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Jesus Heals Many People
(Mark 1.29-34; Luke 4.38-41)
14Jesus went to the home of Peter, where he found that Peter's mother-in-law was sick in bed with fever. 15He took her by the hand, and the fever left her. Then she got up and served Jesus a meal.
16That evening many people with demons in them were brought to Jesus. And with only a word he forced out the evil spirits and healed everyone who was sick. 17 So God's promise came true, just as the prophet Isaiah had said,
“He healed our diseases
and made us well.”
Some Who Wanted To Go
(Luke 9.57-62)
18When Jesus saw the crowd, he went across Lake Galilee. 19A teacher of the Law of Moses came up to him and said, “Teacher, I'll go anywhere with you!”
20Jesus replied, “Foxes have dens, and birds have nests. But the Son of Man doesn't have a place to call his own.”
21 Another disciple said to Jesus, “Lord, let me wait till I bury my father.”
22Jesus answered, “Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead.”
Reflect
The way Jesus cared for people, healing their sickness and freeing them from bondage, not only demonstrated His great love for them. It also fulfilled Isaiah’s 600 year old prophecy that he would heal our diseases and make us well. It was another sign that Jesus was the long awaited Messiah.
It is no surprise that Jesus was drawing more and more attention, with people wanting to follow him. When two individuals expressed a keen interest in following Jesus, he made it clear that they should count the cost. It is a commitment not to be taken lightly.
One of the men asked for permission to bury his father before following Christ. When Jesus responded, “Let the dead bury the dead” (v 22), it sounded like quite a harsh response. It was quite possible that the young man wasn’t asking to attend his father’s funeral, but to put off following Jesus until after his father died.
Whatever the case, we get a sense of the changing order of things. Jesus’ Messianic authority is beginning to create a new order of things where the Kingdom of God will impact normal human life, including family relationships and commitments.
Respond
Heavenly Father, you are worthy of my praise, my gratitude, my devotion. Help me to follow hard after you that I might bring you honour and glory with my life. In the name of King Jesus. Amen.
Bill Bonikowsky
Bill Bonikowsky is a writer, editor and photographer. Born in Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario and raised in Guelph ON, Bill currently resides in Nanaimo BC with his wife Shirley. He ministered with Youth for Christ for over 27 years as a youth minister and editor of YFC’s monthly newsletter. He pastored a church in Arlington Heights, IL for 2 ½ years, and served as Communications Officer for Alpha Ministries Canada for 10½ years. Bill has three grown sons and ten grandchildren. Publications: Contributing writer for the NIV Life Application Bible; Editor of Report to the People newsletter for Greater Vancouver Youth for Christ for 20 years; Editor of Alpha News for Alpha Ministries Canada for five years; Published in the Canadian anthologies “A Second Cup of Hot Apple Cider” (2011), "Hot Apple Cider With Cinnamon" (2015) and "Christmas With Hot Apple Cider" (2017).
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