No one likes a heckler when they are giving a talk. It’s rude and it’s distracting. There you are, up in front giving your talk, or maybe you might be performing, and in comes someone who shouts out rude things to you. All you want is for that person to shut up and be removed. Something similar happened to the Lord Jesus in our Scripture today. It wasn’t exactly a traditional heckler He faced, but He was loudly and rudely interrupted in His teachings one Sabbath. Let’s take a look at what happened that day.
As our Scripture opens, Jesus and His disciples were in the village of Capernaum. Capernaum was a prosperous fishing village along the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was located along a major road that led north out of Galilee, which made it profitable for trade. Capernaum also had a Roman garrison, making it an important location for the occupying Romans. As was customary, men other than just the rabbi were invited to speak and teach in the synagogues on the Sabbath. Jesus was becoming known in the area as a religious leader and teacher, so He was invited that Sabbath to teach (vs. 21).
The group gathered in the synagogue that Sabbath noticed right away that Jesus’ teachings were different from what they were used to hearing from various rabbis and scribes who usually taught. He taught with authority (vs. 22). Most other teachers would frequently cite comments and opinions of other rabbis from the past, referencing their commentary on spiritual matters. These comments, opinions, and traditions later became the Talmud, which Jewish religious leaders would rely on, often even more than Scripture. However, the Lord Jesus did not cite any human teachers. His authority was the Word of God, not traditions and others’ opinions.
While He was teaching, a man possessed with some demons entered the synagogue, and began to cry out. This unfortunate man had more than one demon possessing him, as when they spoke, they referred to themselves in the plural. The demons wanted the Lord Jesus to leave them alone, and proclaimed exactly who He was (vs. 23-24). These evil spirits knew at once that Jesus was the Holy One of God, the Messiah. The demon spirits knew who Jesus was, but the religious leaders of Israel did not know, or rather, they refused to know.
The demons screamed out to Jesus for Him to leave them alone, and “what have we to do with You?” These evil spirits knew that they and Jesus were in two different kingdoms, and had nothing in common. Those who are in league with the devil and his kingdom have nothing in common with Jesus and His followers. Believers should have nothing to do with the occult, its practices, and those who follow and practice such. These demons affirmed Jesus’ sinlessness and deity when they called Him the Holy One of God, truths which many in Israel denied, and still deny to this day. Though they were the minions of Satan, they definitely knew exactly Who Jesus was.
After the loud and angry outburst from the demon-possessed man, Jesus immediately rebuked the demons, telling them to be quiet, stop their talking, and to come out of the man (vs. 25). Why did Jesus tell these demons to be quiet? After all, they were telling the truth, they were proclaiming Who He was. Why wouldn’t Jesus want that proclaimed? Jesus did not want any testimony to the truth from the demonic realm to fuel any charges that He was in league with Satan. This was a charge that the Pharisees frequently brought against Jesus throughout His ministry (Matthew 9:34; Matthew 12:24).
Jesus had superiority and authority over these evil spirits. He has authority over Satan and all of his kingdom of darkness. Jesus didn’t need to perform any elaborate rituals or ceremonies to try and coax the demons out. His Word was enough to send the demons out (vs. 25-27).
Nothing outranks Jesus. He speaks and the demons are silenced. They come out of the man. They must obey the Son of God. Are we as obedient to the Lord Jesus as they are, we who say we love Him, and have taken Him as our Savior? We should be!
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