In The Word
Read: Luke 4:31-44
31 And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32 and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district.
Many Are Healed
38 Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Him to help her. 39 And standing over her, He rebuked the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them.
40 While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them. 41 Demons also were coming out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But rebuking them, He would not allow them to speak, because they knew Him to be the Christ.
42 When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. 43 But He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, for I was sent for this purpose.”
44 So He kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
New American Standard Bible (NASB) Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation
Walking In The Word
In our reading today, Jesus left Nazareth; He was actually forced out and entered Capernaum. Again entering the synagogue on a Sabbath, He began preaching the Word. This time it would be different though; there was no negative reaction to His words or actions, and the people began bringing their sick and possessed to Him. In verse 40, it states, “And laying His hands on every one of them, He was healing them!” It was not so in Nazareth; looking back at the Gospel of Mark’s account of that event, it says in Mark 6:5-6, “And He could do no miracles there except that He laid His hands on a few sick people and healed them. And He wondered at their unbelief.”
Our faith and belief are very important as we seek action from Jesus, but even if your faith is as small as a mustard seed, Jesus can work with that. In Matthew 17:20, Jesus said, “…If you have faith as a mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, move from here to there, and it shall move; and nothing is impossible.” If you feel your faith is not strong enough for your request, continue reading with us through the Gospel of Luke, and you will find people just like you seeking answers and wonders from Jesus. Though their faith and belief were small, Jesus brought deliverance as only He can. So don’t be discouraged! Pray for your needs and ask Jesus for power to be brought to that situation. In Jesus’ name we pray, amen!