as one having authority, and not like the teachers of the law. It happened that, a man with an evil
spirit was in their synagogue, and he shouted, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: you are the Holy One of God.” Then Jesus
faced him and said with authority, “Be silent, and come out of this man!” The evil spirit shook the
man violently and, with a loud shriek, came out of him. All the people were astonished, and they
wondered, “What is this? With what authority he preaches! He even gives orders to evil spirits
and they obey him!” And Jesus’ fame spread throughout all the country of Galilee.
READ: Jesus was in Capernaum. He taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath. The people were
astonished because Jesus taught them with authority. In that synagogue, there was a man with an
evil spirit. The man with an evil spirit shouted while recognizing Jesus’ identity as the Holy One of
God. Jesus drove out the evil spirit. All the people were astonished.
REFLECT: The synagogue is a holy place. Sabbath is a holy time. This is a setting that invites us to
deepen our relationship with God while heeding his words. The man with an evil spirit recognized
Jesus as the holy One of God. This man was cognizant of Jesus’ identity and authority. He was also
aware of the power of Jesus’ words that is eternal and divine. This is what the people failed to recognize.
Astonished as they were, the people felt the authority of Jesus’ words but would remain ignorant of
Jesus’ identity as the Holy One of God and as the Sovereign Lord. God can always perform astonishing
miracles before our eyes but unless we recognize his Sovereign authority and lordship over us, our
relationship with him will remain without depth.
PRAY: Let us pray that we may truly accept Jesus as our Sovereign Lord and that his words become
truly authoritative over our life.
ACT: Let us deepen our knowledge of Jesus by taking time to study the Bible.
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