Called to Care

KEY VERSE: “When the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.” —Luke 4:40

SELECTED SCRIPTURE: Luke 4:31-43

JESUS CARED ABOUT the people. He went throughout the cities and villages of Israel “preaching the Gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.”—Matt. 9:35,36

In the account in Luke, several people in the city of Capernaum were healed by Jesus. He made well the Apostle Peter’s mother-in-law, who was “taken with a great fever.” (vs. 38) Immediately she rose up from her sick-bed, indicating how completely she had been cured, and resumed her responsibilities! Some who had been possessed by “devils,” or demons, or “unclean spirits,” were cured when Jesus commanded their tormentors to leave them alone, or when he “laid his hands” upon them and healed them.

One devil said, “I know thee who thou art; the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.” (vss. 34,35) Others cried out, saying, “Thou art Christ the Son of God. And he rebuking them suffered them not to speak: for they knew that he was Christ.” (vs. 41) It is obvious that Jesus did not want agencies of Satan in any way to be affiliated with his ministry.

Jesus’ fame “went out into every place of the country round about.” People were amazed, and spoke to one another saying, “What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out!” (vss. 36,37) And so they continued to bring their sick friends and relatives and neighbors to Jesus, no matter what was wrong with them, and He laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.”—vs. 40

But as much as Jesus cared for and sympathized with the sick and ailing people, these miracles of healing were only meant to be illustrations of the blessings which would be available to all during the Millennial Age, when his kingdom will be established upon earth. The Lord said, “I must preach the kingdom of God to other cities also.” This was his urgent mission, and the healing of the people was merely a sample of the work of the kingdom when all mankind will be healed, not only from their fleshly illnesses, but also of their spiritual diseases. The psalmist David speaks of that time, saying, “Bless the Lord, O my soul … who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases.” (Ps. 103:2,3) Isaiah said that then “the inhabitant shall not say, I am sick; the people that dwell therein shall be forgiven their iniquity.” (Isa. 33:24) Notice the connection both prophets make between righteousness and health!

Jesus preached unceasingly and without concern for his own health and physical welfare, to let all Israel know that his kingdom would bring a new administration whose first concern would be the health and welfare of its constituents, and these miracles he performed were examples of the sweeping changes which would be made in the lives of men.

The selection of those who would be involved in the new government was just beginning. Jesus chose his twelve apostles, starting with Peter, Andrew, James and John, to be “fishers of men,” and they forsook all to follow him. See Luke 5:4-11 and Matthew 4:18-22. His twelve apostles were to lay the foundations for the work which would go on throughout the Gospel Age, which was the call to become his disciples and to lay down their lives as he did—to take up their cross and follow him. (Luke 9:23) The theme of preaching the kingdom of God was to be the primary work of all our Lord’s disciples, just as it was Jesus’ most important message.

After his death and resurrection, Jesus told his apostles: “Ye shall receive power, after that the Holy [Spirit] is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.—Acts 1:8

| Home Page | Table of Contents |