“THE STRONGEST GOD/MAN SAVIOR”
Saint Luke 11: 14-28
Oculi: 7 March Anno Domini 2021
Fr Jay Watson, SSP
Satan is not dumb, by that one acknowledges that Satan is not silent, he can speak. He most assuredly is “dumb” in the modern colloquial definition. The devil is an imbecile and an inane half-wit driven mad by pride and loathsome decay of his once glorious angelic spirit. But he and his demons can speak, they are not “dumb.” Perhaps amongst themselves they babble on in gibberish and nonsensical howlings and gurglings. But when they find a pagan or heathen or apostate to tempt…they are loquacious and even charmingly eloquent in their discourses. Devils just love sharing and “dialoging.” And they know their Bible. What about you? You need to keep your powder dry, don’t shoot until you see the yellow of their eyes, and then have plenty of ammo in The Word of The Lord to go with your own armor of God.
The joy of speaking was one of the greatest gifts That The Lord gave to Adam and Eve. They were made “in His image and likeness” and so they shared in the creative process of speaking, naming, and echoing back to their creator the original language of love and reciprocity. To be sure all of the so-called five “senses” are part and parcel of God’s good 1st Article gifts which he gives to men. And because of sin every one of our senses, sight, hearing, speaking, smelling and feeling/touching rot away along with the rest of our physical capabilities the longer we live. The wages of sin is death—but the down payment is bodily decay and corruption along the way. The man who Jesus exorcised was not deaf and dumb because Satan, or a particular devil, made him that way, necessarily. Satan has no creative powers. So, we don’t know. We are told in this instance whether the man was born deaf and dumb. Or, it possible that due to his paganism or rejection of God’s Word in his life, that he was possessed by an infernal tempter—a demon. The point is that the diabolical took evil pleasure, a cussed delight, in keeping the poor man from any form of communication. The man could not sing, chant, or shout his petitions, prayers, anguishes, or thanksgivings to God. His confession of sin and his confession of faith (if he had one before Jesus came on the scene) were silenced. That is a prison house of hell in and of itself.
We of the Western Christian Church (evangelically/catholic, i.e., Lutheran) emphasize Christ’s forgiving us our sins and keeping the Commandments in our stead. Yes. But the Eastern Church is not wrong in their own emphasis (one that we also concur with) that Christ came to defeat Satan—to crush his scaly head.
Oh, does He do that in this morning’s text.
Satan, adversary, dragon, serpent, old ancient wicked evil foe, liar, and murderer, was also called Baal (Lord) Zebub (of flies). Of course. Flies gather around the rotting dead corpses. Bodies only stay alive when filled with life and light—with Jesus—with The Word of God.
The strong man—Satan—thought he had won at Calvary. There, he saw Jesus nailed to a cross and cruelly tortured and executed, though innocent of any wrongdoing. The sinless Lamb in place of sinners. It appeared that the kingdom of the Prince of the air, of this present age, the devil, had won, had despoiled and captured everything in this decaying world. But Jesus, though, Lamb, is also Lion. Jesus is the stronger man; The God/Man Who in His own person is omnipotent. Jesus burst deaths strong bands, broke free from Satan’s chains, death, and completely overpowered the snake. Stripping Satan of his spiritual armor, Jesus crushed its head with His own bruised and pierced feet. Our text, that was only the beginning. Your demons have been driven away from clinging to you like parasites: you are + baptized. You are deaf and dumb no longer. You can now rejoice and sing your Lord’s praises.
Blessed are you that hear The Word of God and keep it. That is, Holy and beloved are you that receive The Word of God and hold on to it.
In the Name of the Father and + of the Son and of The Holy Ghost
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