When God Says …
“And it came to pass, that, when Jesus was returned, the people gladly received him: for they were all waiting for him” (Luke 8:40 KJV).
After having been besought to leave by the people of Gadarenes country, the Lord Jesus is back to where He left from - the city of Capernaum, in the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. And this passage declares, ‘the people gladly received Him: for they were all waiting for Him.’ This shows the impact that the Lord had on some people of this city, as they show eagerness to hear more from Him and witness His miraculous works. The people's enthusiasm to receive the Lord may be a reflection of their grasp and recognition of His heavenly authority as One who came from heaven. Perhaps, these people are attracted to the benefits of miracles that the Lord Jesus performed in their midst; not the message. This underscores the importance of His message and His role as the source of the Good News of salvation for the people, which we must hone in our hearts. With benefit of hindsight, we learn from the Lord's declaration of woes that Capernaum did not get the message. Their enthusiasm was only on the miracles, as the Lord declares: "And you, Capernaum, will you be lifted to the heavens? No, you will go down to Hades. For if the miracles that were performed in you had been performed in Sodom, it would have remained to this day" (Matthew 11:23 NIV).
The people's anticipation of the Lord’s return to this place can also be seen as a symbol of the ultimate return of Christ at the end of time. Just as the people eagerly awaited His return to Capernaum, so too are those who "truly believe" are called to eagerly anticipate the Lord’s second coming. Not for the wrong reasons though. To you and I, who are set free from the bondage of materialism and religion, by faith in Christ Jesus, this is a pop up alert. Yes, this symbolism serves as a reminder of the importance of living in a state of hope, readiness and anticipation for the future fulfillment of God's kingdom. Not the fleeting things of the world, as these people in Capernaum did. We must be mindful always that we are just passing through this world. This is just a temporary sojourn. It is written: “But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.” (Philippians 3:20-21 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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