A Busy Day in the Life of Christ
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
1. Healed to help. When Simon's wife's mother was healed of the fever by the touch of the Divine Lord, we read, "Immediately she arose and ministered unto them." This was, as it should have been; and it was, as it should always be. We are saved to serve, and we are healed to serve. Blessings, which come to us from the hand of our Divine Lord, are not given to be stored, but to be multiplied by their use. If we take from God His good things, but refuse to give back unto Him the praise of our lips, and the labor of our hands, we are wholly unworthy recipients of grace.
The mercies of God call us to present our bodies a living sacrifice a reasonable service. When God gives unto us physical strength, that strength should not be wasted in riotous living; but it should be spent in His service. Talents, which are received from Heaven, are not given to be rolled in a napkin.
2. Demons conceding the Deity of Christ. In verse forty-one, we read that the devils also came out of many, crying out and saying; "Thou art Christ the Son of God." They knew that Jesus was the Christ. James, in corroboration, says, "The devils also believe, and tremble." The demons in the days that followed Christ's ascension said, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"
We are living" in a day of many denials. The Virgin Birth of Christ is denied; His Deity is denied; His Vicarious Suffering is denied; His Bodily Resurrection is denied; His Exaltation to the Father's right hand is denied; His personal, visible, corporeal Second Coming is denied; His Reign on David's throne is denied. How strange, that mid the denials of men, we have the affirming voice of demons conceding that Christ is the Son of God.
Men did not know that Jesus was the Christ, but the demons did. Men did not know that Jesus came forth from the Father to undo the works of the devil, but the demons knew it. They even cried; "Art Thou come hither to torment us before the time?"
Men did not know that Jesus was God's anointed, who was to reign on David's throne; but the demons knew and conceded that He was the Christ.
Let those who doubt the Lord cover their faces with shame.
3. Pressed by Prayer. This study presents many angles which our brief exposition cannot touch. We would not, however, fail to mention the fact that as the fame of Christ went abroad more and more, and as great multitudes came to hear Him and to be healed by Him; He withdrew Himself into the wilderness and prayed.
How easy it is for us to allow the cares of ministering, and of doing good, to draw us away from the place of prayer. If we prayed more, we might have less time to serve, but we certainly would serve far more effectively and acceptably.
It does us good to see James and John on the very eve of Pentecost going up to pray, at the hour of prayer. It does us good to watch the way prayer held a vital place and a prominent part in the ministry of the early Church. They prayed often, and they prayed sometimes all the night. They continued in prayer. Some of them, like Epaphras, labored in prayer.
I. CHRIST'S EARLY POPULARITY (Luke 4:37)
Our verse tells us of how the fame of Christ went out into every place of the country round about. That Christ was extremely popular, we know.
1. Christ was popular by reason of His benefactions. The crowds followed the Lord because they ate of His loaves and fishes, and were healed by Him.
We fear lest there is still in the air that same motive in the so-called religion of some. They unite with the popular church. They seek membership where it will enhance their social standing. They look to the church that will further their business interests.
Those who follow the Lord from such unholy causes will early fall by the wayside. When persecution arises they will cease in their loyalty. The truth is that Christ is still "despised and rejected of men"; He is still the One crucified. He who came into the world, was not known of the world; nor does the world know Him now.
2. Christ knew what was in men, and would not commit Himself unto them. There was a time when it seemed that all men were ready to crown Him King. They pressed upon Him with words of praise and with plaudits of power. However, the Lord knew the shallowness of their flatteries.
We look upon the outward appearance; God looks upon the heart. We fail to see under the glitter of outside praise. He looks at the motive that lies behind the loud acclaim.
3. Christ was slain by those who, at the first, followed with Him. Judas was not the only one who turned from friend to foe. Many there were who had at the first followed with Him, and who ate of His loaves and fishes, who joined the rabble in the day of Christ's crucifixion, crying out, "Away with Him, away with Him!"
