How Did Jesus Deal with Demons?
One of the first things we observe in Jesus’ ministry is the power and authority He had over the demonic realm. The light in Jesus exposed the kingdom of darkness causing the demonic to manifest. Even in the synagogue, demons were hiding in people.
In the synagogue, there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, 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 quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district. Luke 4:33–37 NASB
Much can be learned from the information given to us by Luke as he wrote the story. First, the man was in the synagogue. A mentally ill man would not have been allowed in the place of worship. The demon was hiding in the man but could not hold its peace in the presence of the One who would judge the demonic world. Demons are good hiders, but the power of God flushes them out to the point of not being able to hold their peace.
The demon knew who Jesus was. The demon knew that a time of judgment was coming, but not just yet. Jesus did not receive the testimony of the demon, so He rebuked him “saying, ‘Be quiet and come out of him!’” (Luke 4:35a NASB). The demon came out of the man, not harming him or anyone else. Jesus did not get engaged in conversation. He simply rebuked the demon and the demon obeyed.
The people had not seen that kind of authority before and were astonished. Note how God used this to lift up His Son, “And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district” (Luke 4:37 NASB).