Luke 4:31-37
He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbath. They were astounded at his teaching, because he spoke with authority. In the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him without having done him any harm. They were all amazed and kept saying to one another, “What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!” And a report about him began to reach every place in the region.
It’s D-Day. At least in the larger scheme of Luke’s Gospel, we might imagine this brief but powerful recitation of events in this way. Thus far in the story, Jesus has been baptized by the Spirit, tested in the wilderness, tempted by the devil, and has announced his mission in front of his home crowd. The campaign is poised to launch, the battle begin. And in these verses Luke describes how it commences.
But what is the “it” that begins? Nothing less than an assault on all that would keep the children of God from full and abundant living.
And so as he is again teaching with authority, he encounters a man bound by an unclean spirit. Not only that, but this spirit immediately recognizes the One blessed by the Holy Spirit and names him as such. And just as he defeated the tempter in the wilderness, so now he casts out this lesser spirit in the city.
Jesus is, in other words, doing exactly what he said – releasing, healing, freeing, and in all these ways announcing God’s favor.
It’s D-Day, the launch of the campaign and battle to win back the lost children of God. It has begun.
Prayer: Dear God, as we read of the acts of healing and mercy of your Son, let us remember that you always stand against whatever harms and hinders the good and stand with all the strengthens it. Moreover, you bid us to do the same. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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