IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

In anticipation of several changes in the near future, we are suspending this blog indefinitely. We are working on publishing our first year-long devotional book and are also planning to redesign our website to include our blog posts. In the meantime, please join us on our other two blogs https://biblestudy-pjm.blogspot.com/ where we study the Bible verse by verse in our ping-pong discussion style and https://biblestudy-pjm.blogspot.com/ for Scripture memes and devotional posts. We will post Bible studies on Mondays and Fridays and devotionals on Wednesdays. Hope to see you there!!!!

LISTEN TO JESUS: MANY HEALED! DEMONS BANISHED! KINGDOM OF GOD DECLARED!

MANY HEALED!

DEMONS BANISHED!

KINGDOM OF GOD DECLARED!

Luke 4:38-44

Luke 4:38-39 And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon's house. And Simon's wife's mother was taken with a great fever; and they besought him for her. And he stood over her, and rebuked the fever; and it left her: and immediately she arose and ministered unto them.

Mark 1:29-31 And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Susie: After preaching mightily in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus went to Simon Peter’s house (note that his brother Andrew lives there as well) for a meal and may have been staying there while in town.

Susan: In the days of Jesus, extended family living in the same house was common. Andrew was not a loafer. In other words, this was not a case of “failure to launch.”  Andrew was in business with his brother Peter. Simon’s “mother-in-covenant-love” was extremely sick with a high fever, according to doctor Luke. The family entreated Jesus to heal her. He stood over her, placing her in His shadow as it were (Psalm 36:7), and rebuked the fever.

Susie: Not only did the fever leave her, but she felt well enough to immediately get up and begin waiting on her guests!

Luke 4:40 Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.

Mark 1:32-34 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

Susie: For the Jewish people, sunset was the beginning of a new day. The people arrived after sunset as that signaled the end of the Sabbath; and they were no longer limited by the restrictions on traveling certain distances on the Sabbath.

Susan: Many people came to Jesus bringing all their sick relatives and friends; and they had a good old-fashioned healing party hosted by Jesus Himself in Simon Peter’s house.

Susie: That sounds a great deal more fun than a housewares, jewelry, or makeup party!

Susan: Jesus healed them by the laying on of hands.

Luke 4:41 And devils also came out of many, crying out, and saying, Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.

Susie: Among the sick, there were some who harbored evil spirits, demons, which Jesus cast out. They were screaming that He was the Christ (Messiah), the Son of God.

Susan: Jesus silenced the demons because He had the authority to do so, and it was not the appointed time for His divine identity to be completely revealed.

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·     Note that there were no “red-letter” words in this passage. However, Jesus spoke to Peter’s mother-in-law, rebuked illness, and rebuked demons. We do not know His exact words, but we know they were spoken with authority.

·     Jesus still has authority over sickness and demons. We can trust Him with whatever is going on with our lives. He cares and has the authority to work on our behalf.

LISTEN TO JESUS: AMAZING AUTHORITY DISPLAYED

AMAZING AUTHORITY DISPLAYED

Luke 4:32-37

Luke 4:32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power.

Susie: Mark’s gospel (below) tells us Jesus was teaching back in Capernaum, the hometown of Peter, Andrew, James, and John. The people were surprised by His teaching because of its power. Most rabbis quoted other, more prominent rabbis to validate their teaching. Jesus had no need to do that because His authority came directly from God.

Mark 1:21-22 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

Luke 4:33 And in the synagogue, there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God.

Mark 1:23-24 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.

Susie: A demon-possessed man entered the synagogue where Jesus was teaching.

Susan: The demons inside the man not only recognized Jesus as the acclaimed teacher from Nazareth, but as the Messiah, the Son of the Living God, the One who has all authority and power.

Susie: Since the demons knew who Jesus was, it was logical for them to think Jesus might have come to destroy them completely.

Luke 4:35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not.

Mark 1:25-26 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.

Susan: Jesus silenced the demon because the appointed time for Jesus’s complete identity to be revealed had not yet come.

Susie: Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man. The demon threw the man into the crowd but did not physically harm him.

Luke 4:36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

Mark 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.

Luke 4:36 (CJB) They were all astounded and said to one another, “What kind of teaching is this? Why, he gives orders with power and authority to the unclean spirits, and they come out!”

Susan: The people were not only awestricken by Jesus’s teaching, but they were amazed the demons had to be obedient to what He commanded.

Susie: They had never seen anyone like Him because there had never been anyone like Him before! Jesus is the one and only begotten Son of God.

Luke 4:37 And the fame of him went out into every place of the country round about.

Mark 1:28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.

