Did you ever have to do Show and Tell at school when you were a kid? Have your children ever had to do Show & Tell? If you haven’t, the concept is pretty simple. You bring an object into your school or homeschool group, show it to your class, and then tell a story or provide an explanation that illustrates why it’s so important to you—first show, then tell. And parents, if you think that Show and Tell will end when your children get a little older, I’m sorry to tell you that our middle schooler just had to bring a family artifact into school, show it to his peers, and explain how it captures an important theme in his family heritage. Show and Tell never ends!

Our passage from Luke this morning is a bit like Show and Tell, but in reverse; last week was tell and this week is show. In our passage last week, Jesus Christ went into the Nazareth synagogue, read from the prophet Isaiah, and told the congregation, “The year of the Lord’s favor is fulfilled” because He is here. The year of the Lord’s favor is the wonderful news that Jesus Christ is King. He came to kick off an eternal kingdom by dying and rising for our sins. Anyone can enter that kingdom by repenting and believing in Jesus Christ. And unlike the miniature kingdoms of this world, when our King returns, His kingdom—the year of His favor—will last forever. That’s what He told them; the year of the Lord’s favor is fulfilled.

This week, Jesus Christ shows the presence of this fulfillment. In our passage this morning, Jesus Christ shows that He is the King in God’s kingdom and that all authority belongs to Him by teaching with authority, rebuking demons with authority, healing sickness with authority, and preaching the good news of the kingdom of God with authority. Last week, Jesus told; this week, He shows.

What does He show? The answer is the big idea of our passage this morning: 

Jesus has kingdom authority. Jesus has kingdom authority.

How does He show it? In three ways:

By rebuking demons (4:31–37)

By rebuking sickness (4:38–41)

By preaching good news (42–44)

BY REBUKING DEMONS (vv. 31–37)

The first way that Jesus Christ showed that He has kingdom authority was by rebuking—silencing and casting out—an unclean demon. Why does Luke record this as the first way that Jesus showed His kingdom authority? Remember what we’ve already read in Luke’s Gospel: Jesus Christ defeated the unclean Devil in the wilderness and announced that the year of the Lord’s favor is fulfilled. Since Jesus Christ is the King, it makes perfect sense that the first way He showed His kingdom authority was by doing combat with the kingdom of demonic darkness.

I also believe that Luke records this miracle first to remind us that the primary enemy the church faces isn’t flesh and blood, but the spiritual powers of this present darkness. And our Lord shows His kingdom authority by rebuking demons. Let’s look at it together.

Luke 4:31–32 — “And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.”

The people in the synagogue at Capernaum were astonished at Jesus’ teaching—not necessarily because they believed Him, but because He taught as one with authority. The rabbis in Jesus’ day did not teach as those with authority; rather, they cited other rabbis’ opinions about the meaning and application of the Scriptures. In contrast, Jesus Christ taught with the authority of God Himself. Jesus has kingdom authority because He is God Himself in the flesh.

He now shows that authority by rebuking an unclean demon.

Luke 4:33–35 — “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.” 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.”

Jesus showed His kingdom authority by rebuking demons representing the Devil’s kingdom. Since all true Christians are indwelt by the Holy Spirit, we cannot be possessed or owned by a demon. However, a Christian can be demonized. The theologian Wayne Grudem describes demonization as a “condition in which a person is under significant demonic influence or attack.” True Christians can be oppressed, tempted, harassed, and deceived by the demonic—but not possessed or finally defeated.

Interestingly, the unclean demon knew that Jesus had kingdom authority and was afraid because the Holy One of God did indeed come to destroy the demonic kingdom of darkness. So Jesus rebuked the unclean demon and cast him out. Notice how the congregation reacted.

Luke 4:36 — “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!”

Jesus Christ has kingdom authority, and His word has power—and He shows it by rebuking an unclean demon. Stand amazed. What should we think about demons today? The most important answer is that we should look at the demonic kingdom through the lens of what Jesus Christ accomplished through His death on the cross. Why do I say that? Because the Bible teaches that Jesus Christ fatally wounded the Devil by dying on the cross.

Hebrews 2:14–15 — “Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. “

Jesus Christ disarmed and destroyed the Devil on the cross. Think about it. The Devil’s primary tactics are to lie to us about God’s character and to accuse us of our sins. But at the cross, Jesus Christ proved the goodness of God. He did not spare His own Son but gave Him up for us. And He was condemned for all our sins on the cross. The Accuser no longer has a case against us.

When we look at the demonic through the lens of the cross, we learn that the kingdom of demonic darkness is defeated. The kingdom of darkness is fatally wounded—yet still exceptionally dangerous.

