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Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching - and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him!” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. -- Mark 1:21-28
Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an evil spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him.
All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What is this teaching? With authority and power he gives orders to evil spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. -- Luke 4:31-37
This wasn’t the first time that Christ manifested his divine power over evil spirits who possessed the bodies and souls of men who he came across.
On several of these occasions, the Lord conversed with the evil spirits he drove out, which casts doubt on the theories that these were people merely afflicted with diseases which deranged their minds, and that they were misrepresented as having been possessed by demons due to the superstitions of the age.
It’s worth noting also, that the demons invariably recognized Jesus for who he was, confessing his divinity and power over them.
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