Luke 4:31-44

The Holy One of God

            Does it matter who says it? That is, does it matter who the messenger is? When it comes to the gospel, we don’t often focus on this aspect of it. After all, that’s not the point, right? The point is the message, the message of Jesus Christ and him crucified for you. So, whether it’s spoken by kings or peasants, pastors or people, old or young, we say that God works through the Word which is spoken. For we all know that the gospel itself has power. The word spoken works regardless the messenger. So, if it doesn’t matter who speaks it, we could have the most devout atheist become the greatest missionary for Christ, even if he doesn’t mean to be. For atheists, in their attempt to “disprove” God’s existence, speak much about Him and His word. And you know, while it might technically be true, that is we know God works in mysterious ways sometimes; this thought shouldn’t really sit well with us. For it’s just another way we treat the Gospel like simple facts to be known. Say the right words, know the right answers and voila! You’re a Christian! We reduce the gospel message down to words on a page. But we know it’s more than that. At least we should know. For messages are more than words being spoken. Messages are meant to convey emotions, feelings, even relationships. And if this is the case with simple human messages, how much more so with the Gospel?

            For this is the question we’re led to contemplate in our Gospel reading. And we find out very quickly, it matters a great deal who speaks the gospel. As Jesus silences demons in their confession of his divinity, Jesus reminds all that he was sent to preach the Good news. For so, let us consider, on whose lips should be such a confession:

WE KNOW WHO YOU ARE—THE HOLY ONE OF GOD!

I.

            Remember just last week as we heard about Jesus’ inaugural sermon. Jesus went back to his hometown, to Nazareth to preach the first sermon of his ministry. He had broken onto the scene in a big way through his baptism in the Jordan river, his miracle at the wedding in Cana, his healings, that his name was becoming better known. Yet still people weren’t too sure about who he was. He was a rabbi, as far as most were concerned. Jesus had his disciples, but that wasn’t out of the ordinary. For so, after fleeing Nazareth, Jesus continues on to the next town, to Capernaum. As we heard, “And [Jesus] was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority,” Luke 4:31-32. Jesus wasn’t waiting for the people to speak about him. Rather, he went to them so he could tell them himself. He preached… and the people took notice. They realized Jesus was different than any other rabbi they’d heard. For his teaching, his word possessed authority. It wasn’t the idle talk about facts they had grown so accustomed to. 

            For the whole point of Jesus’ ministry was to make himself known to the nation, to reveal himself as humanity’s Savior. It was the message he was speaking. But he wasn’t the only one preaching it, for another would already know. As we read, “And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “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,” Luke 4:33-34. The word works, right? This demon hasn’t said anything false… in fact, this demon has spoken clearer and truer than any person has before. So, shouldn’t it be a good thing that this demon has confessed Jesus to be the Holy one of God? But I want you to imagine how this demon would have said such a phrase. Would it have been sweet and sincere, or mocking and disingenuous? Clearly the later… “I know who you are… the ‘Holy one’ of God!” For so we see, all this is to the demon is a simple fact, nothing more. Even more so, it was understood at this time that to name someone was to have control over them. These demons were seeking to assert their authority over Jesus, by outing him, by naming who he was. For we quickly see, they weren’t really preaching, they were grasping at straws.

II.

            So, what’s the difference? What’s the difference between this demon talking about Jesus and a random man wearing fancy clothes speaking to you? For we must realize at this point that it does matter a great deal who speaks the gospel. It’s not for just anyone, especially an atheist. Or as in our reading, a demon, as we heard, “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. 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 4:35-36. Jesus confronting this demon reminds us, very clearly, that his word works. God’s word has authority and power. As we might say, it’s performative. It goes out and does what is spoken. When Jesus tells this demon to be silent, his word goes forth and accomplishes exactly that. The demon is silenced and forced to come out of the man. But this is where we must finish the sentence. God’s word works… for the purpose he spoke it. God’s word was given to us for one purpose. And when it’s spoken for that purpose, it has great power. But like in the Second Commandment, there are sinful ways in which to speak God’s word. When God’s word is twisted for this purpose, it’s far better to silence the speaker. 

            For when we hear the gospel spoken in the correct manner and by whom our Lord intended, it’s powerful. As St Paul says, “I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes,” Romans 1:16. And that’s the key! Faith! For in faith, we realize that the Gospel, while factual, is more than just facts. The gospel, rather, is the foundation on which God seeks to build his relationship with us, with you! For this is the reason Jesus preached. He sought to reveal himself to you, as your Lord and Savior. As we read, “And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose,” Luke 4:42-43. For so God preached salvation to all people to be received by faith… and thus God’s Word incarnate went forth to fulfill that word. Jesus went forth to win salvation for all people by dying on the cross. For so when God speaks forgiveness, you can believe his word has already gone forth to forgive. When he speaks righteousness, his word has already done it. When He speaks life, it goes forth and is hindered by nothing! 

            For so, Jesus preached that his word… that this confession may ever be on our lips… We know who you are… The Holy One of God! For so when we speak such a bold confession, God delights to see it go forth and work faith and salvation! In Jesus’ name! Amen!