Imagine you’ve been expecting someone. You’ve been waiting for a long time. You’ve never actually met this person, but you think you know what to expect. So you wait. And you keep waiting.

What if this person isn’t quite what you expected? What if, because they’re not what you were waiting for, you ignore all the signs that point to their arrival? What if someone you don’t trust points that person out to you? Do you believe them?

Jesus’ arrival was long-expected. The people of Israel had been waiting centuries for Him to show up. You’d think that they’d all be watching for the signs that would point to Him. You’d think that they’d know it when He showed up in their towns. You’d think that people would go on ahead shouting that the Messiah had finally come!

The last thing you’d expect would be that the demons would be the one proclaiming His power. But that’s exactly what happened.

Once when he as in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon began shouting at Jesus, “Go away! Why are you bothering us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One sent from God.”

Luke 4:33-34 (NLT)

Some were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he stopped them and told them to be silent.

Luke 4:41 (NLT)

The people of Israel had become complacent. They’d ignored the signs of the coming Messiah. They were thrilled that there was a man who could heal and cast out demons, but they didn’t recognise Jesus for who He truly was. It was the demons who knew exactly who Jesus was and why He had come. They’d had the run of the place for centuries, but that was all about to stop.

Jesus had arrived. He had the power to cast them down and they knew it.

Now we have the same power. Our King has come. He has put His power in us. Demons should hear the power of Christ in our words and flee. Unlike the Jews, we don’t have to wait. Sickness, disease, demons, death should all flee because we have arrived.

Daily Bible reading: Joshua 14-15, Luke 4:33-44