Astonished at Authority over the Word.
Luke 4:33 ~ They were astonished at His teaching, for His Word possessed authority.
Amazed at Authority over Demons
Luke 4:35 ~ Jesus rebuked the demon. Be silent and come out of this man.
...and they were all amazed ~ Luke 4:36: "What is this Word?"
Awed at Authority over Disease
Luke 4:39 Jesus stood over Simon's m-i-l sick with a high fever.
"Do you want to be well?" Do we want Jesus Christ to be LORD over our lives?
Immediately, the woman rose to serve.
Luke 4 tells us that Jesus abandoned Nazareth for a new home. He spent most of his time at Simon's home here in Capernaum, on the Sea of Galilee. I stood at what remains of this sprawling home near the synagogue where He came and went...
Preaching the Gospel.
Performing miracles.
Giving people their lives back...No! He gave them a new life.
Matthew Henry says: "From His Preaching, a working Power went with it into the consciences of men." His Power, His Healing seared the conscience, slayed the heart. We are all rebels at heart needing a Savior. This wasn't about improving their lives but changing their history. Spreading the Fame of His Name. Like Peter's mother-in-law, a new life to His Glory. So what will we do with our New Life?
And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.
ReplyDeleteAfter God has answered prayers, delivered me from something, healed me...after praising Him I wonder if my next step was serving Him?
I was pondering that, too, Annette. I was begging God for a lot of not-that-important things this last week. I was desperate for our work to come together and I added almost as an after-thought in my prayer, "And may it be to Your glory." When it all did come together, I stole the thunder and didn't have my "defense" prepared to answer--I said thank you instead of stating Truth, "God gets all the glory." I am ready next time, but I didn't respond well. Is my next step to serve Him or man? And to God alone be the glory.
ReplyDeleteAs I stop to write here each morning, I so want this to be more than words of good intention and lip service. My actions don't match up very well through the day. I long to be genuine. This is my prayer.
ReplyDeleteAs I read this reading...I thought to myself...did they want Him just to be healed of their physical diseases or did they want to know more about Him? They were flocking to hear Him and ask Him to touch them or speak a word and heal their loved ones or themselves.
ReplyDeleteI have been guilty of this...of just asking for His healing and not for more of just Him. Brings me up short to realize some more of the depravity in my own heart. Oh, may I want Him, just for His sake and not for what He can give me or do for me and mine.
Bev, I wrote a comment to you on yesterday's reading and sweet Annette, I forgot to say thank you for your prayers. Will try to email you later...
"And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them,..."
ReplyDeleteGrateful that He has promised to never leave us or forsake us.
My favorite thought from today's reading is the visual of Him entering Simon's home.
The Son of God was there.
And His compassion took Him to the bedside of an older woman, with a fever, who needed His power of healing.
I love the visual of Him there with her. And I know that He cares about all of us just as much as He cared about Simon's mother-in-law here in this sickbed.
The demons knew Him and revealed His Godpower. Fake acknowledgement.
He could command them, but they did not follow Him as their Lord.
The mother-in-law knew His power to heal and she responded by serving Him. He became her Lord.
I like that visual. Demons left defeated. She arose to New Life.
Twinkle,
ReplyDeleteThis is oh so good! So love having you back! You were missed dearly.