Subtle Equilibrium

Russian hospitality at the home of Sergei and Rima!

Scripture:

Luke 4:38   After leaving the synagogue he entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked him about her. ³⁹ Then he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she got up and began to serve them.

Luke 4:40   As the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various kinds of diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on each of them and cured them. ⁴¹ Demons also came out of many, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Messiah.

Luke 4:42   At daybreak he departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowds were looking for him; and when they reached him, they wanted to prevent him from leaving them. ⁴³ But he said to them, “I must proclaim the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also; for I was sent for this purpose.” ⁴⁴ So he continued proclaiming the message in the synagogues of Judea.

Observation:

I don’t know that I had ever noticed how much time Jesus spent in the synagogue. He was in the synagogue in Nazareth, “as was his custom.” Now, he comes to Capernaeum and goes to the synagogue on the sabbath. At the end of this passage you see that he goes to the synagogues of Judea. 

He has finished his time at the synagogue and now goes to the home of Simon. Actually, Luke hasn’t really introduced Simon yet, but we will get to know him soon. This may have been a home to which Jesus would have been invited to dinner at the end of the Sabbath. Simon’s mother-in-law has a high fever. She is unable to complete her ordinary duties of hospitality because of her illness. Jesus speaks to the fever in the same way he addresses demons. He is showing his authority over the whole person, and when he rebukes the fever, it immediately leaves her. 

Her life had been out of balance, and we see this with physical illness, as well as demon possession. Wesley observed, “The whole of the spiritual life is a subtle equilibrium that is always susceptible to imbalance” (Oden 1994, 339 in Neale, NBBC). Neale goes on to say, “The gospel story provides us with the cosmological lens through which we may view modern life. It may seem archaic to some. But the world of absolute spiritual realities empowers us to live meaningfully, and to pursue the good we believe will eventually overcome all (see Lane 1996)” (NBBC). 

The Sabbath ended when the sun went down. At this point people brought their friends and neighbors to see Jesus. Thy were looking for healing and Jesus cured them. He brought a state of equilibrium into their lives, allowing them to return to their normal work and practices. This was the cure. 

Jesus healed people all night long and in the morning, he left to go and find his own equilibrium. This came from spending time alone with the Father. The people didn’t want to leave him alone and they kept going after him, but Jesus knew that his mission was an itinerant one, where he could not simply stay in one place and allow the people to make him into their idol. 

Application:

We all want to live in that sweet spot of “subtle equilibrium” and yet, there are forces at work that drive us to imbalance. Living through this year of COVID19 has been a continual balancing act. The closures and on-going changes to life and routine have threatened our sense of balance. Today is Sunday and some will be able to go to a church and worship, and others will be staying at home, depending on the state of COVID in their community. It’s a balancing act that requires us to find equilibrium almost every day. 

Jesus’ healing touch restored equilibrium to those who were in need. He restored Simon’s mother-in-law so that she could return to her normal work of hospitality in the home. The man who had previously been healed of the demon wasn’t hurt in the healing, but was simply brought back to a normal state. There is peace in the equilibrium, in the balance of life. 

Even Jesus had to find his equilibrium by spending time with the Father. This entire passage becomes a gentle reminder that it’s easy to find ourselves out of balance. We need to be honest with ourselves and admit that the challenges we are facing are more than we can handle on our own. We look like the man at the circus who is spinning plates, trying to keep them all going at the same time, but knowing that when one falls, it can begin a catastrophic domino effect. 

Jesus wants to bring healing to our lives, and that is restoration of equilibrium. Whatever it is that may be creating imbalance, we are encouraged to bring that before Jesus today. This may also include being an intercessor, praying for balance to be restored in the life of a friend. When you are awakened in the night to pray, remember those who came to Jesus in the midnight hour. Bring the before God and ask for peace and equilibrium. 

Depression is on the rise during this season of COVID19. We shouldn’t be surprised, because all that we are facing is creating imbalance. Alcohol sales in the US have increased by 600% during this crisis, because it’s easier to numb ourselves to the imbalance of this world than to face it head on. The good news of the gospel remains the same, and healing that brings us to subtle equilibrium is still the work of Jesus. 

Prayer:

Lord, may you gently return me to the sweet spot when I find myself out of balance.  Amen.