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Luke 4:38–41
“When the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, ‘You are the Son of God!’ But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ” (vv. 40–41).
Our Savior demonstrated His power and authority even over His enemies the demons when He ordered one to leave the man in the synagogue in Capernaum (Luke 4:31–37). Jesus’ sovereignty, however, is not limited to command over personal beings such as Satan and his devils. As we see in today’s passage, Jesus has authority even over disease.
Luke tells us about another work of deliverance that Jesus performed while He was in Capernaum—namely, His healing of Simon’s mother-in-law. The Simon mentioned in Luke 4:38 is better known as Simon Peter or simply as Peter, one of the leading disciples of Jesus. Peter was originally from Bethsaida (John 1:44), a small town not far from Capernaum, but as an adult he lived in Capernaum, for the healing of his mother-in-law took place in his house there. Note that the manner of Jesus’ healing of Peter’s mother-in-law was similar to His exorcism of the demon in the synagogue. All He had to do was rebuke the fever, and the woman was well (Luke 4:38–39).
Matthew Henry comments: “Christ had, and still has, a sovereign power over bodily diseases: He rebuked the fever, and with a word’s speaking commanded it away, and it left her. He saith to diseases, Go, and they go; Come, and they come; and can still rebuke fevers, even great fevers.” We should remember this when we face illness. Scripture commends the practice of medicine and the use of natural remedies (see 1 Tim. 5:23), yet we should also turn to the Lord in prayer in response to illness. God, of course, does not promise to heal every disease in an immediate supernatural manner that defies medical explanations, but He does still heal people according to His sovereign will. We should pray for the sick, even those who seem to be beyond all known cures, for the Lord may choose to heal them (James 5:14–15; 1 John 5:14–15).
Luke 4:40–41 summarizes the healing ministry of Jesus, noting that He ministered both to those who suffered from physical illness and to those who were possessed by demons. Often when Jesus exorcised demons, they would identify Him as the Son of God, but He would silence them because they knew that He was the Christ. The sense here seems to be that He kept them from speaking because He did not want it yet revealed to too many people that He was the Anointed King sent to deliver God’s people. It was not yet time for His full revelation as the Messiah to the whole world.
Coram Deo Living before the face of God
God does not promise to heal every disease, but this does not mean that He will not heal any of them. He is the great Healer, and He is sometimes pleased to provide unexpected deliverance from illnesses both serious and minor. Let us pray faithfully for those who are ill, knowing that God may use our prayers to restore sick people to health.
FOR FURTHER STUDY
- Deuteronomy 32:39
- Psalm 103:1–5
- Mark 1:29–34
- Acts 3:1–10
THE BIBLE IN A YEAR
- Numbers 21–22
- Mark 7:14–37