Good News Proclaimed

After Jesus left the synagogue, he entered the house of Simon. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a severe fever, and they interceded with him about her. He stood over her, rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up immediately and waited on them.

At sunset, all who had people sick with various diseases brought them to him. He laid his hands on each of them and cured them. And demons also came out from many, shouting, “You are the Son of God.” But he rebuked them and did not allow them to speak because they knew that he was the Christ. At daybreak, Jesus left and went to a deserted place.

The crowds went looking for him, and when they came to him, they tried to prevent him from leaving them. But he said to them, “To the other towns also I must proclaim the good news of the Kingdom of God, because for this purpose I have been sent.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea. (Luke 4:38-44)

It’s interesting that the demons knew Jesus was the Son of God, and that he was the Christ.  Jesus stopped them from speaking about his identity.  Strange.  The people must have suspected because he cured them by driving out their demons.  Peter’s mother-in-law had a fever, and Jesus rebuked it.  So it left, and she got up immediately.  Quite the tales about Jesus bringing the good news of the Kingdom of God.

What good news do we bring?  We hope we drive out demons of despair and hopelessness imbedded in many people filled with sorrow.  Our purpose is to emulate Christ – to be  Christ-like.  Unlike Jesus, we are not to go to a deserted place and hide our identity.  We are his followers, and we are destined to be in crowds (masked) to bring the good news of hope, love, and charity.  We are to heal.

Deacon David Pierce