Knowing The Word in Luke 4:38-41

Jesus Heals Many

38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon's house. Now Simon's mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

Comments

It appears that the headquarters of Jesus’ ministry is the house of Peter’s mother-in-law. She is sick with a high fever that may be from a contagious virus. Sound familiar? Jesus rebukes the fever much like he rebuked the demons, suggesting that Satan is behind her illness. She was completely healed instantly and resumed her duties. She did not need to recover from having been sick—that is the power of Jesus’ healing. After we overcome a fever or virus, it sometimes takes days, weeks, or even months for us to heal. Instead, this woman was renewed and restored to full health.

Hearing of these healing miracles, people came at the end of the day, after sunset, because the Sabbath was now over, and they were allowed to carry sick people to Jesus. He laid his hands on them, which was unusual and not found in the Old Testament record. In this account, demons were behind these diseases. The explanation most given for Jesus commanding them not to speak is that he wanted to forestall a nationalistic Messianic movement. He also wanted people to come to him because of his words and deeds, not because of demonic testimony.

Application

Have you or someone you know ever been miraculously cured of an illness through prayer? Years ago I injured myself playing tennis. When running backwards, I stepped on a ball and twisted my ankle. I did not see a doctor but let it heal on its own. About a year later the ankle pain came back. I asked others to pray for it one Sunday, and immediately the pain went away. Yet it came back again. I found myself awakening around 4 am consistently in pain. One morning I decided to pray for myself for healing. After 45 minutes of prayer, the pain went away, I fell back to sleep, and never had that same pain again.

While I am not recommending that you do not see a doctor, I am advocating praying to Jesus for healing. After all, that is part of his ministry to us.

Prayer

O Father of mercies and God of all comfort, our only help in time of need: We humbly beseech you to behold, visit, and relieve your sick servant for whom our prayers are desired. Look upon him with the eyes of your mercy; comfort him with a sense of your goodness; preserve him from the temptations of the enemy; and give him patience under his affliction. In your good time, restore him to health, and enable him to lead the residue of his life in your fear, and to your glory; and grant that finally he may dwell with you in life everlasting; through Jesus Christ our Lord. (BCP, p. 458)