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Luke

Luke 
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Day 60

Luke 5:12-26 "THE REPORT WENT AROUND CONCERNING HIM ALL THE MORE..." Luke 5:15

Day 60 – Luke 5

Text: Luke 5:12-26

“THE REPORT WENT AROUND CONCERNING HIM ALL THE MORE…” Luke 5:15

News of a leper being healed is difficult to contain! Already news that Jesus could heal people had spread far and wide. The crowds became a “multitude” (Luke 5:15). From a multitude to “great multitudes” (Luke 5:15), the people flocked “to hear and to be healed by Him of their infirmities” (Luke 5:15).

MISUNDERSTANDING HAD ALREADY ARISEN CONCERNING THE HEALING MINISTRY

We need to recall the fact that the healing ministry of the Lord Jesus was not fully understood by many.

1. At Nazareth, Galilee, the hometown expected the Lord Jesus to perform miracles in His own city. The Lord Jesus refused to perform on demand. Miracles were not done to satisfy public demand! (Cf. Luke 4:16-30)

2. At Capernaum, another city of Galilee, the people wanted to retain Jesus so that He could stay there permanently, as their Resident Healer. Jesus withdrew from this city (Luke 4:31-44)

Once again, the multitudes gathered to Jesus, this time fueled by the report of the leper who had been wondrously restored to normalcy! Never, as far as they could remember, had they heard or seen anyone being healed of leprosy! Now came this man called Jesus, and He was capable of not just healing people of fever, but leprosy as well!

The reports of Jesus were that He could cast out demons too! News that Jesus could heal all manner of diseases spread far and wide. Huge crowds came to hear, but even more – to be healed!

How did Jesus respond to this new phenomenon? Was He drawn by pride, or self-satisfaction that He had power to perform mighty miracles?

The answer to these questions is to be found in Luke’s careful observation, that Jesus once again withdrew Himself from the crowds!

“SO HE HIMSELF WITHDREW INTO THE WILDERNESS AND PRAYED.” Luke 5:16

As the great multitudes pressed to hear Jesus and to be healed of their infirmities, He did something that must have puzzled the multitudes! Luke recorded this TWICE (Cf. Luke 4:42; 5:16).

Jesus withdrew from the great multitudes! What were some of the reasons why He withdrew from the huge crowd that kept swelling in number?

1. Jesus had established a definite routine in His daily schedule. He must set aside time for Himself to spend time with His Father. He must have solitude. He must commune with His Father in deep and meaningful prayer!

2. Jesus withdrew from the multitude for another obvious reason. The crowds must disperse themselves! When people do things as a crowd, many are going to be swept by the flow of the crowd. There were some who came to hear Him. There were others who came only to be healed. After a while, it is difficult to know who will influence whom. It is not unlikely to suppose that the needs of people who are infirm will be so powerful, that they will demand all the time and attention of the Lord Jesus. The secondary ministry can swiftly overtake and swamp the primary ministry. The best way to deal with the crowds would be to disappear for a while. The crowds will disperse if they find that they cannot locate Jesus. They may reform, but for the moment, the pressure from the crowds will not be put to bear on the primary ministry of the Lord Jesus.

3. The Lord Jesus had begun to train His disciples. The disciples needed to learn how to handle the crowds. They needed to see how their Master performed in His ministry. What was His routine? What was His focus? He had a ministry that any religious leader would like to have. Yet, He withdrew from the great multitudes who flocked to Him!

THE VALUE OF SETTING ASIDE TIME FOR SOLITUDE AND PRAYER

Jesus knew God’s calling for Him. He expressed that He understood God’s purpose for His life right from the start. At Nazareth, He turned to the Book of Isaiah and read from Chapter 61. That chapter spoke about His life and ministry. The primary ministry was stated very clearly. He was to proclaim the Gospel to the poor. He was to heal “THE BROKEN-HEARTED”. His focus was never a physical healing ministry!

He would proclaim LIBERTY to those who were captive. Jesus did not understand this as a physical prison-ministry. He did not go to jails and release people who were incarcerated! He proclaimed liberty from the power of sin and Satan (Cf. John 8:32).

Many preachers in the modern day context have been known to boast of having large ministries! Many others like to boast of huge church membership! Still others speak of thousands of people flocking to hear them preach and “perform miracles” .

This tendency to boast of and glory in things that Jesus shunned is something we would do well to bring to the Lord in prayer. Let us regularly set aside time to ponder in solitude and prayer.

We need to constantly review our understanding of our primary and secondary ministries. We need to seek the Presence of God in prayer again and again so that we are not caught up with secondary matters.

We need to find time to commune with God in prayer lest the sheer volume of work in life rob us of our time with the Lord. Time for prayer and meditation should always be regarded as “non-negotiable” no matter how pressing matters may seem to be!