In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! 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 words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

–Parallel verses:
‭‭John‬ ‭1‬:‭4‬-‭5‬
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
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Exodus‬ ‭33‬:‭15‬-‭20‬
Then Moses said to him, “If your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. How will anyone know that you are pleased with me and with your people unless you go with us? What else will distinguish me and your people from all the other people on the face of the earth?” And the Lord said to Moses, “I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.” Then Moses said, “Now show me your glory.” And the Lord said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the Lord, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for no one may see me and live.”

The presence of God is a powerful force all by itself. It does not need to act to show its power; the spiritual world knows well of his power. Moses knew this and he almost demanded to see the glory of God before he led the people forward in Exodus. God’s presence is critical to have victory over evil. We see in John 1, that Jesus was God. The breath of life was in him and this life was the light of men.

Why couldn’t Moses see God’s face? I believe it was because his light was too brilliant! Whenever the light shows up, the darkness flees. And so we see this play out here in Luke as Jesus approaches this man filled with evil spirits. They knew of his power and might, of the brilliance of his life, and they knew they were no match for it. So they begged and pleaded with him to go away. And isn’t it interesting that, though the evil spirits recognized Jesus as the Son of God, many of the Jews did not?

So my takeaways today are: 1) Rest in God’s presence and evil and darkness will flee. 2) Be a person of light that leads others to true spiritual life in Jesus Christ. This was Jesus’ mission and it is mine too. 3) Claim the power in Christ that is already mine to boldly defeat the darkness!

Lord, you are my Savior and my God! You are brilliant light and in you is found everlasting life! May I rest in your presence today and act under your authority and power.