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.” (Mark 1:21-27 NIV)

Satan and his demons melt in the presence of Jesus.

After Jesus was baptized by John He spent 40 days in the wilderness with wild beasts.  Then on the 40th or 41st day, when Jesus was weakest, Satan tempted Him with three proposals (Matthew 4), failed and fled, leaving Jesus to be comforted by the angels.

In regards to Jesus’ temptation, I have wondered if there was more than one big temptation at the end.  I don’t think the scriptures prohibit me from thinking Satan might have come to Jesus earlier with the same three temptations, approaching Him one last time at the end, but with no success.  It says “After fasting forty days and nights” Satan came.  But was Jesus left without a tempter in the desert before that time?

However it happened, Satan went down in flames, and the Son of God prevailed.  He always does.

It is no surprise to find Him prevailing again in the synagogue in Capernaum.  A man 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!  Come out of him!”  Jesus spoke with authority, standing His ground as He had in the desert.  Maybe Satan had warned the spirit… “Watch out…I gave Him everything I had in the desert and He didn’t budge!”  Or maybe they just knew Him.  Maybe all evil spirits have a picture of Jesus on their living room wall with a statement: “Beware of this man…He is very God of very God!” 

However the spirit came to know Jesus, he was terrified when he encountered Him.  The possessed man started to shake uncontrollably.  The spirit grabbed onto his rib-cage…his evil lips flapping as a supernatural force ripped him from his hideout in the man’s inner core.  Maybe he could hold on…just a little…while…longer… “SHRIEEEEEEEEEK!”

And then it was over.  The man was free, the crowd was amazed and the evil spirit was spinning through space in search of a new home.

Evil spirits obeyed Jesus, and they still do.  I don’t know for sure how their boundaries and behaviors changed after Calvary, but I don’t care.  They are wimps!  Spirit-world twerps!  And they have no place in the presence of the King.

Dear God, protect me from the evil one.  In Jesus’ name, Amen.