Instantaneous Communication

# 366 - Today's Living Word comes from Mr 5:7b,8 “I implore You by God that You do not torment me." For He said to him, "Come out of the man, unclean spirit!"

Conversations in the spirit world are much different than conversations in the physical world. They aren't necessarily spoken in timed sequence. You know, in our world, I speak to you, you process what I have said and speak a reply. Here the conversation is simultaneous. This explains the way the conversation is recorded by Mark.

We would like the conversation to start with Jesus saying, “Come out of the man, unclean spirit!” And the spirit replying “I implore You by God that You do not torment me.” That flows better for our understanding that is limited to time.

But if that's the way the conversation unfolds, we have a problem. We have a demon who apparently is able to resist Jesus, the Son of the Most High God and that's impossible.

This is instantaneous communication, clearly understood by both parties.

Jesus demands that the demon depart from the man and the demon asks that in coming out he not be sent to hell before his time. He did not resist the command of Jesus, he just brought up another issue.

It's interesting too, that the demon asks that Jesus swear to God not to send him to hell. In asking, he is confirming the deity of Christ, for only God can make such a promise.

I'm Duane Matz and that's Today's Living Word.