II. SEEKING THE SHELTER OF SIMON'S HOME (Luke 4:38)
1. There were certain homes where Jesus loved to enter. We remember how He delighted to rest in the home of Martha and of Mary, and Lazarus. Thus He also came to Simon's home.
We stop only to ask, Does the Lord Jesus delight in making your house His home? Is there at your house that spiritual atmosphere which would make Him feel welcomed and at ease?
2. Christ in the home assures peace and blessing. Christ in Peter's home meant restoration to Peter's wife's mother. Christ in Mary's home meant marvelous instruction, and finally Lazarus' being raised from the dead.
When the Ark of God was taken to the home of Obed-edom, all that belonged to Obed-edom was blessed. When once the Master-of-the-house comes into your home all will likewise be blessed.
3. Christ in the heart will assure blessing. Perhaps you live in a home where Christ is not a welcomed Guest. This need in no sense deter you from having Him as the Guest of your heart. If you ask Him, and open the door, He will come in and sup with you, and you with Him. He will come in and with Him will come love, and joy, and peace, and all the tender graces which make the life beautiful and attractive.
III. THE GREAT PHYSICIAN (Luke 4:39-40)
The Lord healed Peter's wife's mother. Then, there were brought to Him all who were sick of divers diseases, and He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them.
1. Christ's healing power was over all diseases and to all kinds of people. There was no giving of tickets for audience; no waiting for "instructions"; no failures in any of these cases. All who came, no matter what was their disease or condition, were healed.
To say that Christ cannot heal in this same fashion today would be to doubt that He is God. To say that He does now heal all, is another thing. As we understand the "healing" ministry of Christ, now, it is His will to heal with effectiveness, those who "faith" Him.
2. Christ's healing, at least in the case of Peter's mother-in-law, was followed by serving. We read; "Immediately she arose and ministered unto them." This certainly is ideal, and should always be the resultant in every case of healing. We who are healed by Him should serve. So also, we who are saved by Him should serve.
"Saved to serve" is not more true than "healed to serve." The truth is that each and every blessing from the Lord is given to be employed. Let us count our benefactions as factors in. the Lord's service.
3. Christ's healing of old anticipates His healing when He comes as the Messiah. Psalms 103:1-22 is the climax of Psalms 102:1-28; Psalms 102:1-28 closes with those memorable words, which are quoted in Hebrews 1:1-14, where Christ is brought the second time into the inhabited earth. It is then that Psalms 103:1-22 proclaims Christ as the One who "healeth all thy diseases." When the Lord sits as King-priest on David's throne, then, as in our text, will He heal all; and the inhabitants of the land will no longer say, "I am sick."
IV. CHRIST'S SUPREMACY OVER DEMONS (Luke 4:41)
1. An unlooked for confession. It seems strange, at first thought, that demons, who are under the power and dominion of Satan, should so firmly express that Christ was Lord. Yet here are their very words, "Thou art Christ the Son of God."
Among men there may be some who refuse to acclaim Christ's Deity; but demons know that He is the Christ.
In the days of Paul the Apostle, certain demons cried, "Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are ye?"
2. An open cry of fear. As the demons confessed the Lord as Son of God, they fled from before Him. They knew He was Christ; but they saw in Him only their certain undoing. They shrank from before Him; they cringed under the presence of His rebuke.
The day is coming when the ungodly will follow in the wake of these demons. Even now the world of sinful men are beginning to possess a certain heart-failure, as they anticipate the Coming of the Lord.
V. SEEKING SOLACE FOR PRAYER (Luke 4:42, l.c.)
1. With a busy day passed, Jesus sought the quietness of the desert. The Lord had spent one of His busiest days a day filled with teaching and healing. Even unto a late hour the people had thronged Him. Most of us, with weariness of body would have sought rest in sleep; but Christ sought His Father's face. He withdrew from the crowd.
It was not merely once; it was often that our Lord sought the desert, or some mountain side, where He might be alone with God. It was not once, but often, that He spent the whole night in prayer.
