I have found the common theme to be "authority". I am preaching a series on "People of the Baptized" following the "Baptism of the Lord" from a few Sundays back. This Sunday's title is "People of the Baptized: Not Reduced to Human Authority." Your conversation of the Gospel text leaned into authority over a demonic presence. The people recognized this different authority prior to Him driving out the demon. It is a part of the story that is fascinating, but not the main point. My emphasis is, what it means to be people of the baptized, people of a higher authority.
I have found the common theme to be "authority". I am preaching a series on "People of the Baptized" following the "Baptism of the Lord" from a few Sundays back. This Sunday's title is "People of the Baptized: Not Reduced to Human Authority." Your conversation of the Gospel text leaned into authority over a demonic presence. The people recognized this different authority prior to Him driving out the demon. It is a part of the story that is fascinating, but not the main point. My emphasis is, what it means to be people of the baptized, people of a higher authority.
Speaking of "authority" - see Dear Working Preacher's last column Sept 24, 2023, "By What Authority?" by Karoline Lewis.