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July 1, 2025 15 mins

When even the demons acknowledge Jesus as the Son of God, His authority over darkness becomes undeniable.

In a display of divine authority, Jesus heals countless people gathered at Simon's house, casting out demons who recognize Him as the Son of God. Though the demons attempt to reveal Jesus' true identity, He silences them, showing His power over both illness and the forces of evil.

Today's Bible verse is Philippians 2:10, from the King James Version.

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Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
That at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow,
of those in heaven, those on earth, and those under
the earth. Philippians two ten. Mighty God, we praise you
for the power and authority in the name of Jesus,
that his name darkness bows and trembles, and every force

(00:22):
of evil is silenced. We declare that no name is
greater than the name of Jesus. Then we humble ourselves
before you, surrendering our pride and self reliance. Break the
chains that bind us, and let every knee bow, every
heart confess that Jesus is Lord. Help us live boldly

(00:48):
in this truth, proclaiming his name over every challenge, fear,
and stronghold. Fill us with courage to shine his light,
knowing that his name alone has the power to save, heal,
and bring peace. In Jesus Mighty Name, we pray, Amen.

(01:10):
Thank you for praying with me today. This is the
Jesus Podcast. Gospel inspired stories told to awaken your imagination
and inspire your faith. This season, we are showcasing jesus
encounters with and power over demons. Has this podcast given
you hope? We love it. If you rated, reviewed and

(01:33):
shared it with a friend, Thanks for making the mission possible.
Me Rob raced around the room, pulling spices from the
rack and sprinkling them into various pots and bulls. She
moved with the elegance of her younger days. Jesus healing
touch had not only cured her of her illness, it

(01:55):
had revitalized her very soul. After the meal, Jesus and
the disc disciples helped me Rob tidy up the kitchen.
The disciples cherished moments like these. They were small snippets
of the life they had left behind, a beautiful reminder
that though Jesus called them to leave their old lives

(02:16):
behind to follow him, he wasn't calling them to cast
aside everything or every one they loved. He was calling
them to view their lives from the perspective of God,
seeing how all of it could be used for his glory.

Speaker 2 (02:31):
Merap that was absolutely wonderful. I haven't had a meal
as fine as that since I last saw my own mother.
You're a true gift to this world.

Speaker 1 (02:42):
The confident woman blushed at jesus endearing words. After all
her guests had finished their food, Simon's mother in law
sat down and rested her eyes for the first time
since her healing, She allowed herself to settle into a
chair to relax. With bellies full. All the rest of
the disciples looked for seats around the room. They each

(03:04):
slunk down into their own seats to enjoy one another's company.
Simon and Mariam were the last into the room. Simon
stood in the doorway, awkwardly shifting his feet. He had
been holding on to a question since earlier in the day.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
Jesus, Yes, Simon, earlier today, when you cast up this
spear it from the man in the synagogue, you told
him to be quiet.

Speaker 4 (03:33):
Why exactly did you do that?

Speaker 1 (03:35):
Jesus pursed his lips as he thought about the answer.
He folded his hands into his lap and leaned forward.

Speaker 2 (03:43):
Ah, I was wondering if any of you got that.
The answer is quite simple. You see, I have personally
invited each of you to share your life with me,
and in return, I gladly share mine with you. My
hope is that with each passing day you'll better understand
who I am and why I've come. And it's not

(04:06):
some measly demon who should be teaching you these things.
In truth, the world is not quite ready for what
I have to say about my coming.

Speaker 4 (04:15):
And if I may be so bold as to ask,
what aren't they ready for?

Speaker 2 (04:22):
If it was time for you to know, I might
as well let the demon continue to speak. But as
for now, just remember the words of the Father at
my baptism.

Speaker 1 (04:32):
Though he wasn't at the Jordan when John plunged Jesus
into the waters, Simon had heard the story countless times.
Jesus was the son of the Father who delighted in him.
Simon contemplated his teacher's answer. When a knock came from
the door. Miriam pulled herself from Simon's arms.

Speaker 2 (04:53):
I wonder who that could be at this hour. You
weren't expecting any more guests, were you.

