Lord, Don't Leave Us Alone
Mark 1:23-24
Tom Harding

And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God (Mark 1:23-24). When the Lord Jesus went among the people preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, the people in the synagogue were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught them with authority. They did not recognize, acknowledge nor confess His person as God the Son, but they were amazed at His words. What is most remarkable the "unclean spirit," knew exactly Who He was and confessed that Jesus Christ is the, "Holy One of God." The demon spirit also confessed he was deserving of God's righteous judgment, "art thou come to destroy us." The demon spirit also cried out and said, "Let us alone; what have we to do with thee." The believer's cry before the Lord is similar, yet completely different. We, by His grace do confess that Jesus Christ is our Lord and Saviour (Phi. 2:9-11), but not only acknowledging His Lordship over us, but we willingly submit to Him and love Him supremely (1Pet.2:7). We say with Thomas, Jesus Christ is, "My Lord and my God" (John 20:28). Believers also confess they are deserving of God's righteous judgment against our sin and plead for mercy (Psa. 51: 1-4; Luke 18:13-14). Our plea before the Lord is, don't leave us alone , we need thee every hour in everyway. We need Thee, to be Surety and Sacrifice for us (Heb. 7:22), Mediator representing us (1Tim. 2:5), Advocate pleading for us (1John 2:1), Captain guiding and fighting for us (Heb. 2:10), Redeemer delivering us (Heb. 2:14-17), Great High Priest interceding for us (Heb. 4:14-16), the Chief, Great, and Good Shepherd providing all things for us (Psalm 23:1-4; Phil. 4:19). This is the Lord's unwavering and steadfast promise to His covenant people that, He never will leave us. "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee" (Heb. 13:5). What sweet comfort this affords the believer! As one old writer put it, "The Lord Jesus Christ freely gives us all grace now and all glory hereafter" (Rom. 8:32).