Lord’s Day, Vol. 13 No. 45
Ministering with Authority and Power
Luke 4:31-44 (KJV) And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out. 37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about. 38 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. 39 And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them. 40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ. 42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desert place: and the people sought him, and came unto him, and stayed him, that he should not depart from them. 43 And he said unto them, I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also: for therefore am I sent. 44 And he preached in the synagogues of Galilee.
The earthly ministry of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ provided His disciples a living example of God’s grace and power in action to fulfil His redemptive purpose in the salvation of souls and the strengthening of the faith of the saints. Jesus was rejected at Nazareth by his kinsfolk, it did not deter Him to continue His ministry in the other cities of Israel. With authority and power, Jesus commanded the unclean spirits to come out a gravely tormented man (v36). The devil said, “Let us alone” which literally is an exclamation of surprise or displeasure and even fear and dread, “ah! ha!”. His dreadful work of evil in tormenting the man is stopped short! The devil left the man and he was completely healed. The devils themselves acknowledged the truth concerning the identity of Jesus to be the Christ, the Son of God (41). The spirits of darkness were rebuked by Jesus. They had no power to resist Him but to obey His command to leave the body of the demon possessed men (v36, 42).
These demonic forces stand in opposition to God as the Apostle Paul pointed out that the church is in spiritual warfare requiring to put on the whole armour of God – Ephesians 6:10-13 (KJV) Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
Jesus confronted and overcame the forces of Satan. The demons cringed in fear at Jesus’ authority and power to destroy them!
Truly, the man who was delivered by Christ has henceforth the presence of Christ to defend and protect them – 1 John 4:4 (KJV) Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. Also, James 4:7b (KJV) Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.
He also healed Simon Peter’s wife’s mother of a great fever. She was immediately healed when Jesus rebuked the fever and ministered to Him and her family. What a blessing it is to have Jesus. He healed where no physicians could because life comes from Him (John 1:3) and sustenance of life (John 1:4) is through Him. He is indeed our compassion Saviour!
He had power over satanic forces and physical infirmities. Jesus demonstrated this in His earthly ministry. Jesus is not only Creator, Sustainer but Saviour! His primary ministry was to preach the gospel to save the lost! More than restoring physical life, Jesus gives eternal life! This is the primary focus of the Great Commission that Christ entrusted to His followers. This was God’s way to save souls and Jesus showed this clearly in His ministry in preaching the gospel which He called “the gospel of the kingdom”. Let the gospel be preached in season, out of season so that men may be rescued from the bondage of sin to live in holiness, peace and joy!
While Jesus went about the work of the ministry, He also set time aside and be apart to pray and have communion with the Father in heaven. This was the manifestation of His humanity, though He is God, setting for His disciples an example.