While Jesus was in the synagogue, a man possessed by a demon began shouting at Him: “Go away! Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? I know who you are: The Holy One of God.”

But the Lord rebuked him: “Be quiet! Come out of him.” At that very moment, the demon threw the man to the ground while the crowd watched; then it came out of him without causing him any further harm.

The struggle between good and evil has been depicted by various cultures as if they were on the same level, but this is not the case in Christianity.

Here we see Jesus commanding the realm of darkness to retreat and flee. It is the command of the Creator over creatures that have rebelled against God.

Although the Savior called Satan “the prince of this world,” He was not confirming any authority the evil one received from above. It is humanity that, by setting aside God, has chosen to live under the control of this sinister leader and his hosts.

We do not have to follow this path of destruction: if we have Jesus on our side, greater is He who is with us than he who is in this world.

Scripture is emphatic in stating: “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder” (James 2:19).