Luke 4:33-34
And in the synagogue, there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, "Ha! [Leave 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."
What do you suppose we should take away from this focus scripture?
When something doesn't jump right out at me in my meditations, I reread until it does. I've seen this demonic encounter before in the other gospels. It generally tends to go the same way. The demon always recognizes Jesus, and is forced to testify who he truly is, "The Holy One of God". And they are always extraordinarily bothered by his presence. You would think they'd see him and keep quiet hoping he doesn't mess around with whatever it is they've got going on.
This one cries out loud, "LET US ALONE!"
Well, now the cat's out of the bag.
And Jesus, with a word, shuts him down. With a word the demon is exorcised.
Luke 4:35
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent and come out of him!"
And the people wonder at this.
Luke 4:36
And they were all amazed and said to one another, "What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!"
And I suppose that's the point. "What is this word?"
What is this power? How is he doing these things?
Later Jesus, with a word, rebukes a disease from Simon's mother-in-law who was ill with a high fever. And the disease left her. But not only that she sprung up and got busy to her work apparently completely regenerate.
And going on, he's healing many people in many places. And more demons are exorcised screaming out loud, "You are the Son of God!". And I find that interesting because earlier in Nazaeth the people refused to believe that very thing about him. And in that case back in his hometown synagogue, Jesus openly confessed his Lordship before everyone, but in these demonic encounters he's silencing them when they try to expose Jesus for who he really is.
I think we can see some valuable lessons and understanding in this. We can see how spirits work. And how The Holy Spirit works.
Satan's minions are always bent on wreaking whatever sorts of havoc and harm they can. An unclean spirit is ultimately destructive. Meanwhile, God's Spirit is always constructive. the Holy Spirit plays a vital role in the spirit filled persons life. In their inspired convictions, in their regeneration, and ultimately in their resurrection. And on that final point the unbelievers truly struggle. They refuse to believe in any resurrection.
Romans 8:14
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God.
So, what makes this demon both resentful and fearful of Jesus?
Think about it, he's not inspired by The Holy Spirit. And it is impossible for it to be regenerated. He knows who Jesus is, he knows his own fate, and he knows God's plan for mankind. He saw Jesus before the incarnation, before Jesus...
Philippians 2:7
"Emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men."
And this demon is therefore, out of spite, reluctant to obey Jesus.
"The demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him"
We don't know why, but it seems as if there is great pain associated with the reversing of a demonic possession. The malevolent being seems to wrestle violently with the human spirit before exiting. He is required to obey Jesus, for as we know, every knee must bow before him. But isn't it interesting that it's not the same with humans. The human spirit can see Jesus and not receive him. The human spirit can watch his glory at work in healing people of their afflictions, and still not give him glory. The human spirit can hear his words spoken directly to them, and still not be inspired.
It is said of Jesus...
Philippians 2:10-11
"at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
Yet many people will meet him face to face, and witness him, and reject him, mock him, resist his name, and murder him on a cross. Many will blaspheme his name. Many will abuse his name and give false teachings about him in their doctrines. Many will misuse his earthly ministry and create for themselves a doctrine of worship that props up other prophets who are not from God. Many will construct idols in Jesus' name and worship them, praying in their names for intercessions. Many will imagine The Holy Spirit is speaking through them with the authority of Jesus. And many with murder, rape, steal and take slaves in their god's, name supposedly for the sake of Jesus.
We live in a culture in which people cannot speak three sentences without blaspheming the name of Jesus. The world has no fear of God or respect for Jesus' name. They cannot be bothered to love or believe him. They reject him with impunity. They refuse his glory. They abuse his authority. They hate that he doesn't follow their human religious patterns. They hate that he doesn’t take care to adhere to their rules, traditions, and regulations. And they hate his legacy that has now reigned supreme for more than two thousand years.
The demons hate him and so do too many people.
That should tell you something. The fact that the demons and the world hate him, and his word, should tell you everything you need to know.
The answer to all these objections. The answer to why so many hate his name. The answer to all skeptical person's doubts is all founded upon one particular reality.
The answer is found back in Luke chapter 4 verse 32.
"And they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority."
It's his authority they hate.
And his miraculous works was the certification of that authority. And they hate that he brought the receipts by doing these things. So, they find fault in when he did them, and where, and for whom. Anything they can do to diminish his authority.
Time after time they question his authority. Not his authenticity, for the miracles prove that true. But they challenge his character and his authority. And when they can't do that anymore they misrepresent his intent. They say he's in league with devils.
Remember how this whole season of earthly ministry began, at Jesus' baptism. Remember his Father in heaven SPOKE for all to hear that this man Jesus is his son in whom he is pleased. He authorized his word. He told them to listen to him. He authorized his ministry and supernaturally proved his authority by performing many miraculous things. And yet they hated him.
The apostle Peter says,
1 Peter 5:8
"Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour."
The apostle James says,
James 4:7b
"Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."
But where does the scripture teach that if you love God with all your being, and love one another as God has loved you, you will be loved by all the people?
No...it never says that.
The Bible doesn't teach that faith produces friendship with people. The Bible doesn't teach that prosperity and happiness are going to become the fruit of your faithfulness. In fact, it teaches that people hated Jesus first and will therefore hate you when you are in Him.
John 15:18 Jesus said,
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you."
This whole thread in Luke chapter four is about Jesus' authority. Today many people follow a religious path that tries to strip Jesus of his authority. In every Abrahamic religious tradition, there are these people. In Catholicism, in Protestantism, in Judaism, in various Christian sects, and in Islam. Each faith system has tried to usurp Jesus' authority by reductionism, and deconstructionism. By both dehumanizing Jesus and by denying his divine authority. In any way possible they reject his authority to call himself the Son of God. And even if they do accept that particular truth about Him, they'll try to remove him from the day-to-day life of the believer. They'll replace him with others who are more approachable in their minds.
Folks,
This is how it has to be for now. Demons can't ignore or deny Jesus' authority, but humans can. For now. Until that day when they will all bow down to their knees before him and give an account for why they refused to believe and follow Him.
As for you? You love God and obey his commands. You love his Son and obey his authority. And just like the demons, you believe Jesus is The Holy One. That is your hope. And your faith. The least you can do is believe better than a demon does.
Never let go of that for a short-term reward today.