What a Word This Is!

Luke 4:31 begins, "Then He (Jesus) went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths." Capernaum, just off the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, was the home of Peter, as well as the other fishermen, such as John and James. It was the headquarters of Jesus' ministry. "Sabbaths" (v. 31b), being plural, indicates that He had spent some time there, at least a few weeks, teaching the people in the synagogue. As He taught them we are told, "And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority" (v. 32).

Luke continues, "Now in the synagogue there was a certain man who had a spirit of an unclean demon" (v. 33a). The demon spoke with the voice of this man, "And he cried out with a loud voice, saying, 'Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!'" (vv. 33b-34). Note here that the demon refers to himself as "us," "we," and "us" again (v. 34). So it would appear that there were multiple demons possessing this man.

Jesus responded with the voice of authority and "rebuked him, saying, 'Be quiet, come out of him!' And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him" (v. 35). Mark clarifies, "And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him" (Mark 1:26).

Everyone was astonished! "Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, 'What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out'" (Luke 4:36). Mark adds, "What new doctrine is this?" (Mark 1:27). "Doctrine" (v. 27) refers to "teaching," so it could be translated, "What new teaching is this?" What Jesus did in casting out these demons was new to the people in the synagogue. They had never seen anything like this before.

The authority with which Jesus acted gave further proof to the people that He was none other than the Son of God, our Savior and Lord. Luke closes, "And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region" (Luke 4:37). Mark says, "And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee" (Mark 1:28). With this show of authority and power, it was no wonder that His fame spread everywhere. He is the One we must believe in and trust by faith. Amen.