Called By Name

The demons know who the good ones are.

After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Demons also came out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah. At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea. - Luke 4:38-44

When Jesus cast out the demons, they called him by name and he rebuked them.  What was that about?

In Isaiah, God tells Abraham that he calls him by name, so Abraham belongs to God.  

When the demons are allowed to name Jesus with his true identity, they are trying to claim dominion over him.  We do the same thing in a way.  When we assign a name or label to someone, we place ourselves above them. Like Adam naming the animals in the garden, we like to be in charge.

We have a lot of name calling going on these days, although most of it is labeling and not naming.  We think we know what someone is truly like by what we see in them, or don't see.

If they are not like us, perhaps there is something bad or evil about them.

But aren't we acting like the demons when we do that?

Maybe it is something we should think about, the next time a name or label comes to mind.

More to come...