The Healing Power of Christ: A Meditation on Jesus’ Authority (Luke 4:38-41)

We continue from yesterday to meditate on the supernatural power and authority of the Lord Jesus. Luke provides us with another example of Jesus' authority in the home of Simon Peter:

³⁸Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon's mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. ³⁹So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. ⁴⁰When the sun was setting, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. ⁴¹Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, "You are the Son of God!" But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Christ (Luke 4:38-41, emphasis added).

The Physician’s Perspective: A Great Fever

It is worth noting that Luke, who Scripture tells us was a physician (Colossians 4:14), writes that Peter’s mother-in-law was suffering from “a high fever” (v. 38) while the other Gospels simply say that she had a fever. The Greek word Luke uses, translated into English as “great fever,” indicates the fever’s intensity, that it was life-threatening and a severe affliction.

"Epitimao": Rebuking the Illness with Authority

See how Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law: “he rebuked the fever, and it left her” (v. 39). The Greek word for ‘rebuke’ is “Epitimao,” which means to blame, criticize, admonish, rebuke, warn, or berate. It indicates a sudden, sharp reprimand with disapproval, often taking someone to task for a fault (Lexical Aids to the Key Word Study Bible). Would you be surprised if Jesus spoke so sternly to your mother-in-law? Most likely, this was the first time Christ met her. Jesus was at Peter's house, confronting her illness with authority.

 

Restored to Serve: The Result of Grace

The result? She was instantly healed and started preparing food for them. Usually, recovery from a “great fever” is a lengthy process, but in this instance, Peter’s mother-in-law was fully restored and immediately served her guests. This is a beautiful example for us: once touched by the grace of the Lord Jesus, we are empowered to serve Him right away.

Natural or Spiritual? Christ’s Command Over Creation

It is incorrect to claim that every disease has an associated spirit. In some cultures, engaging with demonic spirits is common, and the link between sickness and spiritual rituals like voodoo is more noticeable. In this context, Jesus addressed the fever itself, not the woman, clearly distinguishing the person from the ailment. Just as He calmed the wind and waves (Luke 8:24), His command over the fever shows that all of creation—biological or elemental—must obey His voice. The authority to stop it was the same, whether the cause was natural or spiritual.

 

Bringing the Sick to Jesus: A Call for the Modern Church

Luke also describes what happened at sunset (v. 40), showing that the Sabbath had ended and people could now carry their sick to Jesus. They brought all who were suffering from various illnesses, and He laid His hands on each to heal them. Verse 41 also notes that many demons were cast out, with Christ having the authority to silence them and prevent them from speaking. Today, the Church worldwide urgently needs to exercise Christ's authority and God's power to confront the evil present in our age (Matthew 28:18-19). Keith Thomas

Continue Your Journey…

If you found this meditation meaningful, there is so much more to explore about God’s plan in the Gospel of Luke, study 7, Jesus’ Authority over Demons, can be found in the All Studies box on the Home Page.

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