Today’s Gospel reading gives us a very beautiful picture of the early ministry of Jesus.
The story really has two parts.
In the first part, Jesus taught in the synagogue in the town of Capernaum.
A man possessed by a demon confronted Him.
The demon said, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”
Jesus is indeed the Holy One. With His Father, and the Holy Spirit, He created the world.
Now He walked among his own people.
Jesus had come to destroy the works of the devil.
Jesus cast out the demon with a word.
I love the next scene in this Gospel reading.
Jesus went to Simon’s house.
The family told him about Simon’s mother-in-law, who was sick with a high fever.
Jesus went into the room where Simon’s mother-in-law was.
Jesus touched Simon’s mother-in-law.
Matthew and Mark’s Gospels tell us Jesus took Simon’s mother-in-law by the hand, and helped her up.
Luke’s Gospel tells us Jesus rebuked the fever.
The fever left her.
Simon’s mother-in-law felt so much better, that she began to serve them.
She probably fed them a Sabbath supper.
But the most beautiful part of the story for me is when the sun went down that day.
All the people of the town who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Jesus.
Jesus laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.
He cast demons out of many, as well.
Jesus would not allow the demons to speak, because they knew who Jesus was.
That beautiful sunset picture of Jesus touching people and healing them encourages us to bring all needs and cares to Jesus in prayer.
Jesus hears us, and also intercedes for us before His Father, when we pray.
God answers us according to His own wisdom, will and timing.
God, as former St. Paul’s member now in heaven Erna Dorn was fond of saying, can answer our prayers in different ways.
God can say, “Yes, right away.”
God can say, “Wait a minute.”
God can say, “No.”
Or God can say, “I’ve got something better in mind.”
But picture the people of Capernaum carrying their loved ones, the crippled, the blind, the deaf, the broken, the lepers and the demon possessed all to Jesus.
Jesus touched them and healed them all.
Jesus would not let the demons speak, because they knew who Jesus was.
Early the next morning Jesus departed and went to a desolate place, where he prayed.
Simon and his companions came looking for Jesus.
They told Jesus, everybody was looking for him.
The people of Capernaum would have been glad to have kept Jesus with them.
Certainly, Jesus could have stayed and healed people in Capernaum for the rest of his life.
But Jesus said, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.”
Jesus knew He was sent to the lost sheep of the house of Israel.
As Jesus and his disciples traveled, Jesus healed many.
Jesus gave authority to His disciples, and those disciples also preached, healed and cast out demons.
But our whole world is sick with sin.
Sin, caused by our rebellion against God, has consequences.
Our world is a broken world, often filled with sickness and suffering.
Jesus rebuked the fever infecting Jesus’ mother.
Go away, fever. Jesus is here.
But to deal with the world’s sin sickness, Jesus did something far greater than just touching us.
Jesus shed his blood, suffered and died on the cross for the sins of the world, for your sins and mine.
Isaiah described this atonement so well in his 53rd chapter.
“Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.”
God the Father raised Jesus from the dead on Easter Sunday morning.
Jesus’ sacrifice is complete.
God the Father accepted it for Jesus’ sake.
God gives us peace with Himself, in Jesus’ name.
Jesus makes our hearts whole.
Jesus also, according to His will and timing, and purpose, brings healing to our bodies.
Sometimes God’s healing is in this life.
Sometimes God’s healing will be on the day of resurrection.
On that day, Jesus will say, “Go away, sickness, suffering, pain, death and demons. Leave my people alone. They are safe, and they are home with Me once and for all.”
In the meantime, God helps us as His people to minister to the sick.
Serious illness certainly can make us stop and think about things we never stopped to think about before.
How good that at this time in people’s lives, God’s Holy Spirit helps us, with sensitivity and compassion, to share the Good News of the Savior who has promised never to leave us or forsake us.
What a gift God’s Spirit gives us as he helps us bring the cares of those we love here on earth, and share them as prayers in Jesus’ name before God’s throne in heaven.
We’re planning a grief support tea here at St. Paul’s on Sunday, February 24 at noon.
Perhaps a quarterly service of prayer and healing would be a good way to bring the needs of our community to God’s throne of grace.
Let’s pray:
Dear Jesus, our divine healer, keep hope alive in our hearts. Remind us that no sickness can separate us from Your love. Bring Your healing touch to our loved ones and community members in need this day.
Refresh and restore us, O Holy Spirit, and help us to serve You with faithfulness, tenderness, and love.
Dear Father, we ask You to bless those who serve in the healing arts and professions. Grant Your wisdom, skill, patience and compassion all in all needs. Bring help and healing to those now suffering from or recovering from colds, pneumonia, or the flu. Give hope and healing to those receiving treatment for cancer. Bless and strengthen caregivers, loved ones, and the sick themselves. We pray in the strong and sure name of Jesus, our Savior. Amen.