The Sabbath at Nazareth is placed by Luke in sudden contrast with a
Sabbath passed at Capernaum. On the former, as the story opens, Jesus was
surrounded by his friends and townsmen; as it closes, they had turned into
a fierce mob which was seeking his death. In the latter, as the scene
opens, Jesus was faced by a demon; but as it closes, he was surrounded by
an admiring throng who were eager to have him remain in their midst.
Jesus was again in a synagogue, and was awakening surprise by the
character of his message. Unlike the teachers of his day, he spoke with
authority instead of quoting reputed “authorities” as he unfolded the
Scriptures. Suddenly the service was interrupted by the cries of a man who
was possessed by an unclean spirit. Jesus rebuked the demon and compelled
him to come out of the man. There can be little doubt that the evil spirit
which Jesus thus controlled was an actual malign being who controlled the
poor sufferer whom Jesus graciously relieved; yet such an “unclean spirit”
is a type of the demoniac power of envy and of lust and of anger, and of
the whole host of debasing passions from which Christ alone can give
relief.
The second scene of this memorable Sabbath is in the home of Simon Peter;
here by a single word Jesus relieved a poor sufferer from a severe fever.
The cure was so instantaneous that the woman who had been sick immediately
“rose up and ministered unto them.” It is probably true that in many homes
there are those, not afflicted by the power of evil passions, who
nevertheless are suffering from worry and anxiety and fretfulness and
unrest and so are unable to render to others the gracious service which
they might perform if they could but hear the quieting word of Christ and
feel the soothing power of his touch.
The third scene is of peculiar beauty. When the sun had set a great
multitude gathered around the home of Peter, attracted by the report of
the miracle wrought in the synagogue. They brought with them great numbers
of those who were sick or possessed by demons and Jesus healed them all.
This is a picture which in reality is being reproduced to-day. Amid the
shadows and mysteries of suffering and pain the Saviour is standing; about
him are gathered those whom sin has stricken with its disease, the sad,
the loveless, the lonely, the tempted, the hopeless, the lost. His touch
“has still its ancient power.” In his mercy he is healing them all, and in
joy they are going away.
The last scene of this group is at dawn the next morning. Jesus had
withdrawn to “a desert place,” but the eager multitudes had found him and
were beseeching him not to go from them. He reminded them, however, of the
other cities which needed to hear “the good tidings of the kingdom of
God.” Have all of us who have felt the healing touch of Christ something
of his sympathy for those who have not yet heard the good news of his
grace?