#DailyDevotion Jesus Is The Holy One Of Israel, Their King And Redeemer

Luk 4:31-37  And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath,  (32)  and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.  (33)  And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice,  (34)  “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”  (35)  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.  (36)  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!”  (37)  And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

Jesus taught as one with authority. He did not teach as the Scribes and the Pharisees taught. His pattern of teaching was often, “You have heard it say, but I say to you.” Everyone else quoted other rabbis and authorities, the traditions of the fathers and the like when teaching what the Scriptures meant. Jesus, however, is the Word of God. It is he who spoke to the prophets. Jesus is the one who taught Moses on the mountain and in the tent. He knows exactly what he meant when he spoke through the prophets. Because he is the Word and speaks the Word his word did indeed possess authority.

Now on this particular day Jesus was given the opportunity to show he wasn’t just whistling Dixie. A man in the synagogue was possessed by a demon and he began to accost Jesus. He identifies Jesus for who he is, the Holy One of God. But Jesus will have none of it. He will not accept the testimony of a demon (demons tend to lie) for even the truth from their mouths could be seen as a lie and discredit Jesus. Jesus though rebukes the demon, commands him to be silent and the demon comes out of him. So the people at the synagogue in Capernaum see that Jesus’ word does indeed have authority and power. Jesus’ word didn’t only sound good, authentic and authoritative, it did what is said it would do. Just as when Jesus spoke creation into existence in Genesis one and it was, so he speaks and it is done.

So Jesus is indeed the Holy One of God. Isaiah says, Isa 12:6 “Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.” Little did they know the word of Isaiah came to pass, Isa 17:7 “In that day man will look to his Maker, and his eyes will look on the Holy One of Israel.” As Jesus opened his mouth to teach them this word is fulfilled, Isa 48:17 “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you to profit, who leads you in the way you should go.” The prophet speaks again, Isa 43:15 “I am the LORD, your Holy One, the Creator of Israel, your King.” and again, Isa 47:4 “Our Redeemer—the LORD of hosts is his name— is the Holy One of Israel.”

So despite the witness of the demon, through Jesus’ word and command, the authority and power of his word, Jesus is the Holy One of Israel. He has taught us his way. He is the Lord, the Creator of Israel and Israel’s King, our Redeemer, the Lord of hosts. We have seen him in our flesh, with our own eyes we have seen him. His word of forgiveness, salvation, redemption and eternal life is true and works what he says it does. If he has said you are forgiven, you are. If he says salvation has come to your house, it has. If he says you have eternal life, you do. And all these things he has spoken to us through those whom he has appointed and given his authority. Those are the apostles and pastors of the Church in whom and through whom he exercises his authority. Thanks be to God.

Heavenly Father, ever and always speak the authoritative word of your Son Jesus Christ, through the pastors Jesus has given us that we be freed from the power of sin, death and the devil and possess within ourselves your salvation and life. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.