Susan: Jesus’s reputation of eloquence and miraculous power was spread excitedly throughout the region of Galilee.

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·         The name Jesus became a household word without benefit of radio, TV, or social media! We have access to all of those things. How effectively are we spreading the gospel with the resources God has given us?

·         We can still use the old-fashioned word-of-mouth method as well. Have you shared the Good News with a friend or acquaintance lately?

LISTEN TO JESUS: CONGREGATION'S REACTION TO JESUS'S DECLARATION

LUKE 4:22-31

CONGREGATION’S REACTION

TO JESUS’S DECLARATION

Luke 4:22 And all bare him witness, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth. And they said, Is not this Joseph's son?

Susie: How did the congregation react after Jesus read a messianic passage from Isaiah 61:1-2 and declared that it had been fulfilled while they were listening?

Susan: At first, they marveled at the eloquence of Jesus’ speech. However, then they asked themselves, “Isn’t this the village carpenter’s son? Isn’t Joseph His father?”

Luke 4:23 And he said unto them, Ye will surely say unto me this proverb, Physician, heal thyself: whatsoever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in thy country.

Susie: Jesus realized their hesitation to accept that what He had just claimed could be true of a humble carpenter’s son. He prophesied that they would eventually say, as the mockers did at the cross:

Matthew 27:42 He saved others; himself he cannot save. If he be the King of Israel, let him now come down from the cross, and we will believe him.

Susan: Jesus knew they would soon demand that He authenticate Himself by performing miracles in Nazareth like the ones He did in Capernaum.

Luke 4:24 And he said, Verily I say unto you, No prophet is accepted in his own country.

Susie: Many of the Old Testament prophets were persecuted by their own people. Jeremiah, for example, was beaten, imprisoned, and thrown into a well. As we will see, Jesus was treated badly in His home-town of Nazareth.

Luke 4:25-27 But I tell you of a truth, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elias (Elijah), when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, when great famine was throughout all the land; But unto none of them was Elias sent, save unto Sarepta, a city of Sidon, unto a woman that was a widow.

Susie: The point Jesus was making here was that Elijah was not accepted by the Jewish people who were in a time of rebellion against God and were worshipping Baal. Therefore, God sent him to minister to a Gentile widow (1 Kings 17:8-16).

Luke 4:27 And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Eliseus (Elisha) the prophet; and none of them was cleansed, saving Naaman the Syrian.

Susan: Naaman’s Jewish servant girl told him there was a prophet in Israel who could heal him. Again, God had Elisha heal a Gentile of leprosy rather than a Jewish leper (2 Kings 5) because of the unbelief of the Jews as a nation in his day.

Luke 4:28 And all they in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath,

The MacArthur Study Bible note:

4:28 filled with wrath. This is Luke’s first mention of hostile opposition to Christ’s ministry. What seems to have sparked the Nazarenes’ fury was Christ’s suggestion that divine grace might be withheld from them yet extended to Gentiles.

Susie: Because of their lack of belief in Jesus as Messiah, He would not do many miracles in His hometown. The implication that He would be more apt to perform healing for Gentiles than for the Jewish people He spoke to in the synagogue really got under their skin.

Susan: In the minds of these Jewish people of Nazareth, all Gentiles were infidels, pagans, worshipping other gods instead of the one true God. How dare the carpenter’s son think they were less worthy than the people of Capernaum, and certainly than Gentiles.

Luke 4:29 And rose up, and thrust him out of the city, and led him unto the brow of the hill whereon their city was built, that they might cast him down headlong.

Susan: The people who previously had “wondered at His gracious words,” now tried to hurl Jesus off a cliff to kill Him. But check it out, He became the invisible man!

Luke 4:30 But he passing through the midst of them went his way,

Susie: This was not the only time Jesus was able to simply walk away from a murderous group seemingly unnoticed. As Susan and I saw when studying the Gospel of John, the Lord protected Jesus until the moment the Father had predetermined for Him to be the final Passover Lamb sacrificed on the cross.

John 7:28-30 Then cried Jesus in the temple as he taught, saying, Ye both know me, and ye know whence I am: and I am not come of myself, but he that sent me is true, whom ye know not. But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me. Then they sought to take him: but no man laid hands on him, because his hour was not yet come.

John 8:59 Then took they up stones to cast at him: but Jesus hid himself, and went out of the temple, going through the midst of them, and so passed by.

John 10:39 Therefore they sought again to take him: but he escaped out of their hand

Luke 4:31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days.

