Today’s Reading: Matthew 8:28-34, 12:38-45; Luke 4:38-44, 8:26-39, 11:24-32

After Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law, she got up and began to prepare a meal for him. Her immediate response was to serve Jesus. As a result of her healing, people started bringing their sick to Jesus and he healed them too, no matter what the sickness or disease. They came asking for Jesus’ healing touch and they were able to witness the power and authority of Christ.

THEY ASKED JESUS TO DO MIRACULOUS THINGS AMONG THEM AND HE DID.

Word about Jesus was spreading all over the region. When he taught in the synagogue, people were amazed by his teaching. When he healed the demon-possessed, people were awestruck by his power and authority! Everyone was talking about this Jesus from Nazareth. Lives were touched and hearts were encouraged from far and near. Many who were demon-possessed were brought to Jesus and he displayed his authority by casting the demons out. These demons recognized that Jesus was the Son of God but he rebuked them and would not let them speak (Luke 4:38-44).

Amazed, the people exclaimed, “What authority and power this man’s words possess! Even evil spirits obey him, and they flee at his command!” The news about Jesus spread through every village in the entire region. – Luke 4:36-37

THEY ASKED JESUS TO HEAL THEIR SICK AND HE DID.

When they came down from the mountain, the disciples stood with Jesus on a large, level area, surrounded by many of his followers and by the crowds. There were people from all over Judea and from Jerusalem and from as far north as the seacoasts of Tyre and Sidon. They had come to hear him and to be healed. Everyone tried to touch him, because healing power went out from him, and he healed everyone. – Luke 6:17-19

Jesus was making a difference in the ENTIRE region. Wherever he went, he was surrounded by crowds of people – people coming to hear his teaching or bring their sickness to him for healing. Every person who came to Jesus for healing was healed. There was no sickness too great, no disease too complicated, no demon too powerful. Jesus was surrounded by crowds yet he took the time to heal each one.

One day Jesus cast out a demon from a man who couldn’t speak, and when the demon was gone the man began to speak. The crowds were amazed, but some of them said, “No wonder he can cast out demons. He gets his power from Satan, the prince of demons.” – Luke 11:14-15

Because they refused to recognize that Jesus’ power came from God, they missed the opportunity to be blessed by him. The religious leaders and Pharisees came to Jesus and demanded that he perform a miraculous sign in order to prove his authority. His message to them was clear — their hearts were evil and they would be judged. The Queen of Sheba would stand against them for she had traveled a great distance to hear the wisdom of Solomon yet they refused to believe in Jesus even though he was right there in their midst (Matthew 12:38-45).

THEY DEMANDED THAT JESUS DO MIRACULOUS SIGNS AND HE DID NOT.

Matthew tells us of two men possessed by demons who met Jesus in the region of the Gadarenes. They had been made to live among the dead and were so violent that no one could go near them. The demons recognized Jesus and began screaming at him. “Why are you interfering with us, Son of God? Have you come here to torture us before God’s appointed time?” (Matthew 8:29)

Luke tells this same story, but only mentions one man who was filled with many demons. He was homeless and naked, living in the cemetery outside of the town. When they placed him under guard or in chains, the strength of the demons allowed him to break free and escape into the wilderness. He was completely under the power of the demons.

The demons begged Jesus to cast them into a nearby herd of pigs rather than the bottomless pit. When they entered the pigs, the whole herd ran down the steep hillside and into the lake. The herdsmen ran into town and all the people came out to see what had happened. They found the man sitting peacefully at Jesus’ feet, fully clothed and perfectly sane. The people had the choice at this point to believe in the power of Jesus, but they chose fear instead of faith. They begged Jesus to go away and leave them alone (Matthew 8:31-34).

THEY ASKED JESUS TO GO AWAY AND HE DID.

But the man who had been freed from the demons chose faith because he was finally free from his fear. His immediate desire was to serve Jesus — to follow this man who could speak the word and demons would flee. But Jesus called this man to stay in his hometown and proclaim the great things Jesus had done for him so that others could believe (Luke 8:38-39).

So what will we choose today? Will we choose faith or fear? If we choose to focus on our fears instead of focusing on Jesus, we will miss the opportunity to see his power displayed in our lives. Let’s consider those areas of our lives where we are experiencing fear or torment and give them to the One who can cast them out of our presence and replace them with peace and submission.

HOW IS JESUS AFFECTING YOUR LIFE? WHAT IS YOUR RESPONSE TO HIM?