June 12 “Galilee”

Galilee

Before Jesus came preaching and healing in Galilee, everybody was simply dying.
Life was miserable, stressful, and short. When one got sick, death was the most likely outcome. There was no sanitation and not even any knowledge beyond the commands of the Law of Moses that being clean had anything to do with being sick. All that could be done with blind, deaf, lame or impaired folk was to be kind to them, give them alms, and help them get around without hurting themselves.

Then Came Jesus
Jesus came into that painful, depressing world with words of hope and a healing touch. Irreversible situations were reversed at His command. Blind eyes started seeing. Those with no powers of speech started singing psalms as those who had no hearing listened. Lame children started dancing to the music. No only had pain departed but joy had come to town. The only tears watering the dusty pathways through Galilee were tears of gratitude and joy.

Peter’s House
After the amazing deliverance of the demoniac in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus went to the home of one of the Galilean fisherman who was following Him, Simon Peter. His wife’s mother was down with a dangerously high fever, one of those fevers that only cools when the body dies. This woman did not want to be sick for that meant she was out of action. She took great joy in serving others so she was sick in her spirit as well as in her body.

Perhaps Jesus saw that Simon Peter was not taking part in the celebration that spilled over from the synagogue to the streets. The family asked Jesus to do something. When He learned that the mother-in-law of one of His men was desperately ill, He went into the house, stood over her and rebuked the fever. The disease obeyed and her body instantly cooled. Her head was clear and her limbs were strong and well-practiced. Immediately she went to work serving those who were in her home.

A Sundown Healing Service
The news of the deliverance of the man in the synagogue and the healing of Peter’s wife’s mother spread throughout Galilee. As the sun was setting, a multitude of people came seeking a different result from the usual countdown to a painful death. They were not disappointed. The combination of the love of Jesus with the power of Jesus and the faith of the people made for a high, holy, and hilarious time as evening shadows fell. That grace group was tuned up and on fire:

• Dumb people singing while
• Lame people danced while
• Deaf people listening to music for the first time ever, while
• Lepers shopped for new clothes while,
• Sore people didn’t hurt anymore and stiff people moved without pain and
• People who had hosted demons rested in the peace of God.

All because Jesus came by where they lived. They didn’t argue with Him they just believed what He said. They didn’t strike out at Him, they reached out to Him and He touched them.

Before Jesus came preaching and healing in Galilee, everybody was simply dying. When, over their protests, He left them to take His ministry elsewhere, they were no longer dying; they were living!

Scriptures:
Luke: 4:38-44
Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. But Simon’s wife’s mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. So He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. And immediately she arose and served them. When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” And He, rebuking them, did not allow them to speak, for they knew that He was the Christ. Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them; but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

Prayer:
Lord Jesus, there is no one like You. I am so glad You came my way! Your presence is my delight and my destiny. My walk with You here is a foretaste of the eternity we will walk together. There will be no sorrow there, no pain, no stress, and no strain. These things happen here, but Your power is here with me, giving me relief. Thank You for Your healing, sustaining touch. May I always express my joy in You which is my strength. Amen.

Song:
Reach Out and Touch the Lord
Traditional

Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.
You’ll find He’s not too busy to answer your cry.
He’s passing by this moment your need to supply.
Reach out and touch the Lord as He goes by.

Semper Reformanda!
Stephen Phifer

© 2018 Stephen R. Phifer All Rights Reserved