Tom Mount – August 25, 2024

 

Scripture reading: Luke 4:16-19; 24-30

Introduction

  • In Lk 4:16-19, Jesus declares his Messianic mission and divinely given authority/anointing to carry it out (Isa 61:1-2; 58:6).
  • The townspeople of Nazareth didn’t accept his message and tried to kill him: the first of many rejections and four reported attempts on his life (Lk 4:29; Jn 8:59; 10:31; Mt 27:1).
  • Nonetheless, Jesus remained faithful to his calling of Isa 61. In today’s text, Jesus begins to exercise his royal authority to do what he said he would do in Isa 61.
  • Never forget: Jesus came to inaugurate his kingdom as a human being over the earth. He is “the last Adam” (1 Cor 15:45). This required battling Satan to displace him as Ruler, archon, and to dispossess him of his unwitting subjects.

Jesus drives out an impure spirit: Luke 4:31-37

31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “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!” 35 “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.

36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

  • Capernaum – an important fishing village on NW shore of Sea of Galilee.
  • Sabbath – Jesus regularly attended synagogue on Shabbat.
  • they were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority – not just the “ring” of authority but authoritative action behind the words.
  • man possessed by a demon, an unclean spirit – daimonion, “spirit being”, good or evil; unclean spirit: fallen angel? Nephilim? “Possessed” – demonized: on a continuum from harassment to foothold to levels of influence, including virtual “possession”/ownership.
  • “Have you come to destroy us?” – dark powers are scared of Jesus (Jas 2:19). Jesus made all things, included all spirit beings, for himself (Col 1:16).
  • “I know who you are” – i.e., he knew Jesus of Nazareth (the man) was also the “Holy One of God” (kadosh, “separate, transcendent, unique,” i.e., God himself).
  • “Be quiet…” – epitimao, a Jewish technical term used to command evil powers to submit, “come out” – i.e., “leave and don’t return.”
  • news about him spread – word of mouth, before social media.

 

Takeaways

Meditate continuously on the fact that Jesus is King of kings and Lord of lords! Trust him, his power and authority in every situation you encounter. And as his duly commissioned royal ambassador use his delegated authority to proclaim the truth, heal, bless, curse evil, wage spiritual war and extend his kingdom on earth.