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Ever wished you could follow Jesus around for just one day? This passage in Luke reveals to us what a day in the life of Jesus was like? Behold Jesus Christ, who gave Himself to intense spiritual ministry during the day, but then rose early in the morning to seek His Father’s face. What an example for us!

A Day In The Life Of Jesus Christ

Luke 4:31-44

Many people are fascinated by the rich and famous. That’s why we have People Magazine. We wonder what it would be like to live the life of this famous person, or that wealthy individual. What would it be like to be Bill Gates, or Barak Obama, or Tom Hanks, or John Lennon for a day?

Well, as Christians, we have a fascination with the person of Jesus Christ, don’t we? Have you ever wondered what it would have been like to live when Jesus lived, and to have been able to be one of those people who heard Him teach in the synagogue in Capernaum, watched Him cast out demons and heal the sick? Have you ever wondered, “I wonder what a day in the life of Jesus Christ was like?” Well, this morning we are going to find out. You see, Luke 4:31-44 records 24 straight hours in the life of Jesus Christ.

Verse 31 says, “And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath.” Came down… came down from where? Well, verses 16-30 record Jesus’ teaching in another synagogue on another Sabbath day, but this time it was in Nazareth, his home town. Do you remember how things went then? As a reward for His honest and direct teaching of God’s Word, they actually tried to commit Deicide. They tried to kill the Son of God by throwing Him off a cliff.  So, having been rejected in Nazareth, Jesus left never to return again. He came down to Capernaum, which was a village right on the edge of the Sea of Galilee. And as was His custom, He went into the synagogue on the Sabbath Day to teach the Word of God. Verses 31-37 give us a report of His teaching in the synagogue, which would have been in the morning. Verse 38 says, “Then He got up and left the synagogue, and entered Simon’s home. This would have taken place in the afternoon. Verse 40 says, “While the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.” This would be the evening.  Then verse 42 says, “When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place.” Actually in Mark 1:35 it says, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” So in Luke 4 we have four different snapshots of Jesus Christ during a 24-hour period of time. The morning in the synagogue, the afternoon in Peter’s home, the evening outside Peter’s door, and then very early the next morning in a secluded place.

The first 3 snapshots are much different from the last. In the first three pictures of Jesus, we find Him ministering on behalf of other people. In the last picture we find Him communing with God. In the first three, He is pouring Himself out on behalf of others. In the last one, He is being filled back up with the presence and power of God through prayer.

Now, one thing Luke wants us to see very clearly is the authority of Jesus Christ. This comes out in many different ways.

1. Notice the word “authority” in verse 32 and 36. Throughout this passage we see Jesus teaching with authority, dealing with demons with authority, and healing with authority.
2. Notice the word “rebuke” in verse 35, 39, and 41. Jesus rebuked a demon, He rebuked a fever, and He rebuked many demons. Jesus, as the Lord of heaven, was authoritative rebuking all that violated His Father’s will. And notice the effect of His rebukes. The demon came out of the possessed man, the fever left Peter’s mother-in-law, and the demons demons were not allowed to speak.
3. Notice how He dealt with the demon in verse 35. Jesus said, “Be quiet and come out of Him!” These are commands. Jesus wasn’t requesting, suggesting, or pleading. He was authoritatively commanding the demon to shut up and come out. In verse 41 it says that “He would not allow them to speak.” Jesus had the authority to forbid or allow demons to speak, and on this occasion He forbade them.
4. Notice the effect of all this on the people who witnessed it.  Verse 32 says, “they were amazed at His teaching.” Verse 36 says “amazement came upon them all.”

So, what do we see in these first three snapshots during a day in Jesus’ life? We see someone who is total control of every situation. He is the master in each setting. He’s not asking people to let Him be the Lord. He is the Lord and He’s acting as the Lord. Jesus is the Lord over the realm of demons and disease.

This morning let’s examine Jesus in His ministry in the synagogue, Peter’s home, Outside Peter’s Home, and in a Secluded Place.

1.  Jesus’ Ministry In The Synagogue

His Message Was With Authority

The Jews were used to hearing the Law and the Prophets expounded on the Sabbath day in the synagogue, but they were used to hearing the teacher say, “Rabbi Gamaliel said this, and Rabbi Hillel said that.” Jesus’ approach, on the other hand, was completely different. He said “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing,” or “You have heard that it was said… but I say unto you…” Jesus presented Himself as the fulfillment of all the Old Testament hope, and His Word was equal to the very word of God.

