With power and authority!

Context

While chapters one and two worked as an introduction to the book of Luke and laying the foundation of the fulfillment of God’s promises, chapters three and four have given us the introduction to Jesus’ public ministry. He rejected the devil’s temptations in the wilderness and then was rejected himself from his hometown of Nazareth. The testing scene showed us how Jesus has passed while all other humans have failed. And the last passage gave us the illustration of how God’s own people will reject Jesus and put him to death, only to be miraculously released. These final verses in chapter four will show us the power Jesus has over evil and sickness and yet reveal what is his higher priority.

Observation

Structure

• 31-37 Jesus rebukes a demon
• 38-41 Jesus rebukes a fever
• 42-44 Jesus corrects expectations

31-37 Jesus rebukes a demon

“Then he went down to Capernaum…” The word ‘then’ (NIV) is not explicit in the original and this event doesn’t need to be strictly following the previous one. Granted, a simple reading of the chapter would lead to the observation that he went from Nazareth to Capernaum. But it is clear that he has already been to Capernaum (verse 23). He is either returning there or Luke arranged the order of events to better suit his message. Just a thought.

“They were amazed at his teaching…” Amazed, astounded and overwhelmed.

“…because his words had authority.” See also Luke 2:36 and Matthew 7:29. Obviously they were impressed and blown away at the words and manner of his preaching. The word ‘authority’ carries with it the idea that Jesus had the right to say what he was saying. His manner was not so much suggesting what is true but saying what is true. He spoke (as you can tell when reading his words in the Gospels) like someone who knew the truth and never proposing an idea. Other speakers of the day were likely to suggest interpretations of the Scriptures and make arguments while referring to other Hebrew scholars to back up their idea. Jesus, it seems, just spoke what was true.

“In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon…” It is superstition and man-made fiction that a church acts as some sort of holy ground where evil may not cross or act. A man standing among worshippers of Yahweh was influenced by a demon – an impure, or unclean spirit. A few stories in Luke describe demon possession (Luke 4:41; 8:2ff; 10:17; 11:14ff). The longest stories are in chapters 8 and 11. Luke 13:32 helps us to see how driving out demons and healing people characterise the mission of Jesus and yet are only temporary goals. Jesus said, “Go tell that fox (Herod), ‘I will keep on driving out demons and healing people today and tomorrow, and on the third day I will reach my goal.’”

“He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us?”” Compare a few translations of this verse and you’ll get the feeling there is something peculiar in the Greek. The NIV has gone with a fair and agreeable translation to match the meaning of what is said. Other comparable suggestions are: ‘What have we in common?’ or ‘Leave me alone!’ Reading the ESV you see a more literal translation which is correct but generally misses the feeling that ‘Go away!’ conveys. ‘Ha! What have you to do with us?’

“I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Again, it amazes me how someone so knowledgable can be so rebellious and yet this is the state of the human condition. People would prefer to deny the truth than to embrace it and be freed.

““Be Quiet!” Jesus said sternly.” The word here is ‘rebuked’ – see verses 39 and 41.

“…the demon threw the man down…” Clearly there is a difference between the man and the demon. Those who say that demon-possession was a type of mental illness fail to explain this as well as having the knowledge that Jesus is the Holy One of God and that a herd of pigs can receive the expelled demons as in Luke 8.

“With authority and power…” These two words capture his ‘God given right’ to speak the way that he spoke matched with the God given ability and strength.

At the end of this section we see demonstrated that Jesus is bigger than impure spirits and this is one aspect of his earthly mission.

38-41 Jesus rebukes a fever

“…went to the home of Simon.” We haven’t met Simon before in this gospel and because there is no introduction given to him, we accept him as the famous Simon Peter whom Theophilus would know through reputation.

“…Simon’s mother-in-law…” Insert some in-law joke here :o) – If this was Simon Peter, then he must have been married at some stage. See 1 Corinthians 9:5.

“…suffering from a high fever.” Whenever I get a fever, let alone a high fever, I reflect on how easy it is to go to the medicine cupboard and take some paracetamol or similar. A high fever was a bad thing which could result in death.

