ACC ~ Mark 3 v7 - 12

OVERVIEW:

Far better, Augustine maintains, to touch him by faith than to touch him with the hand alone. Note that even when beholding and confessing Christ verbally, the demonic powers were evidencing no love. The devils may believe and tremble, but they do not respond in love (AUGUSTINE).

3:10 | They Pressed upon Him to Touch Him

TOUCHING HIM BY FAITH

AUGUSTINE: It is by faith that we touch Jesus. And far better to touch him by faith than to touch or handle him with the hands only and not by faith. It was no great thing to merely touch him manually. Even his oppressors doubtless touched him when they apprehended him, bound him, and crucified him, but by their ill-motivated touch they lost precisely what they were laying hold of. O worldwide church! It is by touching him faithfully that your “faith has made you whole.” [1] SERMONS, ON EASTER 148. [2]

[1] Cf. Is 1:10-18; Mt 9:22; Mk 5:34; 10:52; Lk 8:48; Jn 20:29.

[2] Cetedoc 0284, 246.116.300.83; GMI 61-62**. To touch him with the hand but without faith is of no avail; but with faith to touch him is healing.

3:11 | The Unclean Spirits Fell Down Before Him and Cried Out, “You Are the Son of God”

THE ABSENCE OF CHARITY IN DEMONIC CONFESSION

AUGUSTINE: Both the devils and the faithful confessed Christ. “Thou art Christ, the Son of the living God,” [1] said Peter. “We know who thou art. Thou art the Son of God,” [2] said the devils. I hear a similar confession, but I do not find a similar charity. In one there is love, in another fear. He is lovely to those who are sons. He is terrible to those who are not sons. ON THE PSALMS 50.2. [3]

[1] Mt 16:16.

[2] Mk 3:11; Lk 4:41.

[3] Cetedoc 0283, 38.49.2.40; NPNF 1 8:178. Even when beholding and confessing Christ, the demonic powers lacked charity. The devils may believe and tremble, but they do not respond in love.

FAITH WORKS BY LOVE

AUGUSTINE: The “faith that works by love,” [1] is not the same faith that demons have. “For the devils also believe and tremble,” [2] but do they love? If they had not believed, [3] they would not have said: “You are the holy one of God” or “You are the Son of God.” [4] But if they had loved, they would not have said: “What have we to do with you?” [5] LETTER 194, TO SIXTUS. [6]

[1] Gal 5:6.

[2] Jas 2:19.

[3] The demons believed in the sense that they believed that he was Son of God, yet not so as to trust in his grace.

[4] Mk 3:11-12; Lk 4:34, 41.

[5] Mt 8:29; Mk 5:7; Lk 8:28.

[6] Cetedoc 0262, 194.57.3.185.5; FC 30:308-9*.