“A Picture of the End Times”
Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
The LORD be with you…
Yesterday morning in our Anchor of Hope House Church study of this coming Sunday’s Gospel text, a member pointed out how the demon still thrashed around after Jesus commanded him to come out of the boy (Mark 9:26closeMark 9:26 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” (ESV) closeMark 9:26closeMark 9:26 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” (ESV) 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” (ESV) ). I had never caught that before.
As I reflected on this; it struck me that these three verses are a picture of the End Times:
“When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the evil spirit. "You deaf and mute spirit," he said, "I command you, come out of him and never enter him again."
The spirit shrieked, convulsed him violently and came out. The boy looked so much like a corpse that many said, "He's dead."
But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him to his feet, and he stood up.” (Mark 9:25-27closeMark 9:25-27 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (ESV) closeMark 9:25-27closeMark 9:25-27 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (ESV) 25 And when Jesus saw that a crowd came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to it, “You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.” 26 And after crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, “He is dead.” 27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (ESV) )
Jesus is the Word made flesh; He speaks and Satan’s hold on this boy is defeated! When Jesus was raised from the dead; the Word conquered sin, death & the Devil. This is the beginning of the “End Times”.
But note, that even after Jesus demonstrates His dominance over demons; the demon still thrashes the boy around, one last time. This is what we see today, in the End Times. The Devil has been bound; praise God. But, he still thrashes around, trying to inflict harm, even in his death throes.
The power; the hope; the joy is in the last verse! Jesus took the boy by his hand and stood him up. Listen to me. Put your hope in Jesus. He is our soon and coming King! He who began this good work in you, will carry it completion! Death, disease, demons and the Devil himself may put us down; take your refuge in the strong Tower; He will raise you up on the last day!!
Jim Buckman
