Early in his ministry, Jesus encounters resistance from evil spirits (Mark 1:21-28). This happens in spite of the fact that he had successfully resisted the temptations of Satan in the wilderness. Some of us consider Satan and demons archaic and superstitious portrayals of evil. Others find them highly accurate descriptions of our own spiritual and life experience. But whether one views evil as personal demonic forces or as impersonal undefined forces, we all at times encounter evil. The point of the New Testament stories of Jesus healing the demon-possessed is that Jesus has power over the evil that oppresses humans, even when humans do not. That makes Jesus, at least, super-human. But the biblical view involves more than that: the evil spirits recognize who Jesus is, and call him "the Holy One of God." Spiritual beings can see clearly what humans must discern by faith.

As a Christian, you have available to you Jesus' own power over evil. If ever you perceive yourself as oppressed (by another, by a system, by your own thoughts and attitudes), take your stand under the righteousness of Christ, and dismiss the evil and its apparent power over you. Do not resign yourself to evil, for Jesus has defeated it. Claim Jesus' victory by rebuking evil in prayer, resisting it by word and deed, and asking for help to expose it or extricate yourself from it. The Holy One of God is still at work on earth.

May He set you free from all that opposes His work in your life. Amen.