Personal

Luke 4:38-41 Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. 39 So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. 40 When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. 41 Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ.
 
FIRST, one easily overlooked detail of this account is that people brought loved ones to Jesus for healing when the sun was setting. This means the Sabbath was over. People were now free of the Pharisees’ restrictive Sabbath travel and work laws. God did not make the Sabbath, so man could make more rules. He made the Sabbath for rest, healing and renewal.  
    We note in these verses how personal Jesus becomes with his creation. As we often read and hear of Jesus’ healing ministry, we can easily forget that this is a remarkable aspect of God’s favor. The Son of God left heaven for a time to tell and show us the Holy God is Father, Son and Spirt, who will go to extreme measures for the good of his creation. This is truly astounding!
    Note, too, that this is a second time Jesus has rebuked a demon to be quiet. Why did he keep the demons from confessing, “You are the Son of God!”
    Jesus didn’t want to hear from the demons. Their words were hypocritical insults. After all, they had left heaven to follow Satan. The devil was their lord! Why would Jesus seek affirmation from such rebellious spirits?
    A second reason Jesus rebuked the demons relates to the Jews’ traditions. Because the demons called him by name, some Jews believed that Jesus was working with Satan! Some Pharisees accused Jesus of receiving his power from evil spirits. (See Luke 11:15-19.) Again, the demons’ goal was to discredit the Lord.
    Be true to what you say. Do not speak of Jesus as your Lord unless he is your personal Lord and Savior. In that personal relationship, you must know Jesus rules your heart. His death and resurrection is his means to personally saved you from the demonic realm. If you tell someone, “I am a Christian.” be sure to honor the Lord with your loving worship.
 
Prayer. Thank you, Jesus, for your healing. You are my personal Lord and Savior. Help me love and live your commands as you have taught. Amen.