Luke 4:31-37 Jesus Expels an Unclean Spirit (Mark 1:21–28)
“Then He went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath He began to teach the people. They were astonished at His teaching, because His message had authority.
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon. He cried out in a loud voice, “Ha! 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!”
But Jesus rebuked the demon. “Be silent!” He said. “Come out of him!” At this, the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without harming him.
All the people were overcome with amazement and asked one another, “What is this message? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” And the news about Jesus spread throughout the surrounding region.”
Luke 4:38-41 Jesus Heals at Peter’s House (Matthew 8:14–17; Mark 1:29–34)
“After Jesus had left the synagogue, He went to the home of Simon, whose mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever. So they appealed to Jesus on her behalf, and He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and began to serve them.
At sunset, all who were ill with various diseases were brought to Jesus, and laying His hands on each one, He healed them. Demons also came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But He rebuked the demons and would not allow them to speak, because they knew He was the Christ.”
Luke 4:42-44 Jesus Preaches in Judea (Mark 1:35–39)
“At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place, and the crowds were looking for Him. They came to Him and tried to keep Him from leaving. But Jesus told them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well, because that is why I was sent.” And He continued to preach in the synagogues of Judea.”
Jesus has walked away from childhood friends and neighbors who are furious because he has failed to perform on demand in the synagogue at Nazareth and has moved to Capernaum. Now Jesus is starting his ministry by casting out demons, healing all who come to him, and preaching in the local synagogues. Capernaum isn’t that far from Nazareth, so the Nazarenes are probably fuming when they hear what Jesus is doing now. But the Nazarenes have only themselves to blame, for when Jesus came to them, they rejected him.
People in and around Capernaum are much more receptive to Jesus’s ministry. Casting out demons, healing, and preaching will be hallmarks of Jesus’ work for the rest of his ministry. Even at the onset, Jesus knows what he has been called to do and how God wants him to work. Why are these activities so important?
Jesus has come to graphically demonstrate God’s Will for His Kingdom and to call people to new life. Everything that Jesus does and everything that he preaches and teaches is focused on showing what it’s like to be a citizen of the Kingdom of God. If this Kingdom only means suffering and pain, then Jesus’ mission is a useless one. But if the Kingdom means living in freedom from sin and oppression, living in righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit, then Jesus’ teachings will be a revelation to all who hear him. When God gave Moses the Law, He did not mean it to become an intolerable burden; however, centuries have passed and now observant Jews are struggling to fulfill long sets of rules devised by religious experts.
Notice that the demons are everywhere, even in the synagogues. Years ago, I read the testimony of a man who was formerly a witch in Nigeria. This man attended church regularly and could spot those church goers plagued by demons. While church members were singing songs about victory over Satan, the demons were laughing hysterically, knowing that they were controlling the believers and not God.
The speed of darkness is the speed of light. Holiness and evil cannot exist in the same space at the same time. When Jesus arrives in Simon’s house, demons flee, acknowledging him as the Son of God.
What are the true marks of a successful ministry? Ministering in the Holy Spirit results in physical and spiritual healing, deliverance from Satan and his demons, and the advent of the Holy Spirit in the lives of all touched by the ministry. When the Holy Spirit is present, there’s no need for noisy background music, screaming prayers, light shows, or smoke machines.
The evangelist Benny Hinn is extremely controversial, and in recent years he has faced strong criticism. But I was present at a Benny Hinn crusade in Charleston, WV in 1978. Hinn called the young people to come forward, filling the front of the Charleston Auditorium. Hinn remained on the stage and simply stretched out his hands and prayed, “Come, Holy Spirit!” All the young people went down on their faces under the power of the Holy Spirit and remained that way for several minutes. There was dead silence in the auditorium-no music, nobody praying out loud, only the sound of these young people weeping under the convicting power of the Holy Spirit.
Many lives were changed that day, and many of those people would tell you now that experience was one of the greatest of their entire lives. The Holy Spirit showed up, and nothing else was necessary. In the silence, God spoke to those young people, assuring them of His love, His mercy, His grace, and His forgiveness.
May all who minister do so as Jesus did, in the power of the Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit ministry gives lasting results while ministry based on special effects fizzles as soon as the sound and light show ends. May God help us, so that we minister as Jesus did!
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for loving us and for caring for us. Lord, we long for Your touch on our hearts and lives. We envy those whom Jesus healed, for they were blessed beyond all measure. Holy Spirit, we welcome You and beg You to come and abide with us forever. In the mighty and precious Name of King Jesus. Amen.
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