(See also Matthew 8:14–17; Luke 4:31–41)
DISCOVERY OF THE FACTS
1. Jesus’ Power as a Teacher, vv. 21, 22
What do we find Jesus doing on the Sabbath, in the first verse of this lesson? Did He often do this? (Luke 4:16.) Was the synagogue worship very spiritual and inspiring? Ought He not then to have utterly withdrawn from it? Ought a person to withdraw from a church because it is full of formalism, ignorance and error? (Acts 13:14; 17:2; 18:4.) What was the effect of Christ’s teaching upon those who heard? Did it have a similar effect upon other occasions? (Matt. 7:28; 13:54; John 7:46.) What was it about the teaching that astonished them? Just what does that mean? How great authority did Jesus claim in His teaching? (Matt. 5:21, 22, f. c., 33, 34, f. c.; Luke 11:32; John 3:3.) If we are to teach with genuine authority, how must we teach? (1 Peter 4:11, f. c.)
2. His Power Over Demons, vv. 23–27
Who was there in the synagogue that especially needed the help of Jesus? What does “a man with an unclean spirit” mean? What was the effect of the presence of Jesus upon the unclean spirit? Why did he not keep quiet? What is always the effect of the presence of Jesus upon the devil or demons? Is it a bad sign to have the devil rage in a community or a church?
What did the demon cry? What is it the devil most wants of Christ? Will Christ let the devil alone? (1 John 3:8.) What did the demon think Jesus had come for? Was he right? (Heb. 2:14.) Who had the most correct and extensive knowledge about Jesus of any one in the synagogue? Did that knowledge save him? What sort of faith is it that saves? (Ro. 10:9, 10; Gal. 5:6.) What is all that the faith of devils does for them? (Jas. 2:19.) What was Jesus’ answer to this orthodox confession of the demon? Did Jesus ever allow the demons to tell who He was? (v. 34; 3:11, 12.) Why not? (vv. 44, 45; Matt. 16:20; Acts 16:17.) Did the demon want to come out of the man? Did he come out? Why? (Luke 11:21, 22.) Did he come out without a struggle? Does the devil usually make a struggle before giving up his hold upon a man?
What was the effect of this miracle upon those who saw it? What was it that awakened their amazement? How had they been astonished earlier in the day (22)? Were any of them converted? Did anything beside demons obey Him (4:4)?
3. His Power Over Sickness, vv. 28–34
What was the effect of this miracle? Were the people used to miracles? Where did Jesus go next? What did He go there for (31)? Did it pay that family to invite Jesus home to dinner? Does it usually pay? How can we invite Jesus home with us? (Matt. 25:37, 40.) What affliction did they find in the house when they got there? What did they do about it? Did Jesus like that? Does Jesus want us to bring our sorrows to Him? (Matt. 11:28.) What will be the result if we make all our wants known unto Him? (Phil. 4:6, 7.) What did Jesus do? Is Jesus ready to take the sick and sinning by the hand today? (Heb. 13:8.) What did Peter’s wife’s mother do as soon as she was healed? What ought each of us to do as soon as Jesus blesses us?
What was the next scene? What time of day was it? Why did they wait until evening? (3:2.) How many of the sick did they bring? Was that wise? Why did they bring them? In what way do they set us an example? How many came together? Were these people as anxious for spiritual blessings as for healing? Are people today? How many of those who came did Jesus heal? (Luke 4:40.) Did Jesus heal just to show that He was the Messiah? (Matt. 8:16, 17.) Are we to understand from this verse that Jesus came to save from sickness as well as from sin? Did those great blessings and wonderful manifestations of the divine power of Jesus in Capernaum result in the spiritual regeneration of the place? (Matt. 11:23, 24.)
