Jesus Heals Many

How many of you understand that punctuation is important in the English language? It is important to know when to use and not to use the common and a period.

For instance, if I was to say, “Let’s eat, Grandpa.”

Let’s east, Grandpa.

This comma is a matter of life or death for Grandpa, right? Here it is with no comma.

Let’s eat Grandpa.

In the text that I am about to read to you, Jesus replaces the comma for a period. Look at verse 16 again.

Luke 4:16–19 NIV

16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

The text that Jesus is reading from is Isaiah 61 and it has a common after favor and continues on.

Isaiah 61:1–3 NIV

1 The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, 2 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, 3 and provide for those who grieve in Zion— to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor.

But Jesus ends at favor with a period and closes the scroll and ends the reading there. And He sits down and look at verse 21.

Luke 4:21 NIV

21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”

Jesus places a period here because He would come twice. He was coming to fulfill this first part. Later He would come to fulfill the second part of Isaiah 61.

When Isaiah wrote this he didn’t know for how long that the Messiah would come. He didn’t know if it would be fulfilled all at once or more than one time. All He knows is that God is giving him this message and he is writing what God is saying. So, when Jesus comes and quotes this passage, He stops at Lord’s favor and ends the sentence with a period because this is the time that He is fulfilling. The rest of Isaiah 61 will be fulfilled when Jesus comes again.

Jews believed that the Messiah was coming. The comma that Isaiah added has lasted for 2000 years. We need to be thankful for the comma. It is in this time of the comma that Jesus spoke words of grace. The Jews were expecting the words after the comma in Isaiah to be fulfilled when the Messiah came. But Jesus proclaims, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” Jesus was telling the Jews that He is going to open up grace to the entire world. We need to be thankful for the comma. Our salvation occurs in the comma. One day the comma will end and there will be a period and that is when Jesus will come and bring judgment and God will pour out His wrath. So, today we thank God for the comma and the grace that He shows us.

So then Jesus preaches a message that makes the people angry. Look at verse 28.

Luke 4:28–30 NIV

28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.

So, Jesus leaves Nazareth, His home town where the people didn’t want Him and He goes to Capernaum. It is another city in the area of Galilee. Capernaum is where Jesus will set up His headquarters for His ministry. Look at verse 31.

Luke 4:31–37 NIV

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. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, 34 “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 35 “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him!” Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” 37 And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area.

So do you notice where Jesus is? He is in a synagogue in Capernaum. He was just in Nazareth in the synagogue where they were trying to kill Him and now He was back in a synagogue the next Sabbath and teaching again.

Do you notice here that Jesus isn’t sitting out of church? He didn’t get mad and say I’m never going back to synagogue because those people didn’t like me. Isn’t that what some people do today. We get mad and get our feelings hurt and we stop going to church. We should all look at Jesus example and know that we don’t go to church to please everyone else. We go to church to please the father.

So, here He is in church teaching and this demon possessed man is in the synagogue. The demon knows who Jesus is and he starts telling everyone who Jesus is. And Jesus tells the man to be quiet and come out of the man. The demon left him and the people were amazed.

Why do you think Jesus told the demon to be quiet? The demon was speaking the truth about Jesus, but why did he tell it to be quiet?

Jesus didn’t want the testimony of a demon. Demons are from Satan. Satan is the father of lies. If you believe the demon for what he says when it is true you will begin to believe it when it is not true. So, that is why Jesus told the demon to be quiet because He didn’t want anything to come out of his mouth that might lead others astray.

Verse 38.

Luke 4:38–39 NIV

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.

Notice that Luke the physician is descriptive with the fever. Other Gospels just say fever but Luke being the physician he was tells us it was a high fever. We don’t think much about fevers today. We understand them more now than they did back then. A high fever used to be considered a disease.

Also, notice what she does right after she is healed. She gets up and serves. The best way that you can show Jesus you love Him is to serve Him after He has blessed you.

Luke 4:40–44 NIV

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.