A Man Possessed By the Spirit of an Unclean Demon

Satan and demons are real; as real as God is. However, for the child of God, Satan is not to be feared. If the Holy Spirit has already filled a child of God, a demon can’t possess him. The Holy Spirit has already taken possession – the evil spirits are too late.

Here we find a man who was possessed by a demon in the synagogue on a Sabbath day, in the midst of the worship of God! I wonder how often demons are present in lost people when they attend the worship of God.

In the midst of Jesus’ teaching, this man cried out. Jesus must have touched a nerve. He was proclaiming that He was the Divine Son of God, and Messiah sent to save His people. This demon couldn’t remain concealed any longer under this preaching. Usually demons like to remain concealed. However, this demon exposed himself, by crying out through the vocal chords of the man he lived in. Often in Scripture you will find evil spirits using the voice of the person they indwell to speak. It’s interesting to me that Jesus never went looking for demons, but where Jesus was, demons suddenly became fearful and restless and expose themselves. No where in Scripture are Christians told to go looking for the devil, or commanded to rebuke the devil. But, if we are doing our job in just teaching the Word and preaching Christ, demons will surface from time to time. However, we need to keep our focus on Jesus Christ and His gospel. The church can suffer from demon obsession. We can get so preoccupied with Satan and demons, and rebuking them and binding them, that we forget to just walk in the light. If you walk into a dark room, do you start rebuking the darkness, or binding the darkness, or hold a rally against the darkness? No! You simply turn on the light. If we simply keep our focus on Jesus Christ, we have nothing to fear from the evil one.

The Conquest of Christ

Notice, what this demon said, “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are – the Holy One of God!” This demon is terrified of Jesus Christ. He wants to know if Jesus has come to destroy him and all his other demonic friends. This demon seems to know that at some point Jesus will destroy him; he just doesn’t know when that will be. Satan knows God’s Word. We know that from earlier here in chapter 4 of Luke. Satan quoted Scripture to Jesus to try to get him to jump from the pinnacle of the temple. Satan must know Revelation 20:10, “And the devil who deceived them was thrown into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are also; and they will be tormented day and night forever and ever.” Satan knows he’s going down, and so he’s doing everything that he can to hurt God and His followers before then.

How did Jesus respond to this demon? He rebuked him, and commanded him to be silent and come out of the man. This demon didn’t like to be ordered about, but he had no choice. A superior power was commanding him to do what he didn’t want to do. So, what did he do? The very same thing that a boy does when an adult tells him to give the bicycle back to his little brother that he had taken from him. In a surly and mean spirit, he gives it back by throwing it on the ground. This demon had to come out, but he would do his best to hurt the man in the process, so he threw him on the ground. No doubt he was hoping to break some bones, or cause some kind of paralysis. However, Luke says that he came out without doing him any harm.

What was the result? Everyone was amazed. They were stunned that Jesus had the power with a word to cast out demons. Jesus’ fame kept on spreading like wildfire into all the surrounding district.

2.  Jesus’ Ministry in Peter’s Home

Who was “Simon”? Well, he was Peter, before Jesus came him his new name. At this time, Peter was not a disciple of Jesus. He lived in Capernaum because he was a fisherman, and Capernaum was right on the Sea of Galilee where Peter made his living. Evidently he had been present in the synagogue on that Sabbath morning, and he had witnessed Jesus’ teaching, and his casting out of the demon. He was so impressed with Jesus and His power, that He asked Jesus to come to his house. Andrew, James, and John were also there, being friends of one another, for they were all in the same fishing business. Peter was married, and evidently his mother-in-law lived with him and his family. She was very sick. Luke, the physician, tells us she had a “high” fever. Evidently this fever was very dangerous and critical. Peter, knowing that Jesus has power to cast out demons, asks Him if He could do anything to help his mother-in-law who was suffering so much.

So, what does Jesus do? He stands over her, rebukes the fever, and it immediately leaves her! Matthew says He touched her hand. Mark says He raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her. I wonder if this is where Peter got the idea to raise up the lame man at the Gate Beautiful, to bring about his healing? And what does she do? She immediately sets about waiting on them. You see, the big meal of the day would be right after everyone got home from the synagogue service. She had been so sick and weak, that she couldn’t do anything to help with the meal. But now, she immediately begins to work and take care of Jesus and the rest. Isn’t that amazing. If we have a fever, even if it breaks, there is still a lingering weakness in our body, and it takes many hours before we regain our strength. Here this woman is made perfectly whole in an instant!

