“And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.”(Mark 1:27)
As Jesus began His ministry He taught with authority. What that meant was that He preached easily, effortlessly, truthfully, and without fear. He also demonstrated a keen knowledge of God’s Word the likes of which they had never seen even from the most learned of the rabbis and scribes, men who were supposed to know the Law and the Scriptures intimately. And it amazed them for Jesus had no reputation or training as a scholar or teacher.
What was even more amazing was Jesus’ encounter with the demon-possessed man. Unlike the Jews, the demon apparently realized who Jesus was and feared that his time was up. Jesus knew that it was not yet time to deal decisively with Satan and his demons. That would come when Jesus went to the cross. But for now He merely cast the demon out, demonstrating that He had absolute authority and power over Satan. I say merely, but for us casting out a demon would certainly be daunting though not as dramatic as the media has depicted in popular films.
With this one act of exorcism, however, Jesus set the whole tone for His ministry, that He had come to free all mankind from the power of sin and Satan. He would do this by His death on the cross and His resurrection. He would continue this work of deliverance through His faithful disciples and us. His authority and power is given to us via the indwelling presence of His Holy Spirit. So we who are His disciples today have the same authority to preach the word and break the bonds that hold people enslaved to sin and Satan. This is a ministry that is of extreme importance today because the devil and his minions have enslaved billions through immorality, greed, self-indulgence, and self- righteousness. Every man does what is right in his own eyes. We who have faith have the truth which will set them free: the gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe you do not think you are up to the task. We are not, but we have the indwelling Holy Spirit guiding and directing us so we need not fear what we will have to say or do or even what the devil might hurl at us.