The Authority and the Compassion

 Hey everyone.

In this post, we will wrap up Luke 4.  If you remember Jesus has just shown his authority and power in the synagogue, casting out a demon and commanding him to be quiet.  From the synagogue, Jesus goes to house where Simon's mother-in-law lives, where we see him showing more of this power and authoroty. 

Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a fever, and the text tells us that Jesus went to see about her.  We see Jesus’ compassion, checking in on someone who is ill.  It is impossible to know the depth of their relationship.  This is early in his ministry, and we don’t know how close Jesus and Peter have become at this point.  She may be little more than an acquaintance, a friend of a friend. 

Again, in the last section of scripture, we see that Jesus has authority over demons.  This time we Jesus exercising his authority over fevers: perhaps a virus or a bacteria, something unknown to medicine at the time.  Jesus has power over those things.  He rebukes the fever and it comes out of her.  She responds to the healing that she gets up and starts serving them.  No lingering effects of the fever.  She makes an immediate and full recovery.  

Luke uses the same word Ἐπετίμησεν (epetimasen), to describe Jesus treatment of the demon and the fever.  It translates as rebuke.  He rebuked demons and fevers. Word gets around about Jesus, and suddenly everyone in need of some kind of healing comes to the house and Jesus heals them. Jesus did nothing like this in Nazareth because they so completely rejected him. Luke specifically mentions that Jesus lays his hands on each one.  He takes the time to address each person and meet their needs. Demons continue to identify Jesus as the son of God, and Jesus continues to stop their testimony. He does not want it. In Jesus we see clearly a man of tremendous authority, but his authority is matched by his compassion.  He genuinely cares about people.  (Having all authority and great compassion is a terrific combination for a Savior.)

The next day, Jesus gets up early in the morning to go off to a secluded place . Mark mentions that Jesus goes off alone to pray. (Mark 1:35)  Luke omits that detail, simply stating that he went off to a secluded place.  Jesus seeks some time alone for his own walk with his Father.  We would do well to imitate this pattern of seclusion and prayer, walking with God.  Jesus does not get this alone time for very long, as the people diligently search for him.  When they do, they beg him to stay there with him, a stark contrast from his hometown.  He leaves them however, stating that he had been sent to preach the good news all over Judea. His words are, “It is necessary for me to proclaim the good news of the kingdom.” His kingdom is “good news." An awesome savior of authority and compassion wants eachof us to be a part of it, and that is indeed good news. 

Tom