Think about it this way. In World War II, on D-Day, when the Allied forces took the beach at Normandy and invaded occupied Europe, the Axis powers were effectively defeated. Nevertheless, the war continued for another eleven months before Germany formally surrendered on V-Day. When Jesus Christ died on the cross, it was like D-Day. The Devil was effectively defeated—mortally wounded. When Jesus Christ returns, it will be V-Day, and the Devil will be completely disarmed and destroyed forever.

As followers of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are living between D-Day and V-Day. The demonic forces of darkness are like a fatally wounded animal—defeated, days numbered, but dangerous. So what should we do when we are demonized? What should we do when demonic forces tempt us to distrust God’s goodness, distrust God’s Word, distrust God’s forgiveness, drift from a sober-minded grasp on reality, or tempt us to have a merely intellectual knowledge of Christianity—knowing all about Christianity without loving Christ with all our hearts?

We should help one another stand firm in the Lord Jesus Christ because Jesus Christ has kingdom authority over the demonic. Stand firm and hold one another up. Since Jesus Christ has kingdom authority, you may lose a battle, but you will not lose the war—He has won. Ephesians 6:10–18 spells out how we stand firm against the defeated danger posed by demonic forces. Notice that every piece of armor refers to some aspect of the gospel, reminding us what Jesus has done for us and who we are in Him:

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. Stand therefore, having fastened on the belt of truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and, as shoes for your feet, having put on the readiness given by the gospel of peace.  In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints… Jesus has kingdom authority, and He shows it first by rebuking demons. He defeated them in every battle during His earthly ministry, fatally wounded them at His death, and will permanently destroy them at His second coming. Stand firm in the Lord, resist the Devil, and he will flee.”

Jesus shows His kingdom authority, secondly…

BY REBUKING SICKNESS (vv. 38–41)

After the Lord Jesus Christ silenced and cast out the unclean demon, He left the synagogue and went to His friend Simon’s house. You probably know Simon by the name Jesus would later give him: Peter. When Jesus arrived at Simon’s house, Simon’s mother-in-law was sick with a high fever. This was serious. Luke 4:39 — “And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.” 

Why did Jesus Christ rebuke the sickness? Why “rebuke”? Because sickness is not natural or good. As Christians, we believe that in the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, made man in His image—male and female—and that it was very good. Humans did not get sick and die until after the first two humans, Adam and Eve, fell into sin. Here is the point: sickness and death are not natural; they are enemies introduced into our world as a result of the first sin. Do you think of sickness and death as enemies? Jesus did. Therefore, Jesus rebuked the fever, and it left Simon’s mother-in-law. I love the way she responded.

Luke 4:39 — And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them. Simon’s mother-in-law displays the kind of servant-hearted gratitude that should attend all who have been rescued by Christ. Jesus Christ has kingdom authority, and He showed it by rebuking sickness.

Before we consider sickness further, notice what day and time it was. It was Saturday, and the day was nearly over—but it was not time for Jesus to rest. Luke 4:40 — “Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.”

Just because it was late, Jesus did not perform an instantaneous “group healing.” Rather, Jesus Christ paid individual attention to each person, laid His hands on each one, and healed them. Jesus Christ has kingdom authority, but unlike those with worldly authority, no matter what you are sick with or suffering from, Jesus Christ has personal attention just for you.

Now, it was not only sickness that the Lord Jesus rebuked at Simon’s house. Luke 4:41 — “And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.”

Have you ever wondered why the Lord Jesus Christ would not allow the demons to speak? They were saying true things about Him. They called Jesus “the Son of God” and “the Christ.” Why silence that? Because not all press is good press. Remember, at Jesus’ baptism, the Father gave heaven’s endorsement of Jesus Christ by saying, “This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” That endorsement was precious. But the demons’ endorsement was undesirable. Jesus Christ could not trust the demons to represent Him rightly. And they might have stirred up political expectations of the Messiah that Jesus wanted to avoid.

Jesus Christ has kingdom authority, and He showed it by rebuking sickness and refusing demonic endorsement. So what should we think about sickness? As with the demonic, we should look at sickness through the lens of Jesus Christ’s death on the cross.  Isaiah 53:5 — “But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.” The Lord Jesus Christ died on the cross to heal every evil that sin brought into the world.

As the late Anglican Bishop of Liverpool, J.C. Ryle, commented on this passage: “They are all intended to fasten in our minds the great truth that Christ is the appointed healer of every evil that sin has brought into the world. Christ is the true antidote and remedy for all the soul-ruining mischief which Satan has wrought on mankind. Christ is the universal physician to whom all the children of Adam must go if they would be made whole. In Him is life, and health, and liberty.”

