Jesus in Capernaum

• Teaching with Authority… vs. 31-32
  • Jesus left Nazareth (hometown) – after they rejected & tried to kill him…
    • He returned to Galilee – where He had spent the 1^st year of His ministry…
      • Interesting that of all the places on earth – Jesus focused His ministry in Galilee…
      • You’d think Jesus would begin in the great cities of the world – Rome / Athens…
      • Instead He came to the little province of Judea – hard to even find on a map…
      • He did not even begin in the capitol – Jerusalem – He began in a small village…
    • In Capernaum – nowhere special – the province – the ‘Bukid’…
      • God is not impressed by a who we are – where we come from – who we know…
      • Jesus chooses the foolish things – to baffle the wise – I Corinthians 1:26
      • There is a common misconception that God only uses the ‘elite’…
      • In order to be used by God you have to have a 4-year degree – PhD in theology…
      • That is the wisdom of men – a worldly idea that has crept into the church…
      • You don’t see any Bible colleges or seminaries in the Bible – you just see sinners…
      • That means God uses ordinary people like you and me – from nowhere special…
      • That way when God does a work through us – everyone knows it was God!
  • Jesus went into the synagogue every Sabbath – teaching the people with authority!
    • Jesus was not there to entertain the people – He came to teach them God’s Word!
    • Many churches today have forgotten the Authority of the Bible…
    • They are afraid to talk about harder subjects – sin / consequences / hell…
    • They don’t want to offend people – so they only talk about happy subjects – love / grace…
    • They are more interested in entertaining the people – than teaching them…
    • * II Timothy 4:3 – “A time is coming when people will no longer listen to right teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever they want to hear.”
    • I knew a church where the pastor was teaching on ‘growing in Jesus’…
    • The 1^st Sunday he came to church in a diaper – talking about being a babe in Christ…
    • The 2^nd Sunday he came riding in on a motorcycle – talking about the power of Christ…
    • The 3^rd Sunday he repelled in from the ceiling – I’m not even sure what his point was…
    • All of which was VERY entertaining – but you remembered the stunts – not God’s Word!
    • God does not promise to bless our words – He says His Word is powerful…
    • We need not to hesitate to teach the Bible – all of the Bible – God Word is what…
    • Brings faith Romans 10:17/Changes hearts Hebrews 4:12/Salvation Romans 1:16
      
• Power of the Spiritual… vs. 33-37
  • There was (Imperfect) a man in the synagogue who was demon possessed…
    • This was not this man’s first time in the ‘church’ – he was a regular ‘member’…
    • A sad commentary on the state of the ‘church’ in the Capernaum…
    • There was so little power to their regular teaching – a demon could attend!
  • The demon in the man knew who Jesus was – and cried out…
    • He immediately recognized Jesus – Holy One of God – and that Jesus had all the power!
    • He wanted to know if Jesus had come to destroy him…
    • Satan and his demons were angels who rebelled against God…
    • * Revelation 12:9-12 – “So the great dragon was cast out, that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him…  Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.”
    • Satan / the Devil – is their leader – Lucifer – son of the morning – Isaiah 14:12-15
    • God cast them out of heaven – down to earth – and their time is short…
    • God has prepared ‘everlasting fire’ for them – the Lake of Fire – Matthew 25:41
    • Before they meet their inevitable end – they work to distract us from following God…
  • Jesus simple answer – ‘be quiet’ (literally muzzled him) – ‘come out of him’…
    • The demon threw the man – then came out of him causing him no harm…
    • The superstations we have – based on the fear of something bad that will happen…
    • Superstitious – Acts 17:22 – literally means the fear of demons…
    • Channeling with the ‘dead’ – I have heard of ‘church’ services where this takes place…
    • Many faith healers – depending on what they do – also dabble in the ‘supernatural’… 
    • Do not be mistaken or deceived – these are not from God – it’s dabbling with demons!
    • They distract us from God’s Word – from following after/trusting in – Jesus!
  • The people were amazed – what Word is this…
    • With Authority and Power – Jesus commands the demons – and they come out!
    • The Bible does not tell us much about demons – or satan – or the spiritual world…
    • The NT mentions satan/demons only 83 times – but the name of Jesus – 941 times!
    • The Bible focuses on Jesus – so that is where we should put our focus as well!
    • What we do know for sure – Jesus has ultimate power and authority!
    • * I John 4:4 – “You belong to God, my dear children. You have already won… cause the Spirit who lives in you is greater than the spirit who lives in the world.”
    • No need to fear spirits – or the abundant superstitions we were raised with… 
    • Jesus is FAR greater than any power that might try and come against us!
  • The report of what happened went everywhere…
  • Like the roar of waves crashing on the beach – news of Jesus spread far and wide…
    