Susan: After Jesus walked right through the crowd undetected, He left the town He grew up in and resumed His teaching ministry on sabbath days in Capernaum by the Sea of Galilee. I think the people of Nazareth were left scratching their heads when He disappeared!

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·      Note that Jesus did not do many miracles in Nazareth because of their unbelief. When we pray about something, we must pray in faith.

·      See also James 1:5-7

LISTEN TO JESUS: FULFILLED THIS DAY

LISTEN TO JESUS

FULFILLED THIS DAY

Luke 4:16 And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up: and, as his custom was, he went into the synagogue on the sabbath day, and stood up for to read.

Susie: Jesus entered His home-town synagogue on the sabbath day and stood up to read from the scroll of the scriptures. Don’t miss the fact that it was His “custom” to be in a place of worship on the sabbath.

Susan: This should be a reminder to us of the need to gather together with other believers to worship and learn about God. We must not let Pastor Pillow and Sister Sheets win on Sunday mornings. LOL

Hebrews 10:25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Luke 4:17 And there was delivered unto him the book of the prophet Esaias (Isaiah). And when he had opened the book, he found the place where it was written,

Susie: I was wondering whether Jesus had specifically asked for this scroll or if was just the reading for that week. Therefore, we looked at the notes in one of our favorite resources when dealing with the Jewish background of the Bible:

The Complete Jewish Study Bible:

Note on Luke 4:16-17 – The custom in the synagogue now is to read through the Torah in a year. Another regular reading on Shabbat is called the haftarah (conclusion) consisting of portions from the Prophets or Writings related to the Torah portion of the week. It seems clear that if Yeshua (Jesus) was given the scroll of the prophet Isaiah, then He was being offered the haftarah reading, which is an honor given to a special guest.

Susie: The portion Jesus was given to read was Isaiah 61:1-2. He only read the first half of verse 2 because the second half relates to His future second coming to earth and was not applicable at the time.

Luke 4:18-19 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.

Susie: Some viewed this portion of Isaiah as applying to the prophet himself, but others see it as something that could only be accomplished by God, i.e. the Messiah.

Susan: The Spirit—the anointing, power, the impassioned purpose—of the Lord was upon Him. The passage lists six pillars of this prophesied purpose:

1.       To preach the gospel to the poor—perhaps related to the “poor in spirit” of the Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3)

2.       Heal the broken hearted—“them that mourn” (Matthew 5:4)

3.       Deliverance to the captives—those “oppressed” by Satan (Acts 10:38)

4.       Restore sight to the blind (John 9), and, also, those in dimly lit dungeons would now see the light of day

5.       To free the bruised or crushed—those suffering oppression—physically, mentally, and spiritually

6.       To preach the acceptable year of the Lord—the day of salvation (Isaiah 49:8) which was the primary reason the Son of God was incarnated as the God-Man.

Luke 4:20 And he closed the book, and he gave it again to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all them that were in the synagogue were fastened on him.

Susan: As Jesus sat down to teach, the people were hanging on His every word because of the authority with which He preached everywhere He went.

Susie: However, Jesus’s home-town peeps were not prepared for what was about to come out of His mouth!

Luke 4:21 And he began to say unto them, This day is this scripture fulfilled in your ears.

Susan: This was clearly a declaration that He was the long-awaited Messiah of the Jews.

Susie: I’m pretty sure this was not the sermon they thought they were going to hear that morning!

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·         Jesus was in the habit or custom of going to synagogue on the Sabbath. Do you believe we should see this as an example for us to follow regarding church attendance?

·         Rather than teach on the passage He had read, Jesus made a seemingly simple statement. What was it, and why would it create a stir? Have you trusted in the truth that Jesus was the Son of God and is able to do the six things stated in the Isaiah passage that He read?

LISTEN TO JESUS: YOUR BOY'S ALIVE!

LISTEN TO JESUS

YOUR BOY’S ALIVE!

John 4:43-45 Now after two days he departed thence, and went into Galilee. For Jesus himself testified, that a prophet hath no honour in his own country. Then when he was come into Galilee, the Galilaeans received him, having seen all the things that he did at Jerusalem at the feast: for they also went unto the feast.

Reformation Study Bible:

4:44 no honor in his own hometown. “His own hometown” is probably Galilee rather than Judea (cf. v. 3). Galilee is considered to be the place of Jesus’ origin in this Gospel (1:46; 2:1; 7:42, 52). Though the Galileans “welcomed him” (v. 45), the text indicates that Jesus was displeased with their need to “see signs and wonders” in order to believe

Susan: Jesus had said that a prophet is of no consequential worth or value among his own people and family. 

Mark 6:4 Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own town, among his relatives and in his own home.”

