omnipotent – Harmony Bible

Week 29 | Section 43

This week we read of Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law and learn about the nature of community, compassion, and care. In this passage we see the compassion of Christ as the consolation of Jerusalem. Jesus’ attention to the Sabbath, care of the Peter’s mother-in-law and the others gathered provide us a worthy model that would transform cultures and communities around the globe.

Scripture:

[one_third last=”no”]Matthew 8:14-17¹
14 When Jesus came into Peter’s house,² he saw his wife’s mother lying sick with a fever. 15 He touched her hand, and the fever left her. She got up and served him. 16 When evening came, they brought to him many possessed with demons. He cast out the spirits with a word, and healed all who were sick;³ 17 that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, “He took our infirmities, and bore our diseases.”⁴[/one_third]
[one_third last=”no”]Mark 1:29-34
29 Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up. The fever left her, and she served them. 32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick, and those who were possessed by demons. 33 All the city was gathered together at the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.[/one_third]
[one_third last=”yes”]Luke 4:38-41
38 He rose up from the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him for her. 39 He stood over her, and rebuked the fever;⁵ and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. 40 When the sun was setting,⁶ all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41 Demons also came out of many, crying out, and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.[/one_third]

Group Dialog:

Why do you think Matthew, Mark, and Luke include the story of Jesus healing Simon’s mother-in-law?
What is different about the way Jesus handles this situation verses the demoniac earlier that day?
Why did Jesus forbid the demons to speak of his nature.
From this story, what can we extrapolate about Jesus’ attitude, priorities and character (humility, recognition, community, love, charity, etc.)? How does this compare to your own attitude, character, and priorities?

Learning Objectives:

community, compassion, and care, Jesus’ authority over illness,

Image: Close up of a large stone worn by the wind, waves, and pebbles at Bean Hollow State Park, CA. The image reminds us of unity, cell groups, and community.

Other media: Video clip of this passage; song: The Final Word, Michael Card

Study Notes:

Week 28 | Section 42

Jesus has gone to the Synagogue on the Sabbath but there encounters a demoniac. Astounding those present, he sets the demoniac free and word of Jesus’ authority spread throughout the region. The Good News is not limited to our salvation but our daily experience of God’s grace and power in our lives as we live Christ.

Scripture:

[one_half last=”no”]Mark 1:21-28
21 They went into Capernaum,¹ and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue² and taught.³¯⁴ 22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes.⁵ 23 Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,⁶ and he cried out, 24 saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us?⁷ I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!” 25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”⁸ 26 The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28 The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.⁹ [/one_half]
[one_half last=”yes”]Luke 4:31b-37
31b He was teaching them on the Sabbath day, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word was with authority.¹⁰ 33 In the synagogue there was a man who had a spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 saying, “Ah! what have we to do with you,¹¹ Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know you who you are: the Holy One of God!”¹² 35 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in the middle of them, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 Amazement came on all, and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region.[/one_half]

Group Dialog:

What kind of authority does Jesus have in the synagogue? In his teaching? And over evil spirits? How should this truth influence our daily lives?
What is the source of (Jesus’/ of our) truth, authority, and power?
What spiritual struggles do you face? How can Christ’s authority, truth, and power help you overcome these things?
What is our role in relationship to the authority of Christ in our lives? In regards to truth at work within us? And in regards to the ministry to which we have been called?

Learning Objectives:

Jesus is all powerful, Jesus is Holy, Jesus is the Messiah, submission, free will, Jesus is the source of truth, our authority in ministry comes from Christ and our association in him.

Image: The Old Veteran – The Old Veteran Cypress resides on the North Shore Trail of the Point Lobos State Natural Reserve. Naturalists at Point Lobos estimate the Old Veteran has already exceeded the 300 year lifespan of most Cupressus macrocarpa but he still rests through the fog, and rain, despite the eroding cliff from the waves crashing below.

Study Notes: