Memory Verse

"Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.  But these are written that you may believe that Jesus in the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name."  John 20:30-31

Lesson

This week in the Gospel Project for Kids, kids will learn that Jesus demonstrated His power and authority through miracles.  Among Jesus' healing miracles, Jesus drove out demons, or evil spirits.  Demons are evil angels  -  created, spiritual beings  -  who sinned against God.  The Bible identifies Satan as the head of the demons.  (See Job 1:6)

Demons are enemies of God.  They oppose God's work and try to turn people away from God and the gospel.  When Jesus was preaching at the synagogue in Capernaum, an evil spirit began to shout through a man.  Jesus commanded the spirit to be quiet, and He drove the demon out of the man.  Jesus' power over demons marked the launch of God's kingdom.  When Jesus cast a demon out of a man who was blind and mute, He said, "If I drive out demons by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you" (Matt 12:28).

Still today, demons try all sorts of strategies to keep believers from being effective witnesses for Christ  -  including doubt, temptation, pride, guilt, and fear.  But we do not need to fear demons because Jesus gives believers authority over them.  In the New Testament, Jesus gave His disciples authority over demons, and the demons submitted to them when they commanded them in Christ's name.  (See Luke 9:1; 10:17, 19; Acts 8:7; 16:18)

Jesus is the King who has come to make all things right.  By commanding the evil spirit to come out of the man, Jesus showed He has power over all our enemies.  One day Jesus will take away Satan, sin, and death once and for all.