Jesus' Absolute Authority

I want you to take your Bibles this morning and turn to Luke 4:31. I want to talk with you this morning about a subject matter that is not too common of a topic in Baptist churches.  I want to talk you about the ministry of physical healing.

 

In today’s church culture, when we talk about a physical healing ministry, that is usually in reference to an individual’s physical healing ministry.  However, I don’t believe that spiritual gift is still active today, but you are more than welcome to disagree with me.

 

This morning, we are going to see in Luke 4 the physical healing ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ.  While I don’t believe that individuals can heal others today, I certainly believe that Jesus physically heals and can heal you this very morning. 

 

Even though we are going to see Jesus physically healing many this morning in Luke 4, the primary message from today’s text is Jesus’ absolute authority.  You will find that word twice in today’s text: 32 and 36.

 

Jesus’ absolute authority applies to His teaching ministry.  Remember, that was His primary ministry, and He began that ministry close to home in Galilee.  That is like a county.  Last week, we saw Him in Nazareth. 

 

Today, He is in Capernaum, and He first ministered to His countrymen on the Sabbath and in the synagogues.  That’s what verse 31 tells us.

 

Verse 32 says that people were astonished at His teachings.  Why?  His word was with authority. 

 

Now, in order to demonstrate His authority further or authenticate His authority, Jesus healed many.  His miracles authenticated His message. 

 

In the next several verses, we are going to see that Jesus’ absolute authority was demonstrated when He healed an individual spiritually.  He then healed an in-law physically, and He then healed in mass completely. 

 

 

1. Jesus’ absolute authority was affirmed when He healed an individual spiritually, Luke 4:33-37.

33 Now in the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon. And he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”  35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 36 Then they were all amazed and spoke among themselves, saying, “What a word this is! For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits, and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region. 

 

Look at verse 33.  There in Capernaum in the synagogue was a man who was demon possessed. 

 

BTW…Let me take this opportunity to remind you that demons are real.  They were real in Luke 4, and they are real today, and just like this individual was demon possessed 2,000 years ago, individuals can be demon possessed today.

 

Also, demons are spirit beings, and they are evil.  If you are a follower of Christ, you cannot be demon-possessed because darkness and light cannot occupy the same space.  However, demons can and will terrorize Christians and attempt to make their earthly lives hell on earth.

 

Finally, demons are extremely powerful.  Here in Luke 4, this demon physically threw this man to the ground.  However, they are not omnipotent.  That is reserved for God, and each and every demon is less than the one, true, and living God.

 

This demon spoke through the man and begged Jesus to leave them alone.  Notice that this demon was very aware of and knowledgeable of who Jesus was. 

 

He knew Jesus was from Nazareth.  He knew Jesus was more powerful and could destroy him.  He knew Jesus was the Son of God, the promised Messiah. 

 

BTW…This demon is proof that knowledge alone doesn’t save.  Remember James 2:19.

 

19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!

 

This demon believed the truth.  However, to be saved, you must believe personally and repent.  You must turn from your sin and yourself and turn to Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. 

 

In verse 35, because Jesus has absolute authority, He rebuked or commanded the demon to shut up and come out.  What happened?  The demon obeyed, and this individual man was healed spiritually. 

 

The people confirmed it, and this miracle affirmed Jesus’ absolute authority and the message He was preaching.  Consequently, word began to travel about all that Jesus was doing.

 

 

2. Jesus’ absolute authority was affirmed when He healed an in-law physically, Luke 4:38-39.

38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 39 So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them.

 

Look at verse 38.  After Jesus healed the individual man in the synagogue, He made His way to Simon Peter’s house. 

 

When He arrived, He found Simon Peter’s mother-in-law with a high fever.  Remember, Luke was a physician so he described her fever as high while the other Gospel writers just said fever. 

 

BTW…Notice from this text that Peter had a house and was married.  The idea that ministers shouldn’t own property and can’t be married doesn’t find its basis in the Bible.

 

Jesus was then asked to heal her.  Again, like He did previously with the demon-possessed individual man, Jesus rebuked or commanded the fever to be gone, and it was.  Why?  Jesus has absolute authority, and these miracles authenticated and affirmed His message.

 

Also, while this in-laws healing was physical, it was a picture of the spiritual.  When Jesus healed Peter’s wife’s mother, she immediately began to serve others. 

 

When Jesus saves you, He doesn’t save you to sit and soak.  He saves you to serve Him by serving others.  Commit to and find your place of ministry today!

 

 

3. Jesus’ absolute authority was affirmed when He healed in mass completely, Luke 4:40-41.

40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!”  And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ.

 

Brothers and sisters, if words have meaning, and they do, these next two verses are going to astonish you.  Look at verse 40.

 

When word began to get out of the miracles that Jesus was performing, the crowds came.  Verse 40 says that at sundown, folks were bringing their sick and infirmed family, friends, and neighbors to Jesus for Him to heal them.

 

And you know what?  He did…every single one of them. 

 

Jesus not only continued to heal in mass, but He also continued to heal spiritually by casting out demons.  How could He do this?  He did this because Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the promised Messiah, the Savior of the world has absolute authority.  That means His authority is supreme, and all other authority is subservient to His.

 

Finally, in verses 42-44, we end in a similar way as we began.  Jesus’ primary ministry was a teaching/preaching ministry.  Remember, the crowds were amazed at the authority with which He preached. 

 

Jesus even said in verse 43 that preaching and teaching was why He came.  That message was affirmed and authenticated through miracles. 

 

Again, remember His ministry started close to home.  Verse 44 says He preached in all the synagogues in Galilee.  Going to the synagogues reminds us that Jesus first tried to take His message of hope first to His own countrymen, the Jews.

 

 

Conclusion

So allow me to conclude with two final thoughts.  First, spiritual healing is far more important than physical healing.  In other words, healing the heart of sin is better than healing the heart from clogged arteries. 

 

Let me explain further.  Jesus is the great physician, and He can heal any sickness, any disease, any infirmity, any time and any place and for any one. 

 

However, if that person who is physically healed has not been spiritually healed and dies and goes to hell, what good is a cure for cancer?  What good is being able to walk again?  What good is being about to see again?

 

Before Jesus heals you physically, His first desire is to heal you spiritually by saving your soul.  Today, you can begin a personal relationship with Jesus and having forgiveness of sin, a home in heaven, and eternal life if you will admit you are a sinner and call on Jesus to save you today.

 

Secondly, and this what you might not have expected to hear this morning, I believe that God’s will is always physical healing unless the person who is sick personally knows otherwise.  Consequently, when I pray, I pray in that manner.

 

Let me explain.  Matthew 6:10 says for us to pray for God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

10 Your kingdom come.  Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

 

How is God’s will done in heaven?  It is done perfectly without sin.  That means there is not sickness.  See Revelation 21:4.

 

4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”

 

Therefore, I believe God’s will is always to heal unless the person who is sick knows otherwise.  See 1 Corinthians 11:29-32.

 

29 For he who eats and drinks in an unworthy manner eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the Lord’s body. 30 For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. 31 For if we would judge ourselves, we would not be judged. 32 But when we are judged, we are chastened by the Lord, that we may not be condemned with the world.

 

These Corinthians Christians were sick and died because of their sin specifically related to the Lord’s Supper.  Therefore, it was not God’s will to heal them.  It was God’s will to discipline them.

 

Therefore, if you are sick and need healing, I invite you to confess your sins to the Lord and believe that His will is for your healing.  And I would be more than happy to anoint you with oil and pray over you.

 

14 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. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much.