Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Prayer Meeting Lesson Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/pm/pm20081217.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Luke: Jesus, The Son Of Man For All Mankind
Part XIII: Jesus' Identity As The World's Savior By His Powerful Word
(Luke 4:31-44)
  1. Introduction
    1. If we who were not eyewitnesses of the earthly life and ministry of Jesus Christ are to be sure He is God's Savior of the world, we would need evidence that He spoke with supernatural power in His earthly life.
    2. Aware of this need, Luke reported on events that demonstrated that power in Luke 4:31-44 as follows:
  2. Jesus' Identity As The World's Savior By His Powerful Word, Luke 4:31-44.
    1. Having moved from His hometown of Nazareth to Capernaum, Jesus taught the people there in the synagogue on the Sabbath days with great ability and authority, Luke 4:31-32 NIV, ESV:
      1. The Greek New Testament word for the KJV's "power" is exousia, meaning either "ability" or "authority," depending on the context, U. B. S. Grk. N. T., 1966 ed., p. 218; Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Engl. Lexicon of the N. T., 1967, p. 277-278.
      2. In view of Luke's reference to Jesus' teaching the disicples on the road to Emmaus with the effect of their hearts burning within them (Luke 24:32), I take exousia here in Luke 4:31-32 to imply the ability of His exposition itself, coupled with its apparent accompanying authoritative manner!
    2. Jesus exorcised a demon from a man in powerful certification of this divine authority, Luke 4:33-36:
      1. To certify the validity of His speaking ability and authoritative manner, Jesus exorcised a demon from a man, a demon that obviously expressed fear of Jesus' eventual destruction of it and the fact that Jesus was the Holy One from God, Luke 4:33-35.
      2. Jesus had forbidden the demon to speak since He had come to earth to be recognized by men and not by demons (Bible Knowledge Com., N. T., p. 215), and He directed the demon to leave the man, and he exited him without hurting him, something that was apparently unusual, Luke 4:35.
      3. The crowd was amazed not only at the ability and authority of Jesus' words (exousia), but of His supernatural power (dunamis) over evil demons that certified His ability was of God, Luke 4:36; Ibid.
      4. Consequently, Jesus' fame began to spread all over that region of Galilee, Luke 4:37.
    3. Jesus' word was seen to be powerful not only in exorcising demons, but in healing Peter's mother-in-law, in raising her up from being in bed with a high fever to minister in full health unto Him, Luke 4:38-39.
    4. Consequently, though the sun was setting and Jesus would have physically begun to be tired after a long day of ministry, many folk with various diseases were brought to Him, and He healed them, Luke 4:40.
    5. Also, though it was evening and He would have been physically and emotionally and mentally tired, Jesus' spiritual power that was seen over the evil demon in the synagogue earlier that day continued over many other demons, and that although Jesus apparently exorcised them throughout that whole night, Luke 4:41:
      1. From Luke 4:42 we note the events in Luke 4:40-41 continued throughout the night.
      2. Nevertheless, throughout that night that had followed a busy day, Jesus healed all the diseased people brought to Him, and kept exorcising demons who shouted out that He was the Son of God, but whom He told to stay quiet as He had come not to be recognized by demons, but by people, Luke 4:41; Ibid.
    6. Finally, Jesus demonstrated the credibility of His power itself by His refusal to be intoxicated with fame:
      1. When daybreak arrived, Jesus left the crowds and went into a deserted place, Luke 4:42a.
      2. The people followed Him, asking that He not leave them, Luke 4:42.
      3. However, Jesus replied that He had been sent to preach the kingdom of God to the other cities of Israel as well, so He left them to fulfill that assignment from God, Luke 4:43-44.
      4. This decision revealed Jesus was truly not influenced by fame or the will of a crowd, for He was truly righteous in seeking to fulfill His divine assignment irrespective of the will of others around Him!
Lesson: The great ability and authority of Jesus' words coupled with His obvious supernatural power over evil spirits that was behind His words along with His refusal to be influenced by fame or popular opinion revealed Jesus was TRULY God's Savior of the world sent to save sinful man.

Application: May we trust in the POWER and AUTHORITY of Jesus' WORDS, not only believing in Him as Savior, but, as believers, to CLAIM His promises as TRULY EFFECTIVE in our LIVES!