Who is this man? Part #3

Who is this man? Part #3 Luke 4:31-37

Review form last week's message:

Jesus goes back to Nazareth (Luke 4:16)

Luke 4:16 NKJV

16 So He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. And as His custom was, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and stood up to read.

A sequence of actions from His visit to Nazareth:

He goes to church as His costume (v.16)

He stands up to read the book of Isaiah (v.16)

He reads a passage that refers to Himself (v.18-19)

He connects that prophecy and its fulfillment (v.21)

People Marveled at His words (v.22)

People connects Him to his folks and have doubts about Him. (v.22)

People are not ready for the Messiah. The fact that they know Him and his family, is already a good reason for their disbelief in Jesus and His mission.

John 6:42

John 6:42 NRSV

42 They were saying, “Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can he now say, ‘I have come down from heaven’?”

//TO RE-NUMBER THE SLIDES HERE//

Jesus reads their hearts and see that they expected him to perform a miracle or any kind of signs so they would believe Him. (v.23)

Jesus states that "no prophet is accepted in his own country" and refreshes their minds about God helping out two gentiles and not doing the same to anyone in Israel. (v.24)

The Widow of Zarephat (or Sarepta) from Sidom. (v.25-26)

The leper from Syria (Naaman) Who got cleansed bathing in the Jordan river. (v.27)

They get upset and dragged Jesus to the cliff trying to kill him. (v.28)

Jesus passes through the midst of them and goes His way. (v.29)

IN CAPERNAUM

Luke 4:31-37

Luke 4:31–38 NKJV

31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. 33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region. 38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her.

In Capernaum a similar story happens

v1) Jesus goes to church and teaches on Sabbath

v2) Once again, Jesus causes some impression on the hearers.

How does your bible read the word here? they were astonished or amazed?

MARVELED X ASTONISHED?

Verse 22:

The New King James Version Chapter 4

So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, “Is this not Joseph’s son?”

Verse 32:

The New King James Version Chapter 4

And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority

(to put both slides in the same slide)

Comparing both words and using an English dictionary:

Marveled:

"To be filled with wonder or astonishment"

Conclusion using only the english dictionary:

Marveled = Astonished

Greek language:

V.22 (Marveled)

"…and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth"

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. θαυμάζω

θαυμάζω

Taumázo - To be extraordinarily impressed or disturbed by something.

(The action was already completed)

Greek language:

V.32 (Astonished)

"And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority"

Ekplesso - To be filled in amazement to the point of being overwhelmed. (the action was going on).

A Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament and Other Early Christian Literature, 3rd ed. ἐκπλήσσω

ἐκπλήσσω

The Speaker's name is the same: Jesus

They both heard the word from Jesus but they had different reactions. Compare the difference between both places:

JESUS WORDS AND ITS IMPACT IN CAPERNAUM:

1- It overwhelmed (Ekplesso) people's feelings.

In the English Dictionary, the verb to overwhelm when applied to people brings these ideas:

To cover over completely.

To overcome by superior forces

To give too much of a thing to (someone); inundate

To bring a strong emotional effect on people

To be too strong for someone or to overpower someone's feelings.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary.

V. 32

Why all of that happened?

Did Jesus have to show His superpowers to the people in Capernaum as Satan suggested him to do in the desert?

Did Jesus connection with Joseph (the carpenter) contributed to them to feel overwhelmed/astonished with His word?

Did Jesus multi-language ability did help for them to be overwhelmed?

Is very likely: Hebrew for religious purposes, Aramaic for day-to day activities and Greek for bussiness. The answer is NO. That was not important for them to be astonished/overwhelmed.

It was because His words had authority.

2- It brought authority to people's lives

Why Jesus Words would have so much authority on them?

John 12:49 tells us:

John 12:49 NKJV

49 For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak.

At the end of the sermon of the mount, Mat 7:28-29 tells us that the people felt Jesus authority on the Word as not the same like the scribes.

It is not enough to be with the God's word the whole daylong. It is necessary to read it. And to practice it as well.

Revelation 1:3 NKJV

3 Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of this prophecy, and keep those things which are written in it; for the time is near.

The scribes would work the whole day long with the word of God. //

They knew the words of the Law//

Jesus knew the spirit of the law.

Jesus knew what he was talking about when he quoted scriptures.

3- It taught people's heart

It is not wonder why several bible authors write about people being like "sheep without a shepherd."

