The Spiral
Matt. 12:43-50
Is Jesus saying that we are addicted to our ways?
Photo by Jon Tyson on Unsplash
“When the unclean spirit has gone out of a person, it wanders through waterless regions looking for a resting place, but it finds none. Then it says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ When it comes, it finds it empty, swept, and put in order. Then it goes and brings along seven other spirits more evil than itself, and they enter and live there; and the last state of that person is worse than the first. So will it be also with this evil generation.” While he was still speaking to the crowds, his mother and his brothers were standing outside, wanting to speak to him. Someone told him, “Look, your mother and your brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.” But to the one who had told him this, Jesus replied, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” And pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.” - Matt. 12:43-50
It sure sounds like he is describing someone who is battling addiction, doesn’t it?
The person attempts to get clean, and then his addiction returns with a vengeance, becoming much worse than before.
Why does this happen?
What did the person do wrong in Jesus’s example?
One thing is the demon was removed but nothing took its place. We need to invite the Holy Spirit in to dwell where the Spirit lived. As Jesus says elsewhere, the house cannot be robbed if the strong man is there.
When Jesus says that his family is now the community of faith, he is saying we must find a new community to replace the one that was corrupt, even to the extent that the family must be abandoned.
This is radical stuff, but it explains why Jesus is so upset with the people of God. It reminds me of the parable of the sower. So many of the seeds sown did not take root in a meaningful way.
The soil needs to be ready and rich with nutrients for the seed to bear fruit.
If we don’t change, we will spiral down and be lost forever.
This is a powerful message. It is not simply that we must follow Jesus. We must also change our ways.
That is what we find so hard to do.
More to come...