Study Notes ~ Luke 4:31-44 Context of Reality: This is what life is like under the sun Can anyone

one speak and act with power & authority in our lives? We tend to be cynical. Living under the tyranny of the Evil one looks like being harassed by evil without anyone to deliver us from the Evil One. What makes it difficult for us to hear this text is b/c the Western view of the world doesnt acknowledge the supernatural. But is it possible that there is more to the world than meets our senses?

Fallen Condition Focus: The Human Condition that Requires the Grace of God Since we are by nature living under the tyranny of Satan, we need to be brought under the kind rule of the Kingdom of God.

Echoes: Echoes of Creation: We were meant to live under Gods kind rule and none other. Echoes of the Fall: We are exposed to the tyranny of the Evil One Echoes of Redemption: Jesus has come to destroy the work of the Evil One. Echoes of Restoration: There are glimpses of the New Heavens & New Earth when Gods kingdom comes breaking into this world through the ministry of the Son of God

Locate the Vine: Jesus is the One who has come to destroy the work of the Evil One. o 1 John 3:8, The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. We need to be plugged into the work that Jesus is about & will bring about.

Textual Observations ~ Luke 4:31-44 4:31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, Capernaum was Jesus own city (Mt. 9:1). He adopted it as his own & it became the base of operations for Jesus ministry Did Nazareth forfeit that b/c of their unbelief? Nazareth was 1,200 feet above sea level and Capernaum was about 686 feet below Capernaum was a prosperous fishing town & close to the Decapolis (an area comprised of 10 cities) It was the home of Peter & Andrew, James & John, & the home of their fishing business.

4:32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.

Greek word for astonished literally means to strike with panic or shock (Hughes 148) They were stuck with amazement (Hughes 148, quoting A Grammatical Analysis of the NT). Mark 1:22, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law (cf. Mt. 7:28-29) o One ancient rabbi, I have never in my lie said a thing which I did not hear from my teachers. [qtd. in Ryken 191] Heb. 1:1-2, Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world. Remember that the Spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus! o HS descended upon Jesus at his baptism (3:22) o He was full of the Holy Spirit upon returning from the Jordan (4:1) o Jesus said, The Spirit of the Lord is upon me to proclaim. (4:18) Hughes 149, as Jesus went forth to war against the forces of evil, he staked everything on the authority of the written word. o Defeated Satan in the desert with the Word (4:1-13) o Defined his own mission upon the word (4:14-30).

4:33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you arethe Holy One of God. Ryken 197, These demons knew who Jesus was, and it terrified them. Unable to bear the presence of Christ, it writhed in the presence of Jesus holiness (Hughes 150) o James 2:19, Even the demons believe and shudder. Ha! an interjection of displeasure o Geldenhuys 173, This is not an exclamation of surprise but of terror and dismay. What have you to do with us? Leave us alone. The evil spirit wanted Jesus to leave. Have you come to destroy us? o The demon knows the ultimate mission of God, just not when exactly this would take place. o Gen. 3:15, He shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel. o Geldenhuys 173, In the presence of the Holy One the demon is convicted by the knowledge that for him and his kind only destruction is waiting. N. Geldenhuys 174, this [i.e., demon possession] was not merely an ordinary form of mental disease as some writers have alleged, but a special phenomenon which was particularly frequent during Jesus earthly sojourn and thus was directly connected with His coming to destroy the power of darkness. N. Geldenhuys 174, demon-possession is a phenomenon which occurred almost exclusively, but then to be sure on an amazing scale, during which Jesus appearance on earth and to a lesser extent during the activity of the apostles. o 2 possible cases in the OT: 1 Sam. 16:44ff; 1 Kings 22:22ff. o 2 cases outside the gospels: Acts 16:26ff; 19:13ff

1 John 5:19, We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, Be silent and come out of him! And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. The contrast between the screaming of the demon and the immediate silence must have been jarring. Geldenhuys 173, In his desperate rage the demon threw the man down, but Jesus manifestation of power was so perfect that He even prevented the man from being hurt in any way. T. Wright 51, There is no historical doubt that Jesus dramatically healed a good many people who were regarded as possessed. The strange thing about Jesusis that he did what he did by simple commands. No magic formulae; no (what we would call) mumbo-jumbo. He just told the spirits to go, and they went. That was what astonished people. He didnt have to summon up stronger powers than his own; he just used the authority he already possessed about himself.

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! 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region. Martin Luthers A Mighty Fortress, one little word shall fell him.

38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. Jesus rebuked the fever. Same word used to rebuke the demon. Is there a demonic reason behind the sickness? One moment she was lying sick; the next she was serving Jesus

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. Hughes 155, This was an unrestrained display of raw kingdom power. Hughes 155, At this signal time in the outpouring of Christs power, all history was meant to see that his kingdom authority is not an impersonal force. It is unequaled power to be sure, but it was personally and lovingly administered in Jesus tender hands. Ryken 194, Presumably the reason people waited until sunset was to avoid b reaking the Sabbath.

41 And demons also came out of many, crying, You are the Son of God! But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. It seems that at least some of the sicknesses were due to demonic origin.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, I must

preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose. 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. Mark 1:35, And rising very early in the morning while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. Hughes 157, Luke gives usa cosmically authoritative Christ who has come with the good news of the kingdom of God. Mt. 28:18, All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Ryken 199, Jesus did not come to be the Savior of Capernaum only, or even just Israel, but ultimately of the world. Ryken, 199, Jesus did not come to be a miracle worker; he came to preach the gospel. In fact, this was even true of the miracles he performed.

Application: Hughes 150, we know without a doubt that whenever the authority of Christ, the Son of God, is invoked in preaching or teaching, there will be a violent confrontation with the evil spirits who possess mens souls and rule (and ruin their lives). Likewise, those who oppose pornography, abortion, and other moral evils of our day will encounter supernatural opposition in the days and years to come. The foul creatures of Hell do not like to be challenged. We wrestle not against flesh and blood. What do you think the Evil Ones strategy would be in a place like Calgary? Romans 16:20, The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. Luke 10, I saw Satan fall. We pray, Your Kingdom come. We pray for the final and ultimate establishment of the reign of Jesus Christ in this world and over the hearts of men, women, & children. Hughes 157, To pray, Your kingdom come is to pray for the bending of our wills in profound obedience to his. It is a commitment to consciously submit everything to his authority. This is most decidedly NOT a prayer for the status quo. If all your prayers for this last year were answered, would the city of Calgary be any different?

Like the Capernaumians, we want to keep Jesus to ourselves. But Jesus draws ourselves out to others who dont have the gospel. This Gospel must be preached to others as well. This is a test for any community of faith: have we captured the vision of Jesus? How much are we in line with the agenda of Jesus, or do we simply want to co-opt him for our agendas? Jesus gospel must be proclaimed.

Main Idea: Instead of co-opting Jesus for our agendas, we ought be co-opted for the agenda of Jesus.