4. His Power with God, v. 35
After the multitude and the exhausting labors of the day, what would have seemed to have been the chief need of Jesus? Did He on that account spend long hours in sleep? Why not? Have we any other instance in which Jesus sorely needed sleep in which He spent the time in prayer and not in sleep? (31" class="scriptRef">Mark 6:31, 34, 46.) How did He find rest on another occasion of weariness? (John 4:6, 31.) Where shall we seek rest? (Matt. 11:28, 29.) Is there much danger of our putting time into prayer that ought to be put into sleep? Is there much danger of our putting time into sleep that ought to be put into prayer? (Luke 22:46.) What was Jesus’ unvarying method of preparing Himself for the great emergencies of His life? (Luke 6:12, 13; John 6:15; Luke 22:44, 53.) What answer is there in verse 35 to those who think that they do not need long seasons of prayer? To those who think they can do all the necessary praying at their work or by the way? To those who think their lives are too busy to spend much time in prayer? For what was the prayer of those early morning hours a preparation? (vv. 36–45.) If one is to have power with man and power over Satan, with whom must he first have power? (Gen. 32: 28; Eph. 6:12, 18.) What does the 35th verse teach as to the most suitable time and place of prayer?
CLASSIFICATION OF TEACHINGS
1. Jesus
His power—over men, 21, 22; over sickness, 29–34; over demons, 23–28, 34; with God, 35.
His compassion—for the ignorant, 21, 22; for the sick, 29–34; for the devil’s victims, 23–26; for the sorrowing, 29–31. If you have any sickness, sorrow or sin, bring it to Jesus (Matt. 11:28).
His love for the house of God, 21.
His contempt for human precedent, 22.
His separation from unholy alliances, 24, 25.
His attractiveness for the suffering, 32, 38.
As a teacher, 21, 22; healer, 23–24; helper, 31; man of prayer, 35.
He taught as a prophet, 21, 22; he interceded as a priest, 35; he commanded disease and devils as a king, 27, 31.
2. The Devil
His supernatural power, unnatural malignity, 23–26; his supernatural knowledge, cringing cowardice, abject fear of Jesus, 24; his absolute subjection to Jesus, 27, 34; his great rage when he knows his time is short, 26.
3. Man
His wretched condition, 23–27, 32, 34; his mighty helper, 26, 31, 34; his bounden duty to use the strength received from Jesus in ministering to Jesus, 31.
4. Prayer
Brings refreshment better than sleep, refreshment of exhausted spiritual energy, 35 (see context); prepares for conflict with Satan, 35, 40–45.
The man who would work much for God must pray much to God, 35.
If you must rise early to work, rise still earlier to pray, 35.
5. Jesus and Peter’s Wife’s Mother
She was helpless; they told Him of her; He took her by the hand; He raised her up; she ministered unto Him, 30, 31.
Be the first to react on this!
R.A. Torrey (1856 - 1928)
An American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Called by D. L. Moody to head Bible institute in Chicago (now Moody Bible Institute). Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles. Pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles. Worldwide evangelistic meetings with Charlie Alexander. Founded Montrose Bible Conference, PA. Wrote more than forty books.Torrey held his last evangelistic meeting in Florida in 1927, additional meetings being canceled because of his failing health. He died at home in Asheville, North Carolina, on October 26, 1928, having preached throughout the world and written more than 40 books. Torrey-Gray Auditorium, the main auditorium at Moody, was named for Torrey and his successor, James M. Gray. At Biola, the Torrey Honors Institute honors him, as does the university's annual Bible conference.
Reuben Archer Torrey was an American evangelist, pastor, educator, and writer. Held evangelistic meetings around the world with song leader Charlie Alexander. Called by D.L. Moody to head the Bible Institute of the Chicago Evangelization Society (now Moody Bible Institute); Dean of Bible Institute of Los Angeles; pastorates included Chicago Avenue Church (now Moody Memorial Church) and Church of the Open Door, Los Angeles.
Besides his obvious gifts in all these areas, he was also a man of prayer, a student of the Bible, and an outstanding personal soul-winner. It is said that he daily read the Bible in four languages, having a good working knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. Some students of church history feel he did more to promote personal evangelism than any other one man since the days of the apostles. His prayer life has seldom been equaled in the annals of Christendom.
Reuben A. Torrey wrote some forty books and his practical writings on the Holy Spirit, prayer, salvation, soul-winning, and evangelism are still favorites of many Christians.