We
talked about authority having two components, the right to speak on a subject
and the ability to back up what is said with actions. Jesus is in a synagogue
in Capernaum teaching those gathered for their worship service. Teaching was a
normal part of that service, much like a church service has a sermon. But what
happens next is out of the ordinary. Someone stands up and begins to shout.
Notice
what the man shouts. The normal order of service goes out the window.
Everything is disrupted. He starts by accusing Jesus of wanting something from
them. This is kind of a strange statement. But something Jesus said during His
teaching threatened the demons. His teaching demonstrates the Authority that
the demons fear. Demons are real and still possess people. But we must be
careful. If it looks like the possession accounts in the Bible it may be. Demons
make people scream out truths about Jesus, throw individual into fire or
water to destroy him, give them the ability to break chains and ropes, and they
are bent on self-destruction. I’m not talking about mental illness, there is a
difference. Possession is not smoking, drinking, cursing, overeating,
pornography, laziness, gossip, anger, backstabbing, curly hair, straight hair,
acne, warts…. Once you have seen it face to face, you will never mislabel it
again. And this demon is afraid of Jesus.
Have
you ever feared someone in authority? How about the police sitting in the car
along the interstate? Do you look down at your speed as you pass? Do you slow
down slower than the speed limit like some people do? Do you check your
rearview mirror to see if the lights come on? Or maybe it was the teacher’s in
your life who could mark you paper with RED pen and letters other than “A”. Perhaps
this brought the fear of authority into your heart when you thought about
bringing that paper home and showing your parents.
Whatever
fear was invoked, the man under the power of the demon shouts out. He doesn’t
have the ability to stop it from taking control. We don’t know if he was there
all along and then suddenly lost control, or if he walked into the service just
before shouting. We do know what he shouted. He shouts out the identity of
Jesus, something unknown to those in the room. The demon has knowledge that the
ordinary people don’t. Let’s look at what he says.
Their
first utterance is one of fear. The demon is afraid Jesus, this man from
Nazareth has come for them. It is amazing that the demon knows what I am sure
some of those attending the synagogue did not know. He knows specifics, like
his hometown. It can be pretty scary when someone you haven’t met knows your
personal information. We call this stalking today.
Then
the reason for his fear: Jesus has the power to destroy them, all demons.
Notice the plural, them, not the singular, me. This demon is speaking not only
on his behalf, but on the behalf of all the demons. When Jesus shows up, demons
have the right to believe judgment day has come. Although demons have not yet
been placed in Hell, it is their assigned destination. They are on borrowed
time.
The
third thing the demon shouts is that Jesus is the Holy One of God. This is a
proper title for the Creator of the Universe, the God who is revealed in the
Old Testament, the only True God. There is no doubt that the demons know that
someday they will stand before Jesus and get chucked into Hell, and they are
not going to go without a shout. And so they shout.
The
disciples don’t understand this authority yet. The religious leaders don’t
either. The demons do! Do you get Jesus’ authority over every area of your
life? Do you act like it?