Luke 4:40-41
As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Demons also came out of many, shouting, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.
That must have been quite an evening.
As far as I can tell, these two verses continue the story we read above, when Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law. That evening, as word got around that he was available, everyone who had sick persons brought them to Jesus to be healed.
Of course they did. We would do the same. Some elements of the story, like the rebuking of demons, may seem foreign to us. But in the context of this story and world, these are demonstrations of Jesus’ power over all that stands between the children of God and rich and abundant life.
Whatever differences there may be between Luke’s world and ours, however, the basic impulse to seek help and healing is the same. Jesus, teacher and healer, is on the scene. Of course they bring all their sick to him. We would do the same.
Why don’t we, then? Jesus is still available to the one who prays. I realize this is not the same as going to a friend’s house to meet him in person. And I realize that the healings Luke describes transcend the experience of most of us. But we can still bring all the worries or cares that beset us to Jesus in prayer.
I sometimes forget that. But when I remember, when I release my concerns and problems to the Lord, he is there.
Prayer: Dear God, remind us to bring all of our hopes and fears, dreams and disappointments, and joys and concerns to you in prayer, trusting in your will and mercy as we know them both through Jesus. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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