Be silent and come out of him!

And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “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.”

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. 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!” And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

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Jesus has left his hometown and is now teaching again in the synagogue at Capernaum. His words are creating awe and amazement in the people there. I wonder what about his teaching astonished the people there and how it came across having authority. Perhaps his teaching was bypassing their heads and going straight to their hearts. I have experienced teaching such as this that had the power and authority to bring change into my life.

Yet the power of Christ was evident in a greater way that day. Not only did the words of Christ have the power to transform the inner being but also had the authority to provoke and exorcise demons. I find it interesting how the unclean demon was provoked by the teaching of the Lord. It was like the demon raised up to challenge to the teaching and authority of Christ. Incredible how Jesus took care of him with just a few words of rebuke.

Open the ears of my heart Lord that I might hear your words and be changed by them.