Matthew 12:43-45 Return of an Unclean Spirit

Many people were following Jesus for the benefits of healing and exorcism. Many had demons cast out of them recovering their sight, hearing, even health becoming decent citizens of their communities once again. Unfortunately, many of the people who had their demons cast out did not repent and submit to Jesus as the Son of God, but continued their lives without him. Some thinking he was a great prophet. Others thinking he was a great healer. Maybe even some thought he was just a good man. I wonder if there were some who got convinced by the Pharisees that Jesus was acting in the name of Beelzebul.

Jesus warns them with this short parable that the liberation from the power of darkness will be short lived because the disembodied spirits will return with reinforcements to claim their habitat. Evil spirits are not content to be disembodied, but continue to seek ways to have a “home.” Jesus exorcism swept clean and ordered the house, but it continues to be empty unless they embrace Jesus as Lord and Savior. The fate of that evil generation would be such that their last state would be worse than the first. To follow Jesus is not just to have our mess cleaned up by him, but to be filled with his presence as we submit to his lordship.

Lord, help me surrender to you my whole life. May I not be content with you cleaning up my messes, but help me yearn for your presence in me.