Thoughts for the Day

Luke 4:36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!”

After his rejection in Nazareth, Jesus returns to Capernaum and the contrast could not be greater.  From an audience that could not see beyond the mere humanity of Jesus, even having heard of what he had been doing elsewhere, Luke shifts us to an audience amazed at his power and authority.  Admittedly they have not fully grasped it, because their question is “What is this teaching?” rather than “Who is this teacher?”  But they recognise his power and authority, they are amazed, and they are questioning.  Luke leaves us in little doubt the particular event that leads to this outburst is one of many that he could have highlighted, so why select this one?  As a doctor himself, he may well have found healings particularly potent signposts to the identity of Jesus.  Partly I’m sure too that Luke chose this story to highlight the irony I’ve alluded to before – unlike those Jesus came to save, the demon recognised him as the Holy One of God.  Still, if he had been trying to leave a challenge for 21^st century readers, he could hardly have chosen a more difficult case for us than the healing of a demon possessed man.  We – at least we “the West” – find it easier to reject the concept, or trivialise it, or try to explain it away or simply ignore it.  Yet I’m reminded that Luke was not himself an eyewitness.  He tells us he carefully investigated everything, and he would surely have cross-checked a story to which he gave such prominence.