Luke 4:38-44 — Secrets and Solitude

READ THIS: Luke 4:38-44

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.

WHAT’S THIS MEAN, ANYWAY?

Today's passage teaches us a lot about Jesus as well as His followers! In verses 38-39, Jesus visits one of his disciples, Simon, who we know a lot better as Peter! The first fun fact we learn here is that Peter was married! His mother-in-law, or his wife's mother, was incredibly ill, but Jesus heals her for them. Then, despite literally just being healed from a near-fatal illness, Peter's mother-in-law begins to take care of Jesus and the others like they were guests in her own home! 
 
This section shows us that Jesus cared deeply for the families of those He loved, not just His disciples. The disciples and others also model us how we should live! When we see someone in need, the best person we can point them to is Jesus, and when we experience Jesus working in amazing ways in our lives, the best way we can respond is by showing that same love to those around us like Peter's mother-in-law did!

But that's not the only thing we read today! Verses 40-44 show us two important parts of Jesus's character: His humility and His desire to spend time with God alone. Many times in the gospel stories, we will see that Jesus tells demons, and even people, not to proclaim that He is the Messiah until it is the right time. Lots of people, especially scholars, refer to this as the Messianic secret... it's as if Jesus was keeping the whole "Messiah" thing a secret for a while! Jesus didn't come into the world to make a big name for Himself, He came to love us and model love and faith for us!
 
We see this modeling of the faith through His time alone with God. Despite being perfect in every way, Jesus still needed times where He could get away and be alone. Often times, when we see Jesus alone, He spends it in prayer! If taking time for yourself and prayer aren't habits you've picked up yet, today could be a great day to start.

THINK ABOUT IT:

1. How can you share the love that Jesus has for you with those around you today?

2. Why do you think Jesus didn't start telling people He was the Messiah from day 1?

TRY THIS:

Think of a way that you can do either one OR both of these things today!

1) Spend some quiet time with God! And I'm not talking about the 5-8 minutes it took for you to read this... take at least 20-30 minutes today to be alone with Jesus.

2) Help someone in a way that no one notices but you and Jesus! Be creative!

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