Numbers 27:17, 1 Kings 22:17, Ezekiel 34:5, Zechariah 10:2, Mark 6:34

The New King James Version Chapter 6

And Jesus, when He came out, saw a great multitude and was moved with compassion for them, because they were like sheep not having a shepherd. So He began to teach them many things.

One of the reasons why John wrote the verse of Revelation 1:3 is because not everybody knew how to read. And the only guarantee people would remember the given instruction was to use repetition.

At the end of this chapter we see Jesus been begged to stay in Capernaum, but he says that he needs to preach the kingdom of God in other places.

The Authority of Jesus words were enough for people to be overwhelmed.

This is why you can definitely become a preacher.

Comparing the people in Capernaum to the ones in Nazareth.

The people of Nazareth were amazingly worried or disturbed because the words of Jesus were "gracious". Which means, their hearts were fulfilled by the advantages of the Messiah's coming (To proclaim the liberty to the captives, to set liberty to the oppressed ones).

They felt themselves included in the words of the prophet Isaiah. But they were not ready for that Messiah, whom they knew his earthly parents, brothers and sisters (John 6:42). It's like saying… Jesus words were full of beauty, kindness, elegance and comfort.

The desire of Ages says that they first allowed the Holy Spirit to penetrate their hearts when Jesus spoke about words which had to do with them, feeling their need of being set free from their sin. But when Jesus spoke that the" word had been fulfilled" that day, they started looking into themselves. And when you don't give space to God's Spirit to guide you, someone else's spirit you be present and if you allow, he will try to guide you. This is why they forgot about been Sabbath, The commandment about murdering and also following the carnal instinct, they were about to kill Jesus if God's angels where not there.

What do you look for when listening to a sermon?

It is not what most of us look in a sermon? "Pastor told us something that filled my heart today". I hope you recognize that the one who filled your heart was not the pastor. It was by the author of "The Word" - To be more clear, "The Holy Spirit."

That explains why their hearts changed the direction when Jesus said something they didn't like to hear. They dragged Him out of the synagogue and tried to kill Him. In other words, they left the influence of the Holy Spirit.

Would Jesus be there every Sabbath saying nice, kind and pretty words and all of them would be in amazement. Just because their ego would be fulfilled.

Back to Capernaum now, we don't see here the picture of a nice, cool sermon. Every body was laughing after all. Everybody would leave feeling like a therapy session. Like a massage. People in Capernaum are overwhelmed by the authority of God's word.

If my messages to you speak about myself more than the word, something is wrong. If the only thing you can take home after all is my performance (bad or good), something is wrong. With me or with you. Do you want to be blessed by the message of the next Sabbath? Start praying for the preacher today. Cover Him with blessings and God will speak to you, even when the preacher didn't plan that.

The Word of God is for All

Verse 33, 34:

33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” NKJV

At the time of the word - Satan's Special Agenda

Someone controlled by Evil can be seated right besides you inside the church, singing, praying, and just waiting for the right moment when God's word will be preached and make a show. How is that possible? The word of God is for All. Even the ones controlled by unclean spirits.

I don't have the power to know who is controlled by the unclean spirit or the Holy Spirit. Inside the church they all look the same.

They can smile.

They can be nice with you.

They can even have an office position.

But just pay attention. They look for anything else to do at the time of the Word to be studied. I'm sorry if your mind is wondering whom does this description fits to. Is pastor referring to brother/sister so and so?

I just want to tell you this. Be aware of the detractors of the word. They will find whatever is possible to distract the flock or to distract themselves from the word.

Illustration:

I remember one of my previous congregations about some specific people who would do whatever was possible to just reject the word in a very nice way. The sermon was happening and they would be outside in the foyer, talking, We musicians have been known for that bad habit.

But Jesus is an expert on recognize the unclean spirits. Do you know why? It's not because he was in the desert with Devil for 40 days, it is because He is filled with the Holy Spirit. And here is the clue for you. Why don't you do the same?

v.35)

And because of the Spirit Jesus had with Him, he demands the imperative words: " Be quiet, and come out of him!"

How was the context of that situation?

Desire of Ages Chapter 26—At Capernaum

Jesus in the synagogue spoke of the kingdom He had come to establish, and of His mission to set free the captives of Satan. He was interrupted by a shriek of terror. A madman rushed forward from among the people, crying out, “Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art; the Holy One of God.”

What was behind this story?

The man who had been possessed gave Glory to God and with tears he delivered himself to Jesus feet.

With His word, according to John, all things were created. He would say and it would happen. If you had the chance to ask a special word from the Lord, what would it be? (Knowing that whatever he says, it becomes reality.)

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John 2:24-25 - Jesus knew men's heart