The beloved physician Luke wrote how people who saw Jesus rebuke the unclean spirit within a man's son, “were all amazed at the mighty power of God. But while they wondered every one at all things which Jesus did, he said unto his disciples, Let these sayings sink down into your ears: for the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this saying, and it was hid from them, that they perceived it not: and they feared to ask him of that saying, then there arose a reasoning among them, which of them should be greatest. And Jesus, perceiving the thought of their heart, took a child, and set him by him, And said unto them, Whosoever shall receive this child in my name receives me: and whosoever shall receive me receives him that sent me: for he that is least among you all, the same shall be great”, and in chapter nine and verse forty-nine of his book Luke shared how John says, “Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name” where we read:
And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name;
and we forbade him, because he follows not with us.
The verse reads, “And John answered and said, Master, we saw one casting out devils in your name;” Luke began with the words, “and John answered and said” or “and Jesus' disciple John whose name means Jehovah is a gracious giver responded and began to speak and uttered, declared and proclaimed”, “Master” which means “teacher or instructor”, “we saw one casting out devils” or “John and the other disciples perceived, noticed, discerned and discovered a person driving and sending out demons, evil spirits and messengers and ministers of the devil” “in your name” which means “in everything Jesus' name covers which includes everything the thought or feeling of which is aroused in the mind by mentioning, hearing and remembering”. Luke shared how Jesus' disciple “John” came to Him and told Him that he and the other disciples observed someone using Jesus' name to “expel” “demonic spirits”.
The verse goes on to say, “and we forbade him, because he follows not with us.” Luke continued with the words, “and we forbade him” which means “and John and the other disciples hindered, prevented, denied and refused the man”, “because” or “since and on account that” “he follows not with us” which means “the person did not attend to, be as a disciple, associate or side with Jesus' disciples”. Luke shared how John told Jesus he and the other disciples “stopped” the person from “casting out” demons in Jesus' name because the person was not an “associate” or “disciple” of Jesus like they were.
When we consider Luke's words in this verse, we see how Jesus' disciple “John” thought he was giving Him a good report about an effort they made. Because they “hindered” a person who was “driving out demons” using Jesus' name, they thought they were protecting the ministry. Jesus will respond to John's report in the next verse, but for now let us consider not only the power of this other individual but also the connection he had to God regardless of whether he associated with the other disciples or not. God welcomes everyone to have a personal relationship with Him through His Son Jesus, and those who examine Jesus' life will find, “there is no respect of persons with God” (See Romans 2:11).
Next time Luke shares how Jesus tells His disciples, “forbid him not” Jesus' disciples, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until
tomorrow…there is more…
Look for the daily devotional book
“Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the
marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the
Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms
Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County"
in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com
; http://www.barnesandnobles.com
; download to e-books, and find it locally at
www.mrzlc.com/bookstore.
All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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