Fear No Evil

While Jesus was teaching in the synagogue, a demon-possessed man called out to Him, referring to Jesus as the Holy One of God. Jesus rebuked the evil spirit, and it obeyed. The authority with which Jesus hushed the evil spirit and ordered it to leave the man left the onlookers in Capernaum both shocked and impressed.

At the synagogue, Jesus had been busy teaching. His authoritative tone had amazed His listeners. Now, they were amazed to see the power that His words carried. Demons fled at His command.

This incident highlighted Jesus’ dominance and superiority over Satan and his allies. He could defeat them whenever and wherever He wanted to because He was of God; the Son of God. Yet, He humbled Himself and came to earth in human form to be subject to humiliation and murder at the hands of man. By choosing not to use His power to escape the cross, Jesus demonstrated the completeness of His love for us. And, when Jesus rose from the dead, He dealt a lethal blow to Satan’s forces.

The good news is that Jesus’ victory is not His alone, but also extended to all those who are saved by His blood. Because our risen Savior overcame evil, we can boldly stand on God’s promise that no weapon of the enemy forged against us will be successful. Because He shared His resurrection power with us, we can confidently resist the devil and make him flee from us.

Respond

• How does Jesus’ victory over evil enlarge your understanding of His power and authority?
• How is your faith in Jesus helping you eliminate your fears in practical ways?