38 John said to him, “Teacher, we saw a man casting out demons in your name, and we forbade him, because he was not following us.”
It is important to acknowledge the series of events leading up to this point in order to fully understand the context of what is going on here below the surface. Previous to this we had three significant moments, Jesus passing on the authority to exorcise demons to his apostles, their failing in exorcising the mute and deaf spirit and Jesus presenting a child to them as a model of humility after their ego-filled discussions amongst themselves. This is the back drop of the following event.
John, one of the inner three apostles of Jesus, says to his master that the disciples saw someone casting out demons in Jesus’ name. So we should acknowledge these as successful exorcisms as that is what is being described, miraculous events of spiritual warfare have taken place with the side of Christ winning, despite not being among those selected to receive the authority.
John and those with him, forbade the man “because he was not following us”. John and the other disciples intentions are likely not pure, they have VERY recently proved their big headedness, coupled with a failure to exorcise a demon. Just because things that were once hidden from man have now been revealed, does not mean all the hidden mysteries have been revealed, the machinations of the divine realm and spiritual warfare we only seem dimly, like through dirty glass.
Examples like that of the two men outside the Old Covenant Camp when the spirit descended on the elders, from mans perspective, especially Moses and Aaron’s, these men were not called but God in his wisdom choose for a hidden reason to bestow the spirit on to them as well, giving them the power of prophecy. See Numbers Chapter 11.
39 But Jesus said, “Do not forbid him; for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon after to speak evil of me.
Jesus rebukes John, telling him to not forbid those that do a “mighty work” or “works a miracle” in Jesus’ name. It is important to stress that the person can actually do such a miraculous feat. Otherwise they are likely just liars and therefore an enemy of Him who is Truth itself. Jesus tells John that those who actually do such works are not likely to be able to speak evil of Jesus. To speak evil could also mean do evil.
So if someone can actually do such works, they are like what Saint Paul and Saint John speak of in their Epistles, those who live by the Spirit and cannot sin. I think it is interesting that these two are the ones who write about this, John first of all as he is the one being rebuked on the topic in the Gospel reading and Paul, one who was miraculously picked outside of the ordinary way, the thirteenth apostle who never met Christ in his earthly ministry. Interesting synchronicity there.
40 For he that is not against us is for us.
This small verse is rather profound for its simple composition. The words that Jesus is speaking are so few but it gives us a lot to hold on to. Regardless of where someone is on their journey in faith, as long as they are not against Jesus’ mission and covenant family, they can easily be seen as an ally. It makes the process of deduction in who is with us or against us very easy. Anyone on that path will eventually end up exactly where they need to be, on the ride side.
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