“And they were all amazed and said to one another, ‘What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!’” (Luke 4:36)
The people of Galilee who heard Jesus speak were blessed as they acknowledged that Jesus and the words He spoke had power. This was in contrast to the words and teachings of the religious rulers in the synagogues and the Temple in Jerusalem. They quoted other teachers and commentaries on the Torah as their source of authority and knowledge. They expounded upon and elevated the authority of tradition and by so doing, set aside the word and will of God. They made the Law a great burden while neglecting to speak of or share the Love of God to address the real physical and spiritual needs of the common people.
Jesus, however, spoke with authority. He is the Word of God Himself. He shared God’s Love and compassion with the oppressed and downtrodden. His Word and authority was confirmed by the miracles He performed. In particular, the people were impressed by the power He had over demons. He easily cast them out. These mighty acts of deliverance were particularly impressive because no one had ever done such a thing before. The local rabbis, the Temple priests, and Pharisees who held religious authority in Jerusalem, these had no such authority. They could do nothing to free people from the power of sin and Satan.
Jesus came to free all mankind from bondage to both sin and Satan. He is still doing the same in our present day through His instrument the Church. He has given His children His Word which conveys His authority, power, and love. His Word is so needed in these chaotic times when the world is in a mess from the pandemic and people are being used and abused by those who claim authority based on human knowledge and power. These have proven ineffective in providing lasting help. This is because many have forgotten the power of sin as well as the existence of Satan. Consequently, billions of people do not know that they are in bondage to him. It is the call of every believer to share with them the love and freedom found only by faith the Word of Jesus. The Word we share tells of what He has done and continues to do to help us poor sinful and impotent folk to be reconciled to God, to live in peace and harmony with Him and all mankind. The Word of God has the power to change men’s lives.