Thursday, September 26, 2024  

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Today's Scripture
Luke 4:38–44

After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them. As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. Demons also came out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah. At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea. (NRSV)

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Reflection

If you’ve sought a doctor’s appointment recently and learned the next available appointment isn’t until March (yep), you may imagine how busy physicians must be. Busy treating and miraculously healing patients so people like me flock to their side.

Jesus has had such a day. After removing a devilish malady previously, he moves to curing Simon’s mother-in-law’s fever. Then through sunset, he dispels the demons bedeviling many others. Even after he retreats to a solitary place, people besiege Jesus and beseech him to stay to treat others. But Jesus explains he must move on to preach the good news of God’s kingdom that delivers its own healing power.

While in awe of today’s medical advances, we must marvel at Jesus’ astonishing miracles. Something astounding had occurred. Hearing ourselves of a stranger healing sick residents of, say, Rockford, wouldn’t we speed there with our gravely ill loved ones?

Or, as skeptics, would we doubt this stranger could answer our prayers to heal a mom or a bedridden child? Would we grasp (and gasp) that this outsider was our long-awaited Messiah?

I would desire to hear him, hoping his message and miracles would provide a taste of the goodness and glory of God’s kingdom that Jesus himself in Luke 10 says “has come near.” That alone would deliver miracle medicine. To grasp Jesus’ miracles and the role we can play in God’s kingdom, please listen to this song entitled “Miracles.”

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Prayer
Heavenly Father, give us the faith to hear and believe in the good news of your kingdom, because, as Jesus explains, “That is why I was sent.” Let us realize that, as members of your kingdom, we must each day serve as the spark that lights up someone’s world to perform our own form of miracle. Amen.

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Written by Tim Schellhardt, Member of Fourth Presbyterian Church

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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