Gracious Healer

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.
At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah.
At daybreak, Jesus went out to a solitary place. The people were looking for him and when they came to where he was, they tried to keep him from leaving them. But he said, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent.” And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

By this time, those who were watching Him knew the power Jesus possessed. As He visited in Simon's home, he was asked to see what He could do for the sick mother-in-law. What He could do was heal her, so He did. In no time she was bustling about, serving the household and visitors. Looks like a complete recovery. That is the way God heals, by the way. Completely. Instantaneously. Yes, He does give doctors their medical skills, and He allows gradual recovery from many ailments, with proper treatment; but a miraculous healing is immediate, with no lingering symptoms. This is the way Jesus healed. Later on, in chapter 5, we see a paralytic healed. He didn't hobble on crutches for six weeks. He got up, took the pallet he had been lying on and walked home. Luke, being a physician, would naturally be impressed with this ministry of God the Son. His is the only gospel which mentions the mother-in-law's "high" fever.

The people began to bring their sick folks to Jesus for healing. All night long, He healed. Many were demon-possessed. Notice again, the demons knew Jesus! Our human souls are the battleground of the angelic conflict which was being waged long before our creation. These spirit beings have a long history with God the Son, from eternity past; and here He is, interfering with their activities in time. Why wouldn't they recognize Him? It's the humans He came to save who don't understand what this is all about. We are, nevertheless, actively involved in the warfare every moment of our lives. The sooner we realize there is a conflict, and choose our champion, the better our understanding will be of our eternal position. When we receive Jesus, we are IN HIM forever. Our peace and stability in the devil's world comes from realizing Whose we are. He has power over the demons, and forbade them to speak, for they were announcing His Messiahship before He was ready to deal with the political onslaught that He knew would come with notoriety. Timing is everything. Jesus is on a mission and first things must be done first. People are emotional and volatile and most have personal and political ambitions, far removed from the plan of God.

So, when morning came, He went to a solitary place (doncha love that?) with the multitudes in pursuit. Please don't leave us! We need you! His reply: "I must preach! There are others who must hear the gospel of the Kingdom. That's what I was sent to do." We really need to get that. The miracles were incidental to the message. He had the power and the compassion to heal physical maladies, but physical healing was not the objective of His mission. He brought the message of the Kingdom of God, as well as the means of attaining that Kingdom. He looked like an ordinary man. Ah, but He could heal sickness and control demons and speak with God's authority. Those were His credentials. He kept on preaching.