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Come Out!

Jesus came to Capernaum with his followers, and on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes. In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!" 

Jesus rebuked him and said, "Quiet!  Come out of him!" The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him.  All were amazed and asked one another, "What is this? A new teaching with authority.  He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him." His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus was a Jew.   Many people tend to forget this critical aspect of Jesus’ life.   He taught in the synagogue.   His disciples were Jews.   Mary was Jewish.    For these reasons it’s important for us to understand the Jewish faith with its celebrations that were mirrored and modified by those Jews believing Jesus was the awaited Messiah.

For those Christians with a non-Christian dislike of Jews, Jesus would say to them: “Unclean spirits be quiet, and come out!”   We can only hope those spirits will be convulsed and cry out.    Otherwise, they will destroy those who hold tight to prejudice and perhaps even hatred - including untruths: lies.

Deacon David Pierce   

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