3.  Jesus’ Ministry at Peter’s Door

Mark gives us a juicy tidbit that Luke leaves out. Mark says, “and the whole city had gathered at the door.” What door? Well, obviously, Peter’s door. That’s where Jesus was previous to this. Now, when did it happen? As the sun was setting? Why did everyone show up at Peter’s door when the sun was setting? Remember this was the Sabbath day. The Sabbath lasted from sundown on Friday, to sundown on Saturday. There were strict Sabbath laws about traveling and carrying things on the Sabbath. So, when the Sabbath was over, all the people of the town began traveling out to Peter’s house, many of them carrying sick or lame folk. They had seen a display of Jesus’ power earlier that day, and they desperately wanted Him to bring healing to themselves or people they loved.

So, try to imagine the scene with me. Jesus has just spent time in Peter’s home with Andrew, James and John. He has healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a critical fever, and then enjoyed the main meal of the day. However, after a few hours in Peter’s home, they hear a knock on the door. When Peter opens the door, he sees not one person but dozens of people in the street, and hundreds more are on their way, all coming to his home! Jesus quietly comes outside to hear, “Rabbi, please, come and heal my father. He’s lame and can’t walk at all!” Another cries, “Master, please heal my son. He’s cruelly demon-possessed and the demon often throws him into the fire to kill him!” Another pleads, “Lord, have mercy on me. I want to regain my sight!”

How does Jesus respond? I love this. Only Luke adds this little detail, “and laying His hands on each one of them, He was healing them.” There were hundreds, perhaps thousands of people in that group of suffering men and women, boys and girls that were filling the street. Jesus might have simply given one word of command, “All of you, be healed!” But instead, He gently and patiently, went to each person and laid His hands on them and healed them. Oh, I love the kindness and compassion of Jesus Christ.

Just like in the synagogue earlier that day, demons were shouting through the people they possessed, “You are the Son of God!” Again, Jesus rebuked them, made them be silent, and cast them out.

4.  Jesus’ Communion with God In A Secluded Place

Whereas Jesus had ministered to people all day long, now we find Him in prayer to God. Luke doesn’t tell us that, but Mark does. In Mark 1:35 we read, “In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.” Now, His personal ministry to that vast multitude must have taken many hours. Conceivably Jesus was healing people late into the night, maybe even past midnight. He had been busy, ministering, pouring out for others all day long. Yet what do we see Him doing here early in the morning while it is still dark? He rises deliberately to go seek the face of His Father. That’s why He goes to a secluded place. He has been in the spotlight, with people all day, but He knows He needs time alone with God.

Well, Jesus was not to be able to enjoy this solitude for very long, for the crowds came looking for him. Of course, they wanted to see more healings and deliverances. There were still other people they knew that were sick or infirmed. When the crowds found Him, they were pleading with Him to stay and continue to minister to Him. However, Jesus understands all too clearly that it was not the Father’s will for Him to stay there and continue ministering to the people. Instead God had shown Him in prayer that He must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also. Yes, Jesus did miracles and performed many healings and deliverances, but the primary thrust of His ministry was preaching. He was to preach the kingdom of God. He was to declare that He was the King, and He was gathering a kingdom, and if men would repent and follow Him, they could become the subjects of the kingdom of heaven.

Life Application

Now, let’s take this passage, and draw out three spiritual lessons – one from the demon, one from Peter’s mother-in-law, and one from Jesus Himself.

1.  A Lesson From The Demons – Knowledge Alone is Not Salvation. 

Notice with me what this demon says about Jesus Christ in verse 34, “I know who You are – the Holy One of God!”  Then notice what the demons were saying about Jesus in verse 41, “You are the Son of God!”  Now, were they telling the truth? Yes! In fact, it appears that the demons have a much greater grasp of who Jesus is than the people in Nazareth. Jesus told them that He was the Messiah. How did they respond? “Is this not Joseph’s son?” In contrast to that the demons confess that Jesus is the Holy One of God, and that He is the Son of God. Their knowledge of Christ was spot on. They were Biblically orthodox. They knew the truth.

However, their knowledge of the truth did not transform their hearts or lives in the least. Maybe there are some people here who are very much like these demons. You know the truth, but you are not saved. Maybe you grew up in church. You have heard hundreds of sermons. You have gone to Sunday School and Awanas, and memorized Scripture. You’ve even read some of the Bible for yourself. You have all the right answers about Jesus Christ. But, you don’t love Him. You don’t trust Him. You don’t follow Him. You don’t submit to Him. You don’t treasure Him. You don’t worship Him. Oh, what a tragedy to have all the right knowledge and still be lost and go to hell!

