The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in Luke 4:38-40,
"Jesus 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. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them."
This short account falls into the category of "Jesus Christ goes well-beyond what anyone might expect" for me. Here, the mother of Peter's wife was suffering from a "high fever". It doesn't sound like a mild case of the "sniffles" to me as they were concerned enough for her they asked Jesus to intervene with her health.
Jesus "rebuked the fever"! An inanimate presence with no personality is subject to the command of Jesus! Germs, bodily healing, health, all subject to him. As we consider the ultimate cause of sickness, man's fall in the garden, I recognize that within Jesus Christ resides his authority as the Son of God to reverse the consequences of God's judgment at the fall of man, at his discretion. Communicating his compassion and kindness in such an act, and possibly to demonstrate his credentials to an unbelieving world, Jesus heals this woman.
Often, illness is followed with a period of recovery. Time is needed to regain strength. Responsibilities, chores and the like are put off till later until a period of recovery results in renewed strength, energy and vigor. Not in this case! When Jesus healed her, Peter's mothers-in-law got up "at once and began to wait on them." Following the touch of Jesus Christ in her life, she didn't need anything further and was as good, probably better, than before her plight began! Beyond expectation!
I am reminded of the water Jesus turned to wine. It wasn't just average wine he created but was the best as we are told by the master of the banquet. John 2:10. Beyond expectation!
I am also reminded of the challenge of Elijah to the prophets of Baal. "I am the only one of the Lord's prophets left, but Baal has four hundred and fifty prophets. Get two bulls for us. Let them choose one for themselves, and let them cut it into pieces and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. I will prepare the other bull and put it on the wood but not set fire to it. Then you call on the name of your god, and I will call on the name of the Lord. The god who answers by fire—he is God." 1 Kings 18:22-24. The result was simply astonishing, while nothing came from the false Baals of course, when the Lord answered Elijah, "The fire of the Lord fell and burned up the sacrifice, the wood, the stones and the soil, and also licked up the water in the trench." 1 Kings 18:38. And, this, after Elijah had them dump four large jars of water on his sacrifice three times! Beyond expectation!
So many examples of the things the Lord has done that fall into that category of "beyond expectation!"
As I consider the great hope we have in the resurrection, I suspect my vision of what is headed our way falls hopelessly short of the profound wonder, greatness and excitement that awaits us as the Lord prepares his place for each of us. Beyond expectation!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share your thoughts of worship with us from your Bible reading today. We'd love to hear from you!
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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