Luke 4:40
Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them.
Just after the Sabbath ended at sunset at Capernaum, the people who had held back for fear of being accused as Sabbathbreakers were no longer afraid and flocked to bring their sick to him at Peter's home from throughout the city. They came in great numbers in every condition of helplessness, borne on couches or leaning on staffs, suffering burning fevers, paralysis, blindness, deafness, lameness, leprosy and demon possession, and he gave personal attention to each one, laying his hands on every person who came and restoring them completely and immediately by his word or touch until the last sufferer was relieved far into the night. In this he acted as the restorer countering the destruction caused by Satan, letting a stream of healing power flow as an unerring physician to make the sick whole in body and thereby prepare the way for the restoration of their souls. His tireless, compassionate work comforted the sorrowing and awakened hope, filling homes with rejoicing, and as the great Medical Missionary he left the example that those who follow him must do that same work of healing and gospel preaching in other cities and towns instead of sitting in a do-nothing position.
Sunset Crowd at Capernaum
The scene is at Capernaum just after the Sabbath ended at sunset, when the sun had passed out of sight in the west. During the Sabbath many had held back from seeking healing because the Pharisees closely watched to accuse and the rabbis made the people fear being treated as Sabbathbreakers and transgressors of the law. The spread of healing miracles through the city had only made that bitterness more intense, but as soon as the sun disappeared the people were no longer afraid and flocked to bring the sick.
They brought them to him at Peter's home from throughout the city, from homes and shops and marketplaces, in great numbers. Some came on their own, while a much larger number were borne and carried by friends, including those who could not come without help. They came on couches, leaning on staffs, or supported by friends.
They suffered divers diseases in every condition of helplessness and approaching death. Among them were burning fevers, paralysis, dropsy, blindness, deafness, lameness, and leprosy crying Unclean, as well as sick little children and people gravely ill. Those possessed by demons were also among those brought.
He laid his hands on every one of them with personal attention to each person. He healed every person who sought and applied to him and came for help, by a word from his lips or a touch of his hand. Those healed were restored completely and immediately. He began with the first afflicted one brought before him and continued working until the last sufferer had been relieved, far into the night.
Those healed returned with gratitude and rejoicing to gladden the homes they had left as helpless invalids, and many went home to tell relatives and friends what had been done. Those who had carried them returned weeping tears of joy and shouting praises, and puny children were handed back rosy with life and health to happy mothers. The air was filled with triumph and shouts of deliverance in a day Capernaum had never seen before. Jesus felt pity and sympathy for their suffering, and his great love was stirred to its depths by what he witnessed. He rejoiced in the joy, relief, health and happiness he had awakened in sufferers and their families.
Restoring Ministry and Example
His ministry in this sunset healing was that of the restorer, undoing the destruction Satan had wrought, and in laying His hands on each sufferer He displayed divine power as the unerring Physician from whom a stream of healing power flowed to make the sick whole. That practical work restored afflicted bodies and thereby prepared the way for restoration of the soul. His acts of mercy comforted the sorrowing, awakened hope in the despairing, and led many to believe in Him.
Healing the sick was a major, extensive and tireless part of His work, and it was not confined to one place. When the people begged Him to remain with them He refused, declaring He must go to other cities and towns to preach the kingdom of God and the gospel to all people. The Sabbath was His busiest day for this healing, because on that day He could best reach those laboring through the week. In the evening He gave attention to people who had spent the day working to support their families, reaching the sick wherever they could be brought to Him.
As the great Medical Missionary He left the example that those who follow Him must do just that same work of healing and gospel preaching instead of sitting in a do-nothing position. His ministry was personal, marked by pity, sympathy and compassion, and He healed with unhesitating willingness and hearty joyfulness, glad to be able to restore sufferers to health. Those who approached in faith to touch Him received healing, and their distress and gloom gave way to joy and thanksgiving. His power also delivered those possessed by demons, and the demons He cast out acknowledged that He was the Son of God.