• Power over the physical… vs. 38-39
  • Peter’s mother in law – was sick with a fever… vs. 38-39

• There are those who argue Peter was never married – the Bible disagrees…
  • Peter had a Mother in law – confirming that Peter was married…
  • Peter (Cephas) would even take his wife with him to minister – I Corinthians 9:5
• She was sick (burning up) with a MEGA fever – the disciples told Jesus at once…
  • If someone you know is sick – bring them to Jesus – He is the great physician…
  • Sometimes we hesitate – because we are not sure if God will heal them or not…
  • We might even wonder if God can heal them – especially if it is more than just a cold…
  • Jesus healed sickness / made the blind see / the lame to walk / raised the dead!
  • God never changes – He healed in the days of Jesus – He still heals today…
  • Hebrews 13:8 – “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”
  • If you know someone who is sick or suffering – bring them to Jesus today!
  • * James 5:14 – “Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
  • We often offer the chance for prayer after the service – if you are sick – ask for prayer!
• Jesus stood over her – rebuked the fever – and immediately it left her…
  • The same word is used in Luke 8:24 – Jesus ‘rebuked’ the wind and the waves…
  • Jesus rebuked storms – He rebuked sickness – physical challenges obey Him!
  • So often we forget who created the world – storms / sickness…
  • Our circumstances – trials – difficulties – sickness – are no surprise to God…
  • They are not greater than God – and He is MORE than able to overcome them!
  • More often than not He has allowed them so that we learn to cry out to Him!
• Immediately Peter’s mother-in-law got up and began to serve them…
  
• Power over sin… vs. 41-42
  • Word of what had happened in the Synagogue and with Peter’s mother spread…

• When the Sabbath had ended – at sunset – the people all came out to see Jesus…
• They waited till sunset – after the Sabbath – to carry their sick to Jesus (work)…
• Demons also came out of many – saying, ‘you are the Christ!’
• Jesus forbid them from speaking – because they knew who He was – the Christ…
• Those that had various diseases – Jesus laid his hands on them all and healed them!
• One of those who came to Jesus was a Leper – Mark 1:40-45 / Matthew 8:2-4
  • Leprosy was a devastating physical disease – Leviticus 13:44-45…
    • The disease attacked the body’s nervous system so you could not feel…
    • Touch a hot stove – cut yourself on a blade – you would not have known!
    • Once diagnosed with leprosy you would be cut off from the community…
    • If anyone even walked close to you, you had to cry out ‘unclean!’
  • Symbolically the Bible uses leprosy to refer to sin…
    • Just like leprosy – sin takes away your sensitivity to what is right and wrong…
    • The first time you commit a sin (lying) it is the hardest – you feel it’s wrong…
    • It gets easier and easier each time though – you stop feeling the guilt…
    • Causing you to be cut off and isolated from God – unclean!
• Jesus laid hands on them all – and healed them…
  • It was forbidden to touch an unclean leper – you also became unclean…
  • Yet Jesus here showed the leper that he was a man that God loved!
  • And when he touched him – immediately he was clean (healed)!
• Jesus showed He had power of demons, sickness – but also (symbolically) sin!
  
• Recharging the battery… vs. 42-44
  • Early in the morning – Jesus went to pray in a solitary place…
    • The ministry had begun – the demands and drain on Jesus were enormous (lo-bat)…
      • Jesus took the time to get away – recharge by talking to the Father…
      • When we have a good day – when we have a hard day – when things go right…
      • When we don’t know what to do next – find a quiet place and pray…
      • Not because God needs to know – God already know what we are going to say…
      • But so that we can hear from Him – so He can lead us and give us strength…
      • Often we get so caught up in the business of life we miss taking time for Jesus…
      • We get so involved in work – chores – school we forget to read and pray…
      • Yet it is when we put Jesus first – all else falls into place – Luke 12:32
    • The crowds sought (Imperfect) after Jesus…
      • When they found Him they tried to keep Him from going to other towns…

Jesus came to touch us – to show us His LOVE for us – to give us new life!

But Jesus came to give us the Good News of Gospel – to everyone…

And He went on to preach in all the Synagogues of Galilee…

No matter where we are in life – Jesus is the answer – not just for us – for everyone!

If we are afraid – if we are caught up in the superstitions of this world…

If we are sick – we have given up hope of being well…

If we are unclean – caught up in sin – out of fellowship with God…

Jesus has the power to overcome evil / heal every sickness / forgive every sin!