Notice that they had to wait till sunset, because it was the Sabbath. Sabbath was Friday evening to Saturday evening. You weren’t allowed to bring the sick to Him until after the Sabbath or sundown was over.

Also, do you notice that the people of Capernaum want Jesus to stay with them. The people of Nazareth were running Him off, the people of Capernaum were wanting Him to stay. But Jesus tells them in verse 43…

Luke 4:43 NIV

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.”

He didn’t say I have to heal other people in other towns. He says I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns. It’s not the miracles that were important, but it was the message that Jesus was proclaiming. The miracles would come, but it was the message that is important. We have to get the good message of Jesus out to the world. Jesus has come to save the lost.

Luke 5:1–5 NIV

1 One day as Jesus was standing by the Lake of Gennesaret, the people were crowding around him and listening to the word of God. 2 He saw at the water’s edge two boats, left there by the fishermen, who were washing their nets. 3 He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” 5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

I want you to imagine this scene if you would. A crowd has gathered around Jesus and they are hanging to every word that He is saying. I imagine that the crowd is growing and in order for Jesus to be able to speak to all the crowd He gets into a boat and asks to be taken out into the lake so that He could project more. And it is Peter’s boat. I believe that Jesus chose Peter’s boat because it was a message that He wanted Peter to hear.

Then when Jesus finished He tells Peter…

Luke 5:4 NIV

4 When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.”

Peter is kind of frustrated but he does what Jesus says. Peter says…

Luke 5:5 NIV

5 Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.”

So, here is why this is interesting. In Galilee the best fishing is at night. During the day, all the fish go to the deepest part because it is hot in Galilee. They didn’t have methods of fishing deep back then so they would go out at night when the fish would come to the top. Peter has fished all night and they haven’t caught anything. So, what he is telling Jesus is we have fished all night at the best time of the day and we didn’t catch anything and you are asking us to go at the worst time of the day. But because you have asked me to go I will go.

There will be times that God will ask you to do something that doesn’t make any since. In your natural mind you won’t understand it. But in your supernatural mind it makes perfect since. We need to start thinking on a supernatural level and believe that God can do anything. So, Peter does what Jesus tells him to do and look at what happens.

Luke 5:6–11 NIV

6 When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. 7 So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. 8 When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” 9 For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, 10 and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.” 11 So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him.

Peter’s story is an interesting story. Up to this point all Peter knew was the Lake at Galilee. Peter is about to start a journey with Jesus that will change his life forever. For three years Peter will follow Jesus and be instructed by Jesus and then on the day of Pentecost, Peter will preach a message and 3000 people will be saved.

During this time, Jesus choosing His disciples was an unusual thing. The disciples were the ones that chose their Rabbi’s but Jesus chose His and Jesus would ask them to leave behind everything to follow Him. If you became a disciple of a Rabbi, they still expected you to work your job to pay for your expenses. But the disciples would leave behind everything and follow Jesus wherever He would go.

If you have ever heard about the stages of discipleship you know they are…

1. I do it. 2. I do it, you watch. 3. I do it, you help. 4. You do it, I help. 5. You do it, I watch. 6. You do it.

And not only does He ask them to leave behind everything, but it was at the peak of this big catch. So, business was good at that moment. And they left it all behind and followed Him.

Luke 5:12–16 NIV

12 While Jesus was in one of the towns, a man came along who was covered with leprosy. When he saw Jesus, he fell with his face to the ground and begged him, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” 13 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” And immediately the leprosy left him. 14 Then Jesus ordered him, “Don’t tell anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 15 Yet the news about him spread all the more, so that crowds of people came to hear him and to be healed of their sicknesses. 16 But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.

Here the physician Luke is giving us more details about the leprosy than the other writers of the Gospels. He tells us that this man with leprosy is covered with leprosy meaning that he was probably in the later stages of leprosy.