“…[Jesus] bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her.” It seems strange to personify a virus or even the symptoms of a virus but Luke is telling us that when it comes to evil Spirit or sickness, Jesus is the boss! He is rebuking sin and the effects of sin.

“She got up at once and began to wait on them.” Dr Luke amazed at not simply an antidote to sickness but the complete removal of it! Not even modern science and medicine does that!

“…the people brought to Jesus…sickness…demons…” This had immediately become Jesus’ thing. He could expel demons and illness with just a rebuke and that is worth bringing suffers to get their healing.

“…they knew he was the Messiah.” Firstly, Jesus just is the Holy One of God and the demons knew it. It was fact. Just because they hated him didn’t change that fact. Secondly, Jesus is not keen for his testimony to be given by his enemy! It will be those who see and believe and repent and follow who will become the apostles, and disciples of our King.

At the end of the second section, we are convinced that Jesus is the Messiah who has come to trample on Satan’s head (Genesis 3:15). He is the Holy One of God who easily smashes evil spirits and removes the effects of sin in the world.

42-44 Jesus corrects expectations

“…Jesus went out to a solitary place.” We aren’t told by Luke what he did there. All we can say from this account is that he sought out solitude. Mark 1:35 tells us that he prayed and we know he does in Luke 5:16. Time out from business and success allows us to be alone with God and meditate on what or how we can serve him best next.

“But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.”” Jesus declares here that his mission is to tell people about the kingdom of God; that he is supposed to travel to people to give the message; and that he does this as someone sent! His authority has been given to him and his mission is not of himself but in obedience to whoever sent him!

Jesus’ plans were not to be owned by anyone, nor build a centre of ministry here on earth. It was to preach the good news, cast out demons and heal throughout Jewish areas.

Note again what Luke 13:32 says about his ministry: he will keep driving out demons and healing people until he reaches his goal which is to die in Jerusalem!

Meaning

The Boss of all has been sent to smash evil. He’s smash the agents of evil. He’s smash the curses of evil. And finally, when he dies and raises to life again, he will smash the power of evil. Jesus is the one who has come to point us all to his kingdom and to set us free from the clutches of the evil one.

Application

• Topic A: The curse of sin. Notice that Jesus rebuked a virus! We live in a world that is under the curse of sin and has been since Adam and Eve chose to go against God’s word. Every cold, every splinter, all cancer and even hay fever are all the result of sin in our world. It’s so nice to have late night chemists that supply us with solutions and preventions to all sorts of issues in this world but they are all just band-aids. When Jesus tore into that fever, he intended to show us that it is not welcome in his creation. Reflect on all that you have done in your day today that would look differently if we didn’t live in a sin-cursed world. Now thank God that one day he will undo the curse forever. Read Revelation 21:1-8.
• Topic B: Spreading the news and bringing people to Jesus (verses 37 and 40). It is common for Christians to feel unsure how to bring others to Jesus. Perhaps our hesitation is because we think too broadly about who Jesus is and what he has done for us. Yes, he has paid for our sins and promised us paradise one day but hasn’t he done more for you than that? What do you know is true about your life now because you have been brought to Jesus? What’s one thing you know that Jesus has done for you? Finish this sentence, “One thing I know is that Jesus has …” Would that be an easier conversation to have with other people?
• Topic C: Finding a solitary place. There is no law specifying when, where and how we are to take time out to spend it with God. But the scriptures convince us that it is a wonderful, life-giving thing to do. Genesis 24:63; Joshua 1:8; Psalm 1; 19; 77:22; Psalm 119:9-16, 27, 48, 97, 148; 143:5; 145:5; 2 Timothy 3; Luke 4:4! Encourage one another with how you can start or continue to read the bible and meditate quietly with God. Can you set a goal to do 21 days in a row? Jesus clarified his goals after stepping aside to be alone with God. Perhaps you can journal some new convictions resulting from your meditation times for your own encouragement.

Prayer of the Week

Lord God, thank you for revealing sin and the effects of sin in this world and help us not to be at home here but convicted to seek first your kingdom. Help us to walk closely with you and to always be ready and eager to tell others of what you have done for us. Amen.