Serpents And Scorpions

The seventy-two disciples returned rejoicing and said to Jesus, “Lord, even the demons are subject to us because of your name.” Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky. Behold, I have given you the power ‘to tread upon serpents’ and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you. Nevertheless, do not rejoice because the spirits are subject to you, but rejoice because your names are written in heaven.”

At that very moment he rejoiced in the Holy Spirit and said, “I give you praise, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and the learned you have revealed them to the childlike. Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father. No one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.” (Luke 10:17-24)

“Behold, I have given you the power to tread upon serpents and scorpions and upon the full force of the enemy and nothing will harm you.”  If only it were so!  We all have our definitions for serpents and scorpions.  One person’s meat is another person’s poison.  Sounds like competing political parties.  

Unlike the Lord to whom demons were subject, according to Luke, we tend to be subject to demons who easily possess us – demons such as anger, hate, envy, and cowardice.  Jesus said, “I have observed Satan fall like lightning from the sky.” We observe Satan roaming the earth with his demons. Therefore, the strength we receive from Jesus is vital.

We all know who the Son is.  We all know Jesus has been revealed to us.  We save our souls by ripping them from Satan’s greedy hands when we realize our names are written in heaven and we act accordingly by rejoicing in and responding to the Holy Spirit.  We do this by treading on serpents and scorpions especially those who spread hate, anger, and division.

Deacon David Pierce