oil on canvas
121.9×152.
Private Collection
© Agnew’s, London, UK
English, out of copyright
Jesus Heals Many People
38After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged. 39Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them.
40As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. 41Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak.
He healed their diseases, all of them. He freed them from demons, all of them. Everyone who came to him received something awesome. But Jesus had just left his hometown where Like doesn’t tell us about a single healing and Jesus cast out only 1 demon. What was the difference?
Well quite obviously, in Nazareth the majority of people didn’t believe in Jesus, and even rejected him. Here in Capernaum, it appears nearly everyone accepted Jesus and the results were amazing. So what does this mean for me and you? The crowds you are in, will make a huge difference in your life.
You can’t always control the “crowd” you are in. Sometimes we have to go places that we aren’t comfortable. But we can control who we spend the majority of our time with. We can also be sure to spend some of our time with amazing crowds. If you want to see Jesus do amazing things, be among people who believe Jesus is with them and doing amazing things. You’ll catch fire.
Think about this a lot and be very careful. Look at each person you spend a lot of time with and ask yourself, “If I became like this person would I be more or less like Jesus?” Look at the groups you are with and ask “Is Jesus in this group and is there enough faith here for him to do amazing things?” And if you don’t have people and groups like that in your life, you’re probably in a lot of trouble.
By now you may be asking, “If everyone spends their time in groups full of believers, how does the Word spread to those who need to hear it?” I think Jesus will answer that another day. Perhaps tomorrow.
Lord, show me the people and the crowds you want me to spend my time with. Help me to seek and find places where your Holy Spirit is doing miracles. And when I can’t be with those people and in those crowds, be with me and protect and guide me so I can be a little candle of your light to them.
Flicker on!
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