Speaker 1 (04:58):
Miriam posed the question as much hospitality as she could,
though she had to admit that she was already feeling
a little overwhelmed with a small crowd in her home.

Speaker 2 (05:08):
Hmmm, expected, yes, invited no, But nevertheless, let's see who
can be.

Speaker 1 (05:16):
Jesus rose to his feet and walked to the door.
He opened it nonchalantly and was greeted by a few
dozen faces.

Speaker 2 (05:24):
It's him, the one from the synagogue. Please, Lord, my wife,
she's ill. Perhaps you could help her.

Speaker 1 (05:32):
Another voice called out from behind the man.

Speaker 2 (05:35):
My child has been caught with a fever for two days. Now,
there's no time to waste. Please take pity on her.

Speaker 1 (05:42):
Before Jesus could answer, Simon pressed himself against Jesus's shoulder
and whispered in his ear.

Speaker 4 (05:48):
I'm so sorry, Rabbi. I don't know how they found
out you were here, but if he pleases, you'll ask
to leave.

Speaker 1 (05:55):
Jesus waved his hand at Simon and softly patted him
on the back.

Speaker 2 (06:00):
As I told Miriam, I was expecting such a visit,
but it seems we've already put your wife and mother
in law through enough for to day. Grab the others
and we'll assist the crowd outside.

Speaker 1 (06:11):
Simon turned and rounded up the other disciples. They stepped
outside into the orange glow of the early evening. The
crowd was bigger than Simon had realized. Over a hundred
people had gathered outside his home in search of the
miracle worker. His worried face was shared by the other disciples.

(06:32):
Jesus smiled at them with compassion. He knew the sight
was overwhelming to them, but he was ready to see
lives changed and was eager to include the disciples. He
instructed them to help the people form lines. The Twelve
Men drove the anxious gathering into neat groups before Jesus.

(06:54):
Already they were seeing how Jesus was able to bring
some warder to the madness.

Speaker 4 (07:04):
It's not enough to proclaim who Jesus is. Even the
demons are able to recognize him as the son of God.
We must match our proclamation with devotion, and our knowledge
of who he is with a passion for his mission.
Welcome to the Jesus Podcast. I'm ethanwi pray dot com
here to guide you through another October episode about Jesus

(07:26):
and demons. Today, we're exploring a fascinating story taken from Luke,
chapter four, verses forty through forty four. Picture the scene.
The sun is setting, marking the end of the Sabbath.
People are streaming out of their homes to meet a
man who's turning their world upside down, Jesus of Nazareth.

(07:46):
As they gather, something remarkable happens. Jesus is healing the
sick left and right. But there's an even more dramatic
subplot unfolding. Demons are coming out of many shouting you
are the Christ. The Son of God. Now that's not
your everyday church service, is it.

Speaker 1 (08:06):
One by one Jesus performed signs and miracles for the
people's benefit. Men, women, children from all different walks of
life were being healed by the touch of their creator.
The blind received their sight, the sick were made well,
and the lame were walking with childlike strength. It was

(08:28):
all too much for the disciples. They were stricken with
awe at the ease with which Jesus poured out the
power of God. They could only dream of doing what
he did. But their joy quickly turned to panic when
a small band of men pressed through the crowds, dragging
several others tied in works through the dirt. The restrained

(08:51):
individuals yanked at the makeshift leashes, Scowling.

Speaker 4 (08:55):
At the people around them.

Speaker 1 (08:57):
They dug their fingers into the dirt and greamed viciously
at the top of their lungs. The crowd fumbled back
in terror. The men who had brought them hold with
all their strength against the wild savages. The ropes that
were wound around their hands dug deep into their flesh,

(09:17):
but they refused to let go lest the crowd face
there crazed captives Jesus immediately knew what ailed them. Each
man was possessed by a demon. He eyed them carefully
as they made their way to him. Once near enough,
one of the demon possessed men lunged at Jesus, but

(09:38):
Jesus didn't move so much as a muscle. But his
faith wasn't in the ropes. It was in a power
far greater. The man nearest to Jesus was sprawled out
on all fours like a beast of the field. His
eyes were red, matching the dried blood spattered about his clothing.