Let me ask you some questions.  Does your knowledge of sin make you hate it? Does your knowledge of Christ cause you to trust Him, love Him, and adore Him?  Does your knowledge of God’s will cause you to obey it? Does your knowledge of truth make you useful to others? Does your knowledge of God’s grace make you gracious to others?  My friends, don’t make the terrible mistake of thinking that you are saved and everything is fine between God and your soul, simply because you know the right doctrine. The devils know the truth but are not saved! Don’t make the mistake of imitating them!

2.  A Lesson From Peter’s Mother-In-Law – The Lord’s Touch on Our Lives Should Cause Us To Serve Him. 

Peter’s mother-in-law was very sick, and Jesus in great kindness and compassion touched her, raised her up, and healed her completely and instantaneously. So, what does she do? In great gratitude, she begins to wait on Him and the others that were present.

My dear friends, has Jesus touched you? Has He forgiven you of all your sins? Has he brought you from spiritual death to spiritual life? Has He taken out your old heart of stone and replaced it with a heart of flesh. Has He given you eternal life? If so, how have you responded? Has a great gratitude welled up in your heart, compelling you to lay out your life in service to God and others? Jesus Christ doesn’t raise up people to allow them to go on their sinful, selfish, self-absorbed ways. In the words of Zacharias, “to grant us that we, being rescued from the hand of our enemies, might serve Him without fear, in holiness and righteousness before Him all our days.”  Is that true of you? Would you characterize your life as a life of service to God and others? When you hear of needs in this church, are you quick to offer your service? When you hear that there is a great need for Sunday School teachers here at The Bridge, does that cause you to be willing to serve in any way you can? Are you quick to serve your wife, by helping with the dishes, or being willing to pick up items from the store for her? Are you willing to serve the lost people of Rancho Cordova by bringing the gospel to them? Oh, God, help us to be quick to serve!

3.  A Lesson From Jesus Christ – Ministry to Others Must Be Balanced By Communion With God.

In the Christian life there must be both diligent ministry on behalf of others, and frequent communion with God. If you give yourself to intense spiritual ministry and neglect communion with God, you will become powerless. But if you give yourself to ongoing communion with God but neglect spiritual ministry you will be useless. Let no man separate what God has joined together!

Think about Jesus’ ministry to others. What we have read about took place on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the day of rest, but we find Jesus doing anything but resting. He is teaching, delivering a man from a demon, healing a woman of a high fever, and then laying his hands on countless individuals to heal them, probably late into the night. And in this respect, Jesus is a good example for all of us. Doesn’t the Scripture say in 1 Cor. 15:58, “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”  Our lives should be marked by pouring out ourselves for others. God made us to be workers. It’s no accident that Paul refers to so many of his brethren as “fellow-workers”. Just as Adam in Paradise was given work to do, before the Fall, so God has given all of us work to do. Just as God is a worker, so man in His image, is also a worker. If we are slothful, or lazy, we are not manifesting the image of our God. Every last Christian among us, no matter how young or old, should be marked by a life of spiritual ministry on behalf of others. Paul says in 1 Cor. 3:13, “the fire itself will test the quality of each man’s work.”

However, we also see another truth in the life of Jesus Christ. Jesus made it a priority to slip away and spend time alone with God. In fact, in the very next chapter Luke tells us, “But Jesus Himself would often slip away to the wilderness and pray” (Luke 5:16).  Jesus never became so busy in ministry to others that He neglected communion with God. In fact, as we see here, He was willing to deprive Himself of sleep in order to maintain His life of prayer with God. I believe it was this communion with God that helped Jesus to know with certainty that He should not stay in Capernaum, but rather go to preach in the other cities.  A life of prayer brings clarity and direction and certainty.

Folks, I believe this example of Jesus is set here for our learning. Yes, God’s will is for all of us to lay ourselves out in service to others. Yes, God’s will is for all of us to maintain frequent and regular times of communion with Him. We are not to sacrifice our communion with God on the altar of ministry. Nor are we to sacrifice ministry to others on the altar of communion with God. Both are essential ingredients to any healthy Christian’s life. We are like batteries that will go dead, and need to be recharged. Only by slipping away by ourselves to be alone with God will we find our lives energized so that we can be thrust back into fruitful ministry again.

Not only do we need to give ourselves to spiritual ministry, but we also need to give ourselves to solitude, silence, and prayer.

My friend, do you make time to be alone with God? Do you make it a priority to seek God daily, to hear His voice, so that you might do His will? Do you spend time on your knees with an open Bible, communing with God in His Word? I believe the single greatest commitment you can ever make, is the commitment to spend time alone with God every day in the Word and prayer. To the extent that you break that commitment, to that extent you will lose power in your Christian life.  May God help us to follow in the steps of our Lord Jesus.

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