Luke 4: 31-37 What Kind Of Utterance Is This?

Luke 4:31-37 What Kind Of Utterance Is This?

[31] He went down to Capernaum, a city in Galilee, and was teaching
them on the sabbath. [32] They were astounded at his teaching, because
he spoke with authority. [33] In the synagogue there was a man who had
the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,
[34] "Let us alone! 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!"
When the demon had thrown him down before them, he came out of him
without having done him any harm. [36] They were all amazed and kept
saying to one another, "What kind of utterance is this? For with
authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they
come!" [37] And a report about him began to reach every place in the
region.

What is happening in this scripture? – The story speaks for itself. But to look just at the surface would mean that you could miss a great deal. It’s near to impossible to put ourselves into a first century mindset, but let us consider a few things. First of all this occurs in a synagogue, on the Sabbath. Secondly, Jesus speaks as one with authority.
Luke wants us to know that, as in the previous story about Jesus reading and speaking Torah in his home town, that Jesus circumvents or trumps the priesthood here. Here he speaks to a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon. Jerusalem and the surrounding areas in Galilee were occupied by Rome. The temple, for all practical purposes had largely compromised itself in order to survive, and the Roman garrison overlooked the temple itself. Deals had been made.
If you think of Jesus as trying to non-violently attack the power systems of the day, and the evil in them, then Luke shows the reader that Jesus has the authority, not the priesthood, and not the status quo. In this scripture, Jesus confronts the evil that is INSIDE one of the people. The evil recognizes Jesus and his authority, as God incarnate, over him. Again, the message is, this is God’s kingdom, not Caesar’s and not the powers and principalities of man, here on God’s earth. The evil spirit addresses Jesus and gives him his due: I know who you are, the Holy One of God. Evil recognizes good before those who have gradually lost their vision do. Those watching are amazed. Luke underlines everything with their comment, What kind of utterance is this? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and out they come!”

How is this happening in the world today? – Some questions for us to contemplate:
Where do you see the authority of Jesus, as ushering in God’s kingdom today, or do you?
If you knew, really knew, that God depended upon you, personally, to help usher in his kingdom into reality here on this earth, what would you do? What deal, if any, have you made with Rome, and what would Jesus say about those deals?

How is this my story? – Jesus, like the unclean spirits in the man of this scripture in Luke, I too recognize you as the Holy One of God. I confess that sometimes I want to cry out for you to leave me alone. But I don’t really want you to do that. I know you could destroy me, but instead you ask for my help. Thank you for your grace Lord. Help me to learn to be a companion, to live my life in such a way that others will know your love and justice here and now. May it be so.