Susie: The little kid that ran around Joseph’s carpenter shop surely could not be an important prophet!

Susan: And certainly not the Messiah due their honor, respect, and worship. 

Susie: Belief in Him as prophet or Christ did not bring the crowds out to see Him. What they wanted to see miraculous signs. 

Susan: All they wanted from Him was a “magic show”. . .

Susie: . . . and the physical healing He might give. 

Susan: Their motives for coming out to hear him were not those of sincere worshippers but adrenaline junkies. 

Susie: They did not come out of belief to sit at His feet to seek truth but as skeptics who needed to see signs . . . 

Susan: . . . or to find reasons to refute His authenticity.

John 4:46-47 So Jesus came again into Cana of Galilee, where he made the water wine. And there was a certain nobleman, whose son was sick at Capernaum. When he heard that Jesus was come out of Judaea into Galilee, he went unto him, and besought him that he would come down, and heal his son: for he was at the point of death.

Susan: Jesus returned to Cana where He manifested His first miraculous sign of turning water into wine at a wedding. 

Susie: An official in the service of King Herod Antipas traveled the sixteen miles from Capernaum to Cana to beg Jesus to heal his son who was near death at home.

John 4:48 Then said Jesus unto him, Except ye see signs and wonders, ye will not believe.

Susie: Rather than praising the man’s faith, Jesus accuses the man of unbelief. 

Susan: He is exceedingly put out that people needed to see a “dog and pony show” in order to believe. It is almost as if Jesus is a puppet and they are wanting to pull the strings and see Him perform before they will believe. It shows the arrogance of the people coming and makes me wonder why they came in the first place. I suspect only out of curiosity.

Susie: Jesus’ response to the desperate father may seem harsh, but as we have seen before, Jesus knows the inmost thoughts of men. Also, the “you” in this case is plural so He was addressing not only the father . . .

Susan: . . . but the group of Galileans as a whole.

John 4:49 The nobleman saith unto him, Sir, come down ere my child die.

Susie: The man does not argue or deny what Jesus has said about the lack of belief and demanding a sign but just pleads again for Jesus to come with him to Capernaum to heal his son. 

Susan: Jesus knows the hearts of men and sees the desperation and helplessness of the concerned father.

John 4:50 Jesus saith unto him, Go thy way; thy son liveth. And the man believed the word that Jesus had spoken unto him, and he went his way.

Susie: Jesus was not merely prophesying that the child would live. 

Susan: He was pronouncing life and healing over the child in that exact moment. In His compassionate mercy, He healed the man’s son.  In stark contrast to the arrogant, narcissistic crowd, the Lord Jesus displayed lovingkindness toward the father’s situation concerning his son. 

Susie: The man believed what Jesus said even though he had no proof that his son was healed. 

Susan: He accepted Jesus’ authoritative declaration as fact. 

Susie: He headed back home to Capernaum confident of his son’s recovery.

John 4:51-53 And as he was now going down, his servants met him, and told him, saying, Thy son liveth. Then enquired he of them the hour when he began to amend. And they said unto him, Yesterday at the seventh hour the fever left him. So the father knew that it was at the same hour, in the which Jesus said unto him, Thy son liveth: and himself believed, and his whole house.

Susie: On his way back home to Capernaum, the father was met by some of his servants. 

Susan: This good news patrol tells the father his son is healed. 

Susie: He asked the servants when his son began to get well. When they answer him, he realizes . . .  

Susan: . . . that at the precise moment Jesus had pronounced him whole, he began to get better. 

Susie: If the man had harbored any doubt about Jesus before, this has removed it totally from his mind.

Susan: This miracle changes the dynamic of the entire household from unbelief to complete trust. 

Susie: I am sure the father explained to his wife, other family members, and his servants what had transpired in Cana. 

Susan: They all witnessed the rest of the story.

John 4:54 This is again the second miracle that Jesus did, when he was come out of Judaea into Galilee.

Susie: John writes of eight “signs” Jesus performed demonstrating that He was the Son of God. Changing the water into wine was the first and healing the official’s son without even being present was the second. Keep watching for six more.

Ways we can apply this to our lives:

·     We have the benefit of reading the gospels and knowing all the miraculous things Jesus did when He walked among men. However, many times we still crave a “sign.” Note that Jesus rebuked this attitude.

·     Are you seeking the signs, miracles, and wonders and Jesus as a cosmic Santa Claus or are you seeking the Almighty, Holy Son of God? 

·     Is your belief in the Lord dependent upon His meeting some demand? Or have you placed your complete trust in God’s plan rather than your own?