Tuesday, April 25: “Naive Demon”
Luke 4: 33b-35a: “[The unclean spirit] cried out with a loud voice, ‘Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? I know Who You are–the Holy One of God!’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet and come out of him!’”
This is the first recorded exorcism by Jesus, so forgive the naive response of the unclean demon–he actually thought he could challenge the Holy One of God! All he knew was, he was comfortable in the synagogue, and didn’t appreciate Jesus interfering with his leisurely Sabbath morning. Well, Jesus didn’t buy it; one of His purposes was to clear His Father’s house of such interlopers (John 2: 14-16; Luke 13: 11-16), and He responded to the spirit’s challenge with authority. Word got around in the demonic circles–from then on the spirits begged Jesus for mercy, rather than challenge Him.
