SUBSTANTIAL

Man has an intrinsic desire to be substantial and to be respected. And he goes to great lengths to accomplish it. He values the worldly system of hierarchy and fits himself into it at as high a position as possible. Consequently, he tramples on those below him, cowers under those above him and constantly attempts to ascend within this system. And because those around him do the same, he is at home either being substantial or admiring those who are. 

But the Bible points towards a spiritual world in which we are immersed in and defines substantiality predominantly in terms of prominence in this spiritual world. It is this spiritual world that directs and has authority over the visible physical world. As Jesus began his public ministry, he was barely recognized by the people around him as the Supreme Being over all creation. However, there was an exception,

In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice,  “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.(Luke 4:33-35)

While people were at best intrigued at what Jesus was doing and saying, the demon within the man instantly recognized the image of Jesus in the spiritual realm and went from terrifying others to being terrified! Because, in the spiritual realm which predominates, the image of Jesus looms large with absolute authority. The demon possessed man recognized what it meant to be truly substantial because of the demon within him and proclaimed in the visible world, what was hidden but true. 

Another incident from Acts is interesting,

Some Jews who went around driving out evil spirits tried to invoke the name of the Lord Jesus over those who were demon-possessed. They would say, “In the name of the Jesus whom Paul preaches, I command you to come out.” Seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, were doing this.One day the evil spirit answered them, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” Then the man who had the evil spirit jumped on them and overpowered them all. He gave them such a beating that they ran out of the house naked and bleeding.(Acts 19: 13-16)

The misguided folk in this incident were trying to fit into the hierarchical value based system of this world and trying to improve their profile by adding miracles to their resume. They quickly realized that the spiritual realm cannot be messed with and had the embarrassing experience of being beaten up by one man and being stripped naked and left wounded. And as they were going through the process of enlightenment, the words of the evil spirit are interesting, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know about, but who are you?” 

Both Jesus and Paul were known in the spiritual realm because of their alignment with God. The sons of Sceva were not. And the only identity of substance is one in the spiritual realm.

• ← THE BOY JESUS
• CHRISTIANITY AND SCIENCE →