Face-to-Face with Jesus

GETTING STARTED

“There will be a day with no more tears. No more pain, and no more fears. There will be a day when the burdens of this place will be no more, we’ll see Jesus face-to-face.” These song lyrics by Jeremy Camp echo a heart longing that many of us share. In our world, we experience brokenness, evil, sin, and sickness. We long for restoration, wholeness, and purpose. We long for Jesus. In our passage today, the people of Capernaum encountered Jesus face-to-face and the good news of the gospel lived out. 

  • If Jesus were in your city today, what need would you bring to him?

READ THE WORD: LUKE 4:31-44 (ESV)

31 And he went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, 32 and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are— the Holy One of God.” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36 And they were all amazed and said to one another, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37 And reports about him went out into every place in the surrounding region.

38 And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. 39 And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.

40 Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. 41 And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.

42 And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, 43 but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” 44 And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.

English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

DIGGING DEEPER

  1. Why were the people astonished at Jesus’ teaching (vs. 32)? How did they respond when he exorcised the demon from the man (vs. 36)? 
  2. The demons seemed to be the only ones who truly understood who Jesus was. What names did they call him (vss. 34, 41)? Why didn’t Jesus want the demons to announce who he really was?
  3. Find all the mighty works that Jesus did in Capernaum. What do you learn about Jesus from his actions? Why would he leave town when there was still so much need (vs. 43)?
  4. How did Jesus’ teaching and miracles lend credibility to his mission?
  5. Where do you need to respond to the authority of Jesus’ word in your life? Where do you need his compassion today?

RESPOND TO GOD

Authority emanated through his word and deeds. Compassion flowed from his hands. Through Jesus’ teaching and miracles, he established his authority over the people; in his word were power and healing. The priority of the gospel propelled him onward to the lost. How can we experience this Jesus and live missionally as he did? Drinking deeply, daily, of the Scriptures allows us to come face-to-face with our Savior. As you are gripped with the gospel in your own life, take it to your world.

  • Pray for a teachable heart that will respond to the correction, training, and authority of God’s Word.
  • Pray that you might be gripped by the good news of the gospel and share it with others.