Like the demonic, sickness is a defeated foe. Sickness had its D-Day at the cross. However, V-Day is not here yet. While we wait for the victory of Christ’s return, we still get sick. Even if we are healed temporarily, until the V-Day of Christ’s coming, everyone will still get sick and die one day. Nevertheless, since Jesus has kingdom authority, V-Day is already breaking in like sunbeams through clouds. Since Jesus has kingdom authority to rebuke sickness, while we wait for V-Day, we should pray fervently for His kingdom to break in through real, temporary healing.

James 5:14–16 is a massively important passage on sickness and healing that we modern people tend to ignore. James 5:14–16 — “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

Since Jesus Christ has kingdom authority over sickness, since one day He will return and bring a sickness-free kingdom, and since that future kingdom can break in in temporary ways even now, we should always respond to sickness by asking Jesus Christ to rebuke and heal it—while saying, as Jesus did, “yet not my will, but yours be done.”  Whether you have a scratch in your throat, cancer in your lungs, or anything in between, turn to the Lord Jesus Christ and say, “You have kingdom authority over this, Lord. Would You please heal me of this and set my hope fully on the day when You will give me a glorified body like Yours and I will never get sick again?” And then call the elders of the church. One of the most overlooked reasons to join a church as a covenant member is so that you can have elders to pray for you when you are sick. Yes, call the doctor—and call the elders.

Every Wednesday morning from 7:00–8:00 a.m., the other elders of the church and I pray for the members of the church. When you are sick, tell us. In addition, the other elders and I would love to set aside time specifically to pray for you on a Sunday morning or throughout the week in person. Since Jesus has kingdom authority over sickness, join the church so that we can pray for you by name when you are sick—until the day when sickness is no more. 

Jesus has kingdom authority. He shows it by rebuking demons, by rebuking sickness, and finally…

BY PREACHING THE GOOD NEWS

As important as it was for Jesus to show His kingdom authority by rebuking demons and sickness, those were not His highest priorities. They were not His highest priorities because you can be healed from the suffering of sickness or relieved from demonic oppression and still not be rescued from the eternal suffering of hell.

As John Piper has said, “Because of Jesus, I care about all suffering, especially eternal suffering.”

How do we know that rebuking demons and fevers were not Jesus’ highest priority? Because of the way our passage ends. Luke 4:42–44 — “And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. 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.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.” The ultimate way that Jesus Christ showed His kingdom authority was by preaching the good news of the kingdom of God. Jesus cares about all suffering—especially eternal suffering.

The good news of the kingdom of God is what Jesus preached in Nazareth when He announced that the year of the Lord’s favor is fulfilled. The good news of the kingdom of God is the wonderful news that Jesus Christ is King. He came to kick off God’s eternal kingdom by dying and rising for our sins. Anyone can enter that kingdom by repenting, believing in Jesus Christ, and being baptized for the forgiveness of sins. And unlike the miniature kingdoms of this world, our King’s kingdom—the year of His favor—will never end, and He will keep you in it always.

And not only did Jesus Christ preach that good news—He is that good news. He is the final sacrifice who died so that through Him our sins can be forgiven and forgotten and we can enter into God’s favor forever. Jesus has kingdom authority, and He showed it ultimately by preaching the good news of Himself. Christ was a preacher, and He preached Himself.

So what should we think about preaching?

First, since Jesus showed His kingdom authority by preaching good news, we should treasure all biblical preaching that truly and rightly preaches Christ. We should treasure it.

J.C. Ryle once wrote, “The mere fact that the eternal Son of God undertook the office of a preacher should satisfy us that preaching is one of the most valuable means of grace…. In every age of the church preaching has been God’s principal instrument for the awakening of sinners and the edifying of saints. The days when there has been little or no preaching have been days when there has been little or no good done in the church. Let us hear sermons in a prayerful and reverent frame of mind and remember that they are the principal engines which Christ Himself employed when He was upon earth. Not least, let us pray daily for a continual supply of faithful preachers of God’s Word. According to the state of the pulpit will always be the state of a congregation and of a church.”

Treasure preaching. Listen prayerfully. Be affected by it. Pray for preaching, preachers, and your pastors. Second, since Jesus showed His kingdom authority by preaching good news, go and preach good news. Jesus Christ is risen, seated at the right hand of the Father, and all authority is His. And He is the One who says to you, “Go.”

• There are two opportunities coming up:
  March 18 — Evangelism training.
  March 28 — 1,000 Doors, Part 2. Write “good news” on your connect card.

Jesus shows His kingdom authority as you go and preach the good news about Him at your school, to your classmates, in your workplace, to your neighbors, and everywhere the Lord places you. Jesus has kingdom authority. Stand firm. Pray hard. Preach bold.