Lesson 13 The Good News of Purpose, Luke 4:38-44

Going Forward from the Synagogue 4:38-41

English Standard Version (Chapter 4)

Jesus Heals Many

38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

In spit of the traumatic experiences of Jesus ministering in the synagogue (that is, people wanting to kill Him for His message, unpopular things heard by the Jews, demonic encounters, and escaping in the nick of time), Jesus continues to press hard to minister. Directly after leaving, He goes to the home of Simon Peter, and heals his mother-in-law. As the Greek shows clearly, it was a “mega” fever. That is exactly the same word here. She had something going on in her head, Jesus got right on it and healed her after hearing of her plight. Mom in law is just the first of many who were healed here. No matter what the disease, He healed every one! No more waiting for the heavenly touch, all were healed.

Many people who showed up were poisoned with demonic influence and He took care to defeat the demons, made them cry, cast them out, silenced each one, and then rebuked them. It’s a new day for ministry! Preaching, healing and demon crunching all in the same day. It’s interesting to note that it was very easy for the demons to proclaim who Jesus was: “You are the Son of God!” A physical, verbal proclamation of Jesus was not needed at that time as He told them to be quiet. Jesus did not want demon’s/the devil’s testimony. Perhaps the devils testimony can have an adverse effect on the hearer. Take Heed. We must be careful not to let them proclaim. That is our job. We rebuke the devils and proclaim Jesus. But even yet today, a verbal proclamation must be made if you are to claim Jesus as your Savior: “…with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”

On the Road and Preaching! Luke 4:42- 22

English Standard Version (Chapter 4)

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

There was not much peace on the road. People sought Him out everywhere, even in desolate, uninhabited locations. Luke does not say, but Mark does say that it was to pray. Things apparently were so bad that they were lobbying to get Jesus to stay with them. But, He cannot stay, He must go and preach. The message is the “good news of the kingdom of God.” This is a very purposeful journey for the Savior. Jesus had two “musts”on His agenda. The first was to preach and the second was to fulfill the message of purpose. The kingdom was at hand and He is the Lord of both Kingdoms, heavenly and earthly. Throughout Judea, Jesus was at it preaching in the synagogues of Judea. There must have been an intensity about this journey through Judea, that defies the imagination. He was compelled and undeterred in His quest of leaving them and moving on. God is at work, bodily, in their midst. This is Luke’s first reference to the message of the kingdom. This is simply God in action.

New Chapter: Lakeside and Teaching. 5:1- 5

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

The lakeside crowd at Gennesaret was somehow a place where a crowd was able to gather. Remember crowds gathering in those days was not always a wonderful thing. They had to worry about upsetting the local and area government officials. Messiah’s were a usual occurence with many men wanting the job as a savior. Many of them have been recorded for historical posterity. So, with a crowd, came consequences. Jesus had to make the most of every opportunity presented Him. He is teaching and giving a visual aid all the same time. The text says the crowd was pressing, or they were getting pushy in today’s manner of speaking.

Lights, camera, action!

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

5 On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, 2 and he saw two boats by the lake, but the fishermen had gone out of them and were washing their nets. 3 Getting into one of the boats, which was Simon’s, he asked him to put out a little from the land. And he sat down and taught the people from the boat. 4 And when he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” 5 And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing! But at your word I will let down the nets.”

The scene has two empty boats by the lake and that the fishermen were nearby washing nets. Okay, that’s not a lot of action, but the fact there is s huge crowd is. Jesus just goes over climbs into the boat that belonged to Peter and He proceeds to ask Peter to cast off from shore. Here Jesus does a teaching on the water. It is a natural soundboard, sound system for a society without electricity, microphones and speakers. Jesus asks a weary Peter to cast his nets out in the deeper water for a nice catch. Peter gets the message and is tells him he just worked the third shift and fished all night and caught nothing. But simply at Jesus’s word, he agrees to put the nets back in the boat and “let down the nets!”

What happens next is the stuff Bible stories are made of. When things look hopeless, God steps in.

The Catch of All Catches 5:6-11

English Standard Version (Chapter 5)

6 And when they had done this, they enclosed a large number of fish, and their nets were breaking. 7 They signaled to their partners in the other boat to come and help them. And they came and filled both the boats, so that they began to sink. 8 But when Simon Peter saw it, he fell down at Jesus’ knees, saying, “Depart from me, for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” 9 For he and all who were with him were astonished at the catch of fish that they had taken, 10 and so also were James and John, sons of Zebedee, who were partners with Simon. And Jesus said to Simon, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” 11 And when they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed him.

What is your story of that point in time when you followed Jesus? This the point of action and moment of truth for Peter, James and John. Mark these words. It was a mighty catch. The second boat was summoned, there was so much fish that both boats almost sank. This is the point of discipleship! Willingness to follow. They are not all the way to being disciples, but they have said yes to the start. They are nor defined by their night of failure, but by their actual fishing for victory. Jesus gave them encouragement for the rest of heir lives: from here on out they would be catching men! Boom! They left everything behind and followed HIM! That scene is unfolding everyday, many times over around the globe. Men lose their fear, leave everything behind and follow the Savior. Brother’s, let’s go catch us some men!