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Power Belongs to Jesus

And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

Luke 4:39
Power Belongs to Jesus Book Cover

The fourth chapter of Luke gives us a day in the life of Jesus. Earlier in the chapter, we find Jesus going into the synagogue and reading from Isaiah. “He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind” (Luke 4:18). For the rest of the chapter, he demonstrates the passage he read from Isaiah, healing and delivering many. Again, Luke shows us an example of Jesus healing both a man and a woman, and the woman happened to be Peter’s mother-in-law (Luke 4:33–39).

Luke tells the story simply and briefly. When Peter’s mother-inlaw took ill, Jesus rebuked the fever. Her health was immediately restored and she began to serve them (Luke 4:38–39). Although it takes only two verses to tell the story, we can draw powerful lessons from it. It emphasizes not only Jesus’s ability to heal but also his authority to heal. In healing Jairus’s daughter, Jesus spoke to the young girl. The woman with the issue of blood touched him and received her healing. However, during his encounter with Peter’s mother-in-law, Jesus actually spoke to the disease itself, rebuking it. For the first time this week, we see what role evil forces can have in our lives. The comfort is knowing that Jesus has the power and the authority to overrule any disease or demon. And he will help us in our time of need, because we are his daughters.

healed to serve

As we revisit these stories, no doubt we are impressed by these miraculous examples of God’s power, and we should be. But these miracles also reveal something about God and about us that we should pay close attention to. God desires the very best for us, including our healing. He wants us to come to him in humble submission. Telling Jesus where we hurt allows us to confess our need for him and vulnerability to him. We tell him where we hurt; we tell him how disappointed we are, how angry we are, how scared we are. But we tell him this in hope, with the knowledge that he hears us and delivers us. It is what David does over and over again in his psalms. But he never loses hope.

Jesus also wants to heal us so that we can wholly participate in his kingdom. Notice what Peter’s mother-in-law does once her health returns. She immediately returns to service. When Jesus heals and restores us, it is never for our benefit alone. As we are healed, we are freed to serve at his pleasure—to concern and commit ourselves to being involved in the healing and discipleship of others.

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Jesus Heals the Wounded

Daily Question

What stories do you have of God healing you, both physically and emotionally? Do you know a woman who is hurting and in need of God’s compassion? How can your stories help to heal her?

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Comments (4)

Thank you, Lord for your healing power! Thank you for your care, for your forgiveness and grace. I love you, Lord! I ask for your forgiveness. I humbly come to for healing of my body. Thank you that you are a God who delights in showing mercy and wants to help us in our time of need. I need you. I ask for complete healing – mind, body and soul. Thank you for loving me. Thank you in advance for your healing! In your name, amen

"Telling Jesus where we hurt allows us to confess our need for him and vulnerability to him. We tell him where we hurt; we tell him how disappointed we are, how angry we are, how scared we are. But we tell him this in hope, with the knowledge that he hears us and delivers us. It is what David does over and over again in his psalms. But he never loses hope."…Wow, these words that I just read in the lesson are hitting home….my husband awoke in pain, and it is chronic. I have sat here in the morning’s sun kiss, healing meditation music playing, imploring Jesus to heal my best friend. I do know one woman friend in particular , who comes to my mind. I pray that God intercedes in that situation. I did share with her last week, and she said that our visit together was the highlight of her week. I don’t take that lightly. I know God is working in her life as well. Praise You Lord, Amen.

Hi, Carolyn. My husband is in chronic pain as well and has been for 8 long years. He’s had 5 surgeries in 3 years with very little improvement. I have prayed countless times for his healing or even just relief. Sometimes he does get some relief, but mostly the pain is there all the time. He has to withdraw within himself lots of times just to deal with it. Sometimes I have peace and other times I don’t. God sees the benefit and purpose for his pain that I can’t see. I like the idea that we can have disappointment, anger, and even fear and yet still hope. Sometimes I have fallen into the trap of thinking that I can’t really acknowledge my disappointment, anger, and doubt because that will mean I am losing my faith, my hope. But he is a big God. Big enough for it all. And oh, my but doesn’t he still slip in small bright rays of hope. Lord help us to see.

…Wow, these words that I just read in the lesson are hitting home….my husband awoke in pain, and it is chronic. I have sat here in the morning’s sun kiss, healing meditation music playing, imploring Jesus to heal my best friend. I do know one woman friend in particular , who comes to my mind. I pray that God intercedes in that situation. I did share with her last week, and she said that our visit together was the highlight of her week. I don’t take that lightly. I know God is working in her life as well. Praise You Lord, Amen.

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