Demons Are Cast Out
May 9, 2020
Commentary
Jesus went to Capernaum, which He later made His home since His own hometown, Nazareth, had rejected Him. He sets up His headquarters in Capernaum, the home town of Peter, Andrew, James and John. On the Sabbath Jesus gives a powerful message at the synagogue (v. 31). It is not recorded what His actual sermon was but we do know that the people were astonished at his teaching because His word was given with such power (v. 32). Jesus performed a series of healing miracles which showed that His teaching in Nazareth was true.
Demon possession was prevalent in Christ’s time and He is confronted by a demon possessed man (v. 33). It is interesting to note that man refused to acknowledge who Jesus was but the demon recognized Him as “the holy one of God” (v.34). This wicked demon did his utmost to resist the power of Christ but his effort was in vain. Jesus rebukes the demon and requires him to hold his peace (v. 35). When commanded to come out of the man, the evil spirit obeyed, but in the process threw the man into the air. It seemed that he was trying to cause as much injury as possible before leaving.
After all of this happened the people were amazed even more than they were before (v. 36). Immediately the story of Jesus’ power spread throughout all of Galilee (v. 37). The crowd noted that Jesus had authority and power over demons, and this caused His fame to spread.
Application
Demon possession is an uncontrollable force in a person’s life. However, it is possible for me to have other uncontrollable things in my life such as a bad temper. Is there anything that Jesus might want to cast out of my life?
Luke 4:31– 37 (NET)
31 So he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he began to teach the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because he spoke with authority.
33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him: “Silence! Come out of him!” Then, after the demon threw the man down in their midst, he came out of him without hurting him. 36 They were all amazed and began to say to one another, “What’s happening here? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 So the news about him spread into all areas of the region.
Illustration: Alan Redpath Passes Through Depression
A Christian who passes through the dark tunnel of depression tends to focus on his sinful weaknesses and failures. In 1964, Alan Redpath, former pastor of Moody Church in Chicago, suffered a near-fatal stroke and sank into the depths of despondency. He wrote later of having terribly wicked thoughts. At one point, he prayed, “O Lord, deliver me from this attack of the devil. Take me right home!” It was then that he sensed the Lord saying, “It is I, your Savior, who has brought this experience into your life to show you [that] this is the kind of person, with all your sinful thoughts and temptations, which you thought were things of the past, always will be, but for My grace.” (Our Daily Bread, Saturday, June 20).