Speaker 3 (09:58):
Yell, a nast, leave us they we haven't come for you,
son of silence.

Speaker 1 (10:06):
Jesus's thunderous voice startled the people nearly as much as
the wild men, if they were all amazed. When the
men tied to the ropes immediately and fell silent, the
gentle healer had quickly become a successful commander against these
evil spirits. The demon possessed men's faces raged with intense anchor,

(10:29):
but their mouths remained shut, sealed tight by the command
of Jesus. The men who had brought the possessed struggled
at the end of the ropes.

Speaker 2 (10:39):
Please free these men from the evil within them.

Speaker 4 (10:44):
We beg you.

Speaker 1 (10:45):
They're desperate pleas were barely audible over their laborious groans.
Without wasting another second, Jesus cried out with a loud.

Speaker 2 (10:54):
Voice, come out of them.

Speaker 1 (10:57):
With a wave of his hand, the men tied to
the ropes fell to the ground. Each one of them
shot a grayish light. They hovered over the limp bodies below.

Speaker 4 (11:08):
We well you are, You are the son of God.

Speaker 2 (11:13):
You shall not speak of this. Begone.

Speaker 1 (11:16):
With another wave of his hand, the lights cascaded into
the sky with all of their clamoring. Most of the
people gathered hadn't heard what the demon had said, but
Simon slowly turned his eyes to Jesus. He mouthed the
words to himself, the son of God. Simon was beginning

(11:36):
to piece Jesus' identity together, though there were still gaps
in his understanding. He knew that Jesus wasn't simply sent
from God. He was the Lord's anointed. But if Jesus
didn't want the demons to speak of such things, perhaps
he didn't want Simon to either. The disciple held the

(11:58):
words close to his eyes, allowing them to find fertile soil.
He trusted that one day it would bear good fruit.
Early the next morning, Jesus found a quiet spot by
the Sea of Galilee. He rhythmically prayed in tandem with
the waves, but his solitude was interrupted by some of

(12:20):
the people in the city, who desperately wanted him to stay.
Jesus was moved with affection for those who came with adoration,
but he knew the work his father had sent him
to accomplish was far from lor. The good news of
the Kingdom of God was to be proclaimed far And why.

Speaker 4 (12:45):
Isn't it intriguing that the demons recognized Jesus's identity before
many people do. They declare him as the Christ, the
Son of God. Even the forces of darkness can't help
but acknowledge his authority. Yet Jesus rebukes them and doesn't
allow them to speak. Why Because he doesn't need or
want a testimonial from the enemy. He chooses to reveal

(13:08):
himself on his own terms. By silencing the demons, Jesus
demonstrates his supreme authority over evil. He doesn't engage in
a dialogue or negotiate terms. He commands and they obey.
It's a powerful reminder that while evil may have a voice,
it doesn't have the final word. Now, before you start

(13:30):
checking under your pews, let's bring this into our context.
While many of us might not encounter demonic manifestations as
in Jesus's time, we all face demons, struggles, fears, addictions,
or negative thoughts that haunt us. These are the shadows
that try to speak lies into our lives, telling us

(13:51):
we're not good enough, that will never change, or that
hope is lost. The good news is that Jesus's authority
over darkness isn't at storical footnote. It's a present reality.
Just as he silenced the demons, then he can silence
the oppressive voices in our lives today. But here's the catch.
We have to bring these struggles to him. We have

(14:14):
to bring these struggles to him. Notice that Jesus laid
his hands on every one of them and healed them.
He could have performed a mass miracle with a single word,
but he chose personal interaction. Our savior is into personal relationships,
not impersonal transactions. He meets us individually, right where we are.

(14:36):
As the crowd sought to keep Jesus from leaving, he said,
I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities.
Also because for this purpose I've been sent. Jesus is
on a mission, a mission that includes us, but isn't
limited to us. He's inviting us to step out of
the shadows and into his marvelous light. So what's the

(14:58):
demon you're wrestling with? May be it's fear, doubt, or
something more tangible. Whatever it is, remember that Jesus has
the authority to silence it. Let's not let the shadows
speak louder than the Savior.
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Zak Shellabarger

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