Luke Part 1 Week 19

Day 1 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:35 

³⁵ But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered. At that, the demon threw the man to the floor as the crowd watched; then it came out of him without hurting him further. 

This is what Jesus ordered the demon to do who was inside of the man. The demon knew who Jesus was and likely knew His power. Before the demon came out of the man, it threw him to the floor. The crowd watched as this was occurring.  

REFLECT 

Think how scary this would have been to the watching crowd. What would you have thought had you been there at the time? 

RESPOND 

Demon possession is a controversial subject. Followers of Jesus, indwelled by the Holy Spirit, can be “oppressed” by demonic activity. The Scriptures indicate, however, that they cannot be “possessed” by a demon. See 1 John 4:4 about this. 

Day 2 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:36-37 

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

This reveals how the people feared the demons. They were surprised at the power the spoken words of Jesus exercised over evil spirits. In those days news traveled by word of mouth, but it did not take long before what He had done spread to every village in the area. 

REFLECT 

In this present age with electronic media, are you surprised at how quickly news spread by word of mouth in Jesus’ day? 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the different means of communication. Also talk about the need to express the salvation message through modern means. Pray for those doing it. Are you doing it? 

Day 3 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:38-39 

³⁸ After leaving the synagogue that day, Jesus went to Simon’s home, where he found Simon’s mother-in-law very sick with a high fever. “Please heal her,” everyone begged. ³⁹ Standing at her bedside, he rebuked the fever, and it left her. And she got up at once and prepared a meal for them. 

There are religious groups that claim the apostle Peter was not married. The biblical text, however, reveals that he was. Jesus caused the fever of Peter’s mother-in-law to leave her. The text records that “she got up at once and prepared a meal for them.” She must have had a heart for hospitality.  

REFLECT 

What do you feel like after you’ve been extremely sick and are finally over it? Do you immediately want to do something or have some calming rest for a while? 

RESPOND 

Join with a friend in reading the qualifications to be a church leader. Read 1 Timothy 3:1-5 and notice references to hospitality. See also Titus 1:5-9 in this regard. 

Day 4 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:40-41 

⁴⁰ As the sun went down that evening, people throughout the village brought sick family members to Jesus. No matter what their diseases were, the touch of his hand healed every one. ⁴¹ Many were possessed by demons; and the demons came out at his command, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But because they knew he was the Messiah, he rebuked them and refused to let them speak. 

“As the sun went down that evening”; that is, as the Sabbath was ending. Jesus never turned sick people away. By the touch of His hand He healed everyone who had been brought to Him. Many were possessed by demons who knew Jesus was the Son of God. The demons also knew He was the Messiah, but He would not allow them to speak. He wanted people, not demons, to acknowledge He was the Messiah. 

REFLECT 

Does this impress you again with how much biblical knowledge the demons have? Knowledge does not save anyone. The person must also turn to God. 

RESPOND 

To “repent” is to “change one’s mind.” But that is not enough to become right with God. One must also turn to God and believe in Jesus for salvation. Discuss this with a friend and read passages such as Mark 1:15; Acts 20:21; 26:20. Judas repented (changed his mind) after He betrayed Jesus, but he never turned to Jesus for salvation (see Matthew 27:4-6). 

Day 5 

RECEIVE 

Luke 4:42-44 

⁴² Early the next morning Jesus went out to an isolated place. The crowds searched everywhere for him, and when they finally found him, they begged him not to leave them. ⁴³ But he replied, “I must preach the Good News of the Kingdom of God in other towns, too, because that is why I was sent.” ⁴⁴ So he continued to travel around, preaching in synagogues throughout Judea.  

Jesus had come to proclaim the message of the Kingdom, not just to heal people. His ability to heal demonstrated He had miraculous power and could change hearts as well as bodies. In contrast to His hometown Nazareth where the people tried to kill Him, the people in this area wanted Him to stay. He continued preaching “throughout” the Jewish area that likely would also include Galilee. 

REFLECT 

Do you see that the main purpose of Jesus coming to earth was not to heal people but to provide salvation for them? He accomplished this through His death on the cross for them. 

RESPOND 

Talk with a friend about the priorities the apostle Paul had. Some had been jealous about who had baptized them. See what Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:13-17 in addressing this contention.