This must have been quite a scene. What strikes me most is how Jesus handled the disruption, yet we can’t overlook what was disrupted. Jesus was teaching. It was not just another ho-hum day at the synagogue. Jesus was preaching with authority.
We hear those words, teaching with authority, and we may want to gloss over them to get to the juicy part of the passage. That would be a mistake. Take a moment to imagine how Jesus would preach. What would it be like to hear a sermon coming directly from God? To hear Jesus preach is to hear the words of Scripture come alive. Jesus was God, and who better to help us understand the meaning and significance of Scripture. It says the people were amazed. This was good stuff!
Have you ever heard a sermon that rocked your world? I don’t know how many times I’ve felt like my husband (a pastor) was speaking right to me. Over the years, I’ve heard many people tell him that very thing. It’s in those instances I am certain God has been using him to pass on the message someone needed to hear. In our reading today, it was God, himself, bringing authority and passion to the people.
I picture the people hanging on to every word that Jesus was teaching. I certainly would be. They didn’t know who they were listening to. But the possessed man did. The evil spirit inside the man was trembling in Jesus’ presence. The encounter did not surprise Jesus. He didn’t skip a beat when he spoke the command, “Be quiet! Come out of the man.” Jesus knew he was speaking to an evil spirit. He was going to use this disruption, and the people witnessed a miracle.
We don’t know how long this man had been afflicted, nor do we know if he was even aware of his possession. Those details aren’t important here. But evil knew that Jesus was the “Holy One of God.” Evil did not win.
This is one passage that really hits home for me when I think about what I believe. Many people say, “I believe in God.” That’s a wonderful thing, but even the evil spirits believe in God. I want my faith to go deeper. I want a relationship with the God who created me, the God who saved me, the God who is living inside me giving me power.
How about you? What do you believe? Are you like the possessed man, recognizing there is a God? Do you want to know that God more intimately, too? What evil spirits are working in you to keep you from this relationship?
Let’s pray. Father God thank you for making me the person I am. It is such an honor to be your child. Forgive me when I let the distractions of this world keep me separated from you. Spending time with you makes me happy, and I want that blessing for everyone. I know your heart longs for relationship with all your children. Use me to bring that awareness of your love and authority to others. I am listening for your voice. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