2. The transforming power of "a while with God." Have we ever weighed the blessings of waiting upon the Lord? Have we ever discovered the fruits of tarrying with the Lord?
It was on the mountain top, in communion with the Father, that the face of the Master became lighted up with dazzling glory. The Spirit of God will easily accomplish His purpose to transform us from glory to glory into the image of our Lord, if we will take time to ascend into the clear atmosphere of the mountain-top experience, where, with unveiled face we may behold His glory.
VI. SINNERS SEEKING THE SAVIOUR (Luke 4:42, l.c.)
No sooner had the Lord sought repose and quiet from the surging crowds, than the people began to seek His face. They had no thought of the Master's need of rest and prayer; they were concerned solely with their own need. Passing up this seeming lack of considerateness on the part of the people, let us learn some lessons from their quest.
1. We need a determined purpose in the seeking of the Lord. There are some who are too easily hindered in their quest for salvation. The least hindrance will put a damper to their search.
We need to remember the words of Scripture: "Ye shall * * find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart." To the halfhearted there is no assurance of success. We shall reap, who faint not. Some run well for a season, who doth hinder them?
2. We need to seek till we find. The Lord is the Good Shepherd who sought for us till He found us. Shall we not seek for Him? When a seeking sinner joins in the quest with the seeking Saviour, it cannot be long until the happy meeting place is found.
Today the rule is an altogether one-sided search. Christ is seeking the lost, but the lost are not seeking Christ.
VII. CHRIST'S MISSIONARY URGE (Luke 4:43-44)
Whenever the Lord Jesus used the word, "must," we know that He was moved by a strong urge. He said in our verse, "I must preach the Kingdom of God in other cities also: for therefore am I sent." Let us examine these words.
1. The supremacy of preaching. Mark Christ's words: He did not say, "I must heal," but "I must preach." The people were, no doubt, placing the emphasis upon the healing; Christ placed it on the preaching. The people came bringing the sick, and He healed them all; the next day they brought more sick, but He said, I must preach; I must preach in the next towns also.
Mark this well. Healing has its place, but it must not have the first place; it must not carry the emphasis.
2. The yearning for the next towns. There are some who would center all of their ministry on one locality. This is utterly wrong. Our commission is to the "uttermost part." We may begin at Jerusalem, or at any other city or towns; but we must not end there.
Christ was an itinerary preacher. Paul's missionary journeys stand before us in the lime-light. It may be all right for a church to have a local pastor, but the church dare not have a localized ministry. The church must reach out to other towns also. A missionary church will be a growing, God-blessed church. An anti-missionary church will be a dwindling, dying church.
3. The obedience of Christ. Christ said of His desire to go into the next towns, "Therefore am I sent." Beloved, we need to obey instructions; we need to go where we are sent, and to preach what we are told to preach.
Christ "learned obedience," have we? He did the will of the Father, do we? He said; "I do always those things that please Him." He said; "I delight to do Thy will, O My God." May we follow in His steps.
AN ILLUSTRATION
Forty or more years ago the beloved pastor of the First Baptist Church of Belton, Texas, was preaching a missionary sermon. In the midst of his sermon he lifted his hands up to Heaven in prayer and asked God to lay His hands upon some of the young men and young women of his congregation, and send them far hence with the gospel message.
Extending his hands toward the audience as he ceased his prayer, he cried, "Who will go, oh, who will go?" Immediately one of the fairest of the Belton Female College girls stood to her feet and said, "Father, I will go."
At first the preacher, who was none other than the beloved Dr. J. H. Luther, said, "Oh. Lord, I didn't mean Annie"; but that was only the first word from his lips. He was, in fact, only too glad that his daughter Annie could go. She is still in South America, the wife of our brother, Dr. W. B. Bagby.
As this message comes to thousands of young people meeting in their various societies, we wish to renew the plea of the veteran Texas preacher, saying, "Who will go?" R. E. N.