In the bible, there are two different ways to handle leprosy. If a person is seen with leprosy, they are put in isolation for seven days, followed by an additional seven days if no change has occured. If there has been no change in the infection after 14 days, the person is considered to be clean. If there has been any change, the person is considered unclean until the infection disappears.

If a person is pronounced unclean, the diseased person must live alone outside the camp, wear torn clothes, keep his or her hair disheveled, cover his or her upper lip and cry out “unclean, unclean.”

So Jesus is walking by and this man with leprosy instead of crying out “unclean, unclean” he falls to the ground and begs Jesus, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” And Jesus heals this man with leprosy and not only does He heal him but Jesus touches this man that the jews have deemed unclean.

If you touched someone with leprosy it would make you unclean, but Jesus looks past all of that and He touches this make and makes Him clean. And then Jesus tells the man to follow protocol and go to the priest and offer the sacrifice for your cleansing that Moses commanded. And Jesus told the man to not tell anyone.

Why did Jesus tell this man to not tell anyone? Jesus didn’t want the people to be attracted to Him because of what He could do. They would go after the gift and not the giver. We seek after the gifts that Jesus have for us and we tend to neglect the giver. We need to seek after Jesus more and more. Also, Jesus probably did not want to attract the religious leaders before it was time.

I want to finish this morning with one more story. Verse 17.

Luke 5:17–26 NIV

17 One day Jesus was teaching, and Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there. They had come from every village of Galilee and from Judea and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with Jesus to heal the sick. 18 Some men came carrying a paralyzed man on a mat and tried to take him into the house to lay him before Jesus. 19 When they could not find a way to do this because of the crowd, they went up on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the tiles into the middle of the crowd, right in front of Jesus. 20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.” 21 The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?” 22 Jesus knew what they were thinking and asked, “Why are you thinking these things in your hearts? 23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? 24 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” So he said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.” 25 Immediately he stood up in front of them, took what he had been lying on and went home praising God. 26 Everyone was amazed and gave praise to God. They were filled with awe and said, “We have seen remarkable things today.”

So, what we know about his house is it is probably a Greco Roman house. The tiles that is mentioned is more from a higher echelon house. These four friends, we know it is four friends because the book of Mark tells us this. They bring their friend because they have heard that Jesus will be at this house. They want their friend to be healed. They know that if they can seek out Jesus then their friend can be healed. When they get to the house it is crowded. I imagine that it is full of people. They are coming out the doors. Probably standing at the widows just trying to listen to what Jesus was saying. They wanted their friends healing so bad that they climb to the roof and begin to start taking the roof apart so that they could get to Jesus.

Verse 20 says, “When Jesus saw their faith…” Not the man’s faith but the friends that had brought him to be healed, Jesus healed the man. And what Jesus said next begins to stir some controversy again. He said..

Luke 5:20 NIV

20 When Jesus saw their faith, he said, “Friend, your sins are forgiven.”

The Pharisees and the teachers of the law assume that Jesus is just a man. But Jesus is God so it was different. No one can forgive sins except God.

So, Jesus asks them a question…

Luke 5:23 NIV

23 Which is easier: to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’?

It is easier to say “Your sins are forgiven,” because you can’t see that. Get up and walk is harder because you will know if the man can walk or not. Both of these are impossible for man, but with God both are possible.

Jesus has forgiven us our sins.

This morning we are going to partake in communion. You should have received a cup with the bread wafer and juice when you arrived. If you don’t have one could you raise your hand and an usher will come by and bring you one.

As we are getting ready for communion, I want to play you a video by Brandon Lake called “Tear off the Roof.” There are some scenes from the series The Chosen. Take a look.

Play Video - Tear Off the Roof by Brandon Lake

This morning as you take communion I want you to remember to seek after Jesus. Don’t come seeking after a miracle, but come seeking the one who provides the miracle. Seek Jesus this morning.

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NIV

23 For I received from the Lord what I also passed on to you: The Lord Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, took bread, 24 and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, “This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.” 25 In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” 26 For whenever you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until he comes.