What Kind Of Power Is This? (Luke 4:31-41)
Rev. William L. Barron, January 7, 2018Part of the Morning Worship at North Greenville Church series, preached at a Sunday Morning service
Prophetic ministry, priestly ministry of Jesus. There are three requirements to be a priest. First, a priest must be 30 years old, but no older than 50. He was an intermediary between man and God. Jesus began his ministry at 33, so he qualified as a priest. Second, priests had to be called, and of the tribe of Levi. Jesus was a priest after the order of Melchizedek, a high priest of God out in the world. He was thus a priest for all the world. Third, priests had to be sprinkled with water to be purified or baptized (Numbers 8). John the Baptist was the son of a priest, Zechariah, and he sprinkled Jesus. Thus, Jesus rightly serves as a priest. A prophet is one who speaks for God. Jesus does this especially in the Sermon on the Mount. He says, "...but I say to you..." When we bear witness of God's word to someone else, we are acting as a prophet. We do not put forth new revelation from God, but Jesus in his earthly ministry did. He prophesied with the authority and the power to carry out prophecy. Even demons testified to His power, "the Holy One of God." There are numerous other accounts of Jesus exerting power over demons. There was an intense spiritual battle during Jesus' earthly ministry. The people sought Jesus' healing power as he carried out his miracles. They had a need to be brought to Christ; it is the same today. Luther cried out to God for deliverance and kept the promise he made. Son of Man is a proclamation of deity (Daniel, Revelation). Son of God/Son of Man is synonymous. Fully God and fully man. We need to recognize who He is as well. He came to teach, heal...and die for us. Do you believe that he came to do this for you? If you trust in Him, he will save you.
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Luke 4:31–41 (Listen)
31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 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 are—the Holy One of God.” 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. 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.
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.
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. 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.
(ESV)