Matthew 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-38; Luke 4:38-44
“When evening came, many who were demon-possessed were brought to him, and he drove out the spirits with a word and healed all the sick.” Matthew 8:16
We have surely all had those days when there was much more to do than time to do it in, days when everyone seems to need you, and there’s just not enough of you to go around. Jesus surely had days like that as well, with so many people with needs clamoring for His attention. How did He handle days like this?
One such day for Jesus began in the synagogue. It was a Sabbath, and Jesus was teaching. People were listening. In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon. Suddenly the demon spoke through the man at the top of his voice, saying, “Ha! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God” Luke 4:34
Jesus exercised His authority and power over the demon who caused this interruption. In a stern voice Jesus told the demon to be quiet, and then He commanded the demon to come out of the man. The demon threw the man down and then came out of him. The people who saw this were amazed, and the news about Jesus spread through the surrounding area.
Then Jesus left the synagogue and went to Peter’s house. Peter’s mother-in-law was sick. She had a high fever, and those in the house asked Jesus to help her. He went to her, rebuked the fever, took her hand, and helped her up. The fever left, and she got up and began waiting on the people in her home.
Since it was the Sabbath, it was unlawful to heal on the Sabbath according to the rules of the Pharisees. People waited until sunset when the Sabbath was over. Then they brought all who were sick with various illnesses. He laid His hands on each one and healed them. There was also a number of people there who were demon-possessed. Jesus drove out the demons, but He wouldn’t allow them to speak. They knew who He was, and He didn’t want their recognition. Mark tells us that the whole town was gathered at the door. This must have been a very tiring day for Jesus, but He had compassion on the crowd and ministered to them.
Did Jesus sleep late the next morning? Did He take the day off and rest? No, the next day He got up before sunrise, went to a solitary place, and prayed. He needed the refreshing power that came from being with His Father.
In our world of noise and busyness, it is often hard to find a quiet time and place. But Jesus made prayer a priority in His life. He made certain He took the time to talk to His Father, and He did it before the pressures of the day moved in. The battles of the Christian life are fought and won in prayer before they are ever fought in everyday life. How should we handle a tough day? Get alone with God and allow Him to infuse us with His peace and power. We might make a slogan that says, “Start your day the Jesus way!”
People were looking for Jesus that morning. When they found Him, they wanted Him to stay with them. But He told them that He needed to preach the good news about God’s kingdom in other towns as well. That was why He had been sent. And so He moved around, preaching in different synagogues in Judea.
Wiersbe, “Jesus did not permit popular acclaim to change His priorities.” People followed Jesus for His healing and other miracles, but Jesus was careful to teach people as well as heal. He knew that His words were more important than His works.
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