The Road Devotional | Lent 2024

Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute. When the demon left, the man who had been mute spoke, and the crowd was amazed. But some of them said, “By Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he is driving out demons.” Others tested him by asking for a sign from heaven.
Jesus knew their thoughts and said to them: “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall. If Satan is divided against himself, how can his kingdom stand? I say this because you claim that I drive out demons by Beelzebul. Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges. But if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come upon you.

Here, we see Jesus’ healing abilities being called into question. Was the healing real? Yes. That doesn’t seem to be the point of disagreement however. Instead, it appears to be by whose authority is Jesus performing such feats? The crowd had the same experience. They saw the same miracle being performed. Yet some came to a very different interpretation than others. Seeing and believing are two very different things. This is in part because we filter our experiences through personal beliefs. If a personal belief is negative or judgmental, our reality will be interpreted through that lens. However, if our beliefs are rooted in Grace and wholeness, that will change our perspective.

Q. When have you seen something positive and had trouble believing in your life? What are some personal beliefs you hold that have tainted how you see God at work?

Jesus takes this ill-informed line of questioning and turns it into a teaching point, steering people towards God by attributing his works as being done “by the finger of God.”

Q. When you are successful, who do you think deserves the credit? How willing are you to give credit to God?

God, I come to you recognizing the battles I face within and around me. Grant me the capacity to discern, to recognize how I might be helping to sow seeds of division and oppression. Lead me to be instruments of Your peace. May your light shine brightly in my life, dispelling every shadow and revealing the truth of Your love.

Amen.