his utmost malice to the
sufferer. " Convulsing him, and crying with a loud
voice, he came out of him" (Mark i. 26). Or, as St
Luke in substantial agreement expresses it, " When
the devil had thrown him down in the midst, he came
out of him, having done him no hurt " (Luke iv. 35).
The immediate effect of so wonderful a deliverance
was very great. And St Mark, in his usual graphic
style, has recalled for us the incoherent remarks of
the excited crowd :
" What is this a new teaching
with authority He commandeth even the unclean
spirits, and they obey Him " (Mark i. 27). They had
witnessed, doubtless, the elaborate processes which
their own exorcists adopted in dealing with victims
similarly possessed (compare Matthew xii. 27 ;
Acts
xix. 13). But never before had they seen a cure
K