A Day in the Life of Jesus
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31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people. 32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.
37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.
38 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 At sunset, 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 Messiah.
42 At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. 43 But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” 44 And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.
Introduction
‘Are you as bored as I am,’ can be turned around to still have meaning, backwards as forwards. When I discovered that, I realised what a boring day I was having. I needed to give myself a shake. Our readings today give us a day in the life of Jesus and a day in the life of Paul, and it is far from boring but most instructive.
Let me set the scene - if you go to the Holy Land you will visit the ancient ruins of Capernaum. While in Galilee, Jesus made this fishing town his HQ, it was Peter's hometown. A good reason to make it his HQ. You can go there today and see the same walls of a first-century home, believed to be Peter's house and 40 metres from Peter's front door are the ruins of the synagogue. Visiting Capernaum today, you can picture Jesus and Peter waking up on the Sabbath, walking across the street with the rest of the disciples, and attending services, then back to Peter’s mother-in-law’s place after. The synagogue is a place Jesus taught regularly. This ‘day in the life of Jesus’ in Luke 4:38-44 is a Sabbath and Luke 4:31 says he went down to Capernaum where -
32 ‘They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.’
[1] This day in question begins with Jesus teaching in the synagogue. v37 says, ‘the news of him spread throughout the surrounding area.’ We pick it up at: Luke 4:38 which says ‘after leaving the synagogue…’!
Let me say something about that: notice Jesus didn’t linger in the synagogue. Yes it’s a place of teaching & prayer but it wasn’t just a talk shop. It was a safe place but not an idling place. It is easy to remain within the security and comfort of the church but the purpose of the teaching and prayer is not to passively enjoy the ambience like a spiritual thermometer. The Holy Spirit empowers us to send us out, out of our comfort zone, out to witness to and serve others through the love of Christ. That is a challenge to us. It is a bit like the difference between a Thermometer and Thermostat. One reads the temperature around it, the other alters the temperature around it – that should be us.
In the life of Jesus, Jesus is proactive, words into action; the question is are we a thermostat or a thermometer; is our Christian life balanced with bible reading, prayer and action – making a difference where we are.
[ 2] V38 says after leaving the synagogue they went to the house of Simon Peter where Simon’s mother-in-law is very ill. Luke 4:39 says, ‘he bent over her and rebuked the fever and it left her.’ Today we may think it’s strange to rebuke a fever (or any illness), strange to talk to a sickness but Jesus addressed the fever because he knew who was behind it (rebuked it and in so doing He rebuked our spiritual enemy). She got up (no fuss) and began to serve them.
Good news travels fast (v40) ‘As the sun set, people brought to Jesus all who were sick (Luke 4v40 says he ‘laid his hands on each, he healed them’). So the laying on hands was modelled by Jesus (many knock it today and some counterfeits eg Reiki, but it was modelled by Jesus and endorsed in the epistles and in the hands of Christians, it is still relevant & powerful today. Paul practised it in Acts 19:11, a hankie, and 28:8.
Sadly in Paul’s day in his life he was addressing quarrelling in the Church in Corinth which was holding them back in ministry. That is a warning for us – quarrelling can hold us back but the clear message is this, Jesus still works through his people by laying on of hands and rebuking sickness. If someone has a need, be bold; ask them if they would like prayer (or invite them to church for ministry).
Crucial here is the power in the word of Jesus and the power in the healing touch of Jesus. Our faith is not that Jesus will heal in a certain way (handkerchief, a celebrity healer (like John Wimber). Our faith is not in the process or style of ministry, our faith is in the risen Jesus Christ, in his touch, his word, his timing.
[3] The last thing we notice in this ‘day in the life of Jesus’ is Luke 4:42 ‘At daybreak Jesus went out to a solitary place.’ Ps 5v3 Lord, in the morning I will lay my requests to you.’ When our lives are busy and full we need to seek out a solitary place.’ What a lesson it is to us from this day in the life of Jesus – even the Son of God knew he must start the day with Heavenly Father to recharge spiritual batteries and empower to minister. Time in prayer and in reading the word.
If that was the pattern of Jesus how much more should it be our pattern to set aside time to be 1:1 with our Heavenly Father. After a morning @ Simons mother-in-law’s, then casting out demons and healing all who came to him ‘at sundown,’ the next morning ‘at daybreak he went out to a solitary place.’ Let me emphasise again the importance of finding the time, the place to pray in a solitary place. It’s not just about recharging; it’s about growing in faith/ministry, rebuking the evil one who would love to ruin your day with worry and stress.
Take time, find a place and make space in your everyday life to be with the Lord Jesus every day.
