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LUKE - Christ, the Savior of the World
A Bible Study Course on the Gospel of Christ according to Luke

PART 3 - JESUS' MINISTRY IN GALILEE (Luke 4:14 - 9:50)

2. Jesus' Ministry in Capernaum and its Surroundings (Luke 4:31-44)


LUKE 4:38-41
38 He rose up from the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him for her. 39 He stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. 40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41 Demons also came out from many, crying out, and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

Jesus returned from the midst of the spiritual battle in the synagogue to the house of Peter, one of his first disciples, who was an inhabitant of Bethsaida (John 1:44), but dwelt later with his family at Capernaum, following Christ. Jesus did not ask his disciple to give up his wife when he believed in him, but blessed all his house and filled him with the power of his Spirit.

When a dangerous fever attacked Peter’s mother-in-law who lived with him, both of them together with all the disciples asked Jesus to heal her. Their common faith and humble demand moved the arm of God. Do you realize the mystery of the power of common prayer before Jesus?

Then Jesus stood over the bed of the feverish patient, took her by the hand, and with a word rebuked the fever. The word of the Creator contains the power of excluding disease, for wherever Christ comes, eternal life, healing, and Paradise begin. In his presence hearts, bodies, and minds become cured. Bring to Jesus all your hardships. Commit your life to him so that his strength may be made perfect in your weakness.

Peter’s mother-in-law experienced Christ’s triumph and power, for she immediately arose with certainty and confidence, and began to serve them. She became the symbol of the faithful, for he who is cured by Christ in his innermost heart and is renewed, becomes a servant of Christ and of people, just as Jesus made himself a servant to all humanity. Are you a sick man, or a servant?

People hurried to Peter’s house, carrying the sick on their beds, and mothers came with their children in their arms, asking Jesus to heal them with his power. Christ did not reject anyone, but put his divine, blessed hands on each of them and delivered them from the power of sickness. His healing was not magic. It was the power of God that flowed out of his merciful heart into the innermost depths of the believer.

The sun’s setting at the end of that Sabbath day granted those who were bound by the law the freedom to bring the sick to Jesus for they knew that healing was at hand and given freely to everyone.

It appeared that many of the sick were possessed by demons. Woe to those who go to fortune-tellers, consult the dead, deal with tarot cards, buy a blue bead for protection, or decorate their cars with a heart pierced with an arrow. With such loathsome practices they consort with demons, for they believe in their effectual power. Come to Jesus, with your evil spirit and huge bonds. He delivers you from the power of Satan, moves you into his kingdom, keeps you safe under the protection of the living God.

The demons know Jesus well. They know that he is the Son of God. This knowledge is not under question or investigation, but is a reason for their fear and trembling. Unfortunately, many people are blind to the truth of God and his Son. They know neither God, nor his Son who was born of his Spirit. They are like the blind who do not find the way leading to life, and yet do not give themselves up to those with eyesight who may lead them to deliverance. He who sees Christ sees his Father, for the Son is one with him and continues in him.

Jesus rebuked the demons, so that they might not reveal the mystery that he is the true Christ, so that they should not incite political zeal in the multitudes. He was willing to leave the occasion to them that they might recognize his true nature, as he had revealed to them in the synagogue of Nazareth, as a sign emblem of his work. Christ built the faith of his followers not on the testimony of demons, but on his love, truth, and mercy. He delivered those who suffered from their bondage, and carried them to the freedom of the redeemed of the Lord. Do you belong to this kingdom?

PRAYER: Lord of Lords, we worship to you, for you are true God from true God, Light from eternal Light. Forgive us our sins and evil desires spirits. Deliver us from the fever of our lusts. Loose the bonds of our slavery to evil spirits, and strengthen our faith in your merciful kingdom.

QUESTION 41: Why did Christ prevent the evil spirits from speaking, and how did he heal the sick?

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