Luke 4:35-44: a reflection

35Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” When the demon had thrown him down in the middle of them, he came out of him, having done him no harm. 36Amazement came on all and they spoke together, one with another, saying, “What is this word? For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits, and they come out!” 37News about him went out into every place of the surrounding region. 38He rose up from the synagogue and entered into Simon’s house. Simon’s mother-in-law was afflicted with a great fever, and they begged him to help her. 39He stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. Immediately she rose up and served them. 40When the sun was setting, all those who had any sick with various diseases brought them to him; and he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them. 41Demons also came out of many, crying out and saying, “You are the Christ, the Son of God!” Rebuking them, he didn’t allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ. 42When it was day, he departed and went into an uninhabited place and the multitudes looked for him, and came to him, and held on to him, so that he wouldn’t go away from them. 43But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of God’s Kingdom to the other cities also. For this reason I have been sent.” 44He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee.

After a day of teaching and healing in Capernaum, the crowds are so eager to keep Jesus that they try to hold him there, unwilling to let him leave. But Jesus, though he could have stayed where he was wanted and needed, does not let even their good demands deflect him from his mission. I must preach the good news of God's Kingdom to the other cities also, he says; for this reason I have been sent. He kept clear about what he was sent to do, and would not be held back from it, even by the genuine needs and desires of the crowd.

Notice Jesus' clarity about his purpose, and his refusal to be deflected from it. The crowd wanted him to stay; there were more to heal, more to teach, real needs and genuine desire. Yet Jesus knew what he had been sent to do, to preach the kingdom in the other cities too, and he would not let even these good demands hold him back from his larger mission. He was not driven merely by the pull of whoever wanted him most; he was governed by his sense of what he was sent to do. For this reason I have been sent, he said, and moved on to it.

That clarity of purpose is worth taking to heart, for we too can be pulled in many directions by the good demands of others, and lose sight of what God has actually called us to. There can be many genuine needs and desires pulling at us, good things, real needs; and we can be deflected by them from the larger purpose God has given us. But Jesus, though the crowd wanted him, kept to what he was sent to do. Do not let even good demands deflect you from the purpose God has given you; keep clear about what he has called you to, and do not be held back from it merely by the pull of whoever wants you most. Stay true to God's purpose for you amid the many competing demands, as Jesus would not be held by the crowd but moved on to preach in the other cities, saying, for this reason I have been sent; keep your sense of what God has sent you to do, and let it govern you, rather than being pulled off course by every good demand.

Lord Jesus, after a day of teaching and healing in Capernaum, the crowds were so eager to keep you that they tried to hold you there. But you, though you could have stayed where you were wanted and needed, did not let even their good demands deflect you from your mission. I must preach the good news of God's Kingdom to the other cities also, you said; for this reason I have been sent. You kept clear about what you were sent to do. Show me your clarity about your purpose, and your refusal to be deflected from it. The crowd wanted you to stay; there were real needs and genuine desire. Yet you knew what you had been sent to do, and would not let even these good demands hold you back. You were not driven merely by the pull of whoever wanted you most; you were governed by your sense of what you were sent to do. Take that clarity of purpose to my heart, for I too can be pulled in many directions by the good demands of others, and lose sight of what God has called me to. There can be many genuine needs pulling at me, good things; and I can be deflected by them from the larger purpose God has given me. But you kept to what you were sent to do. Keep me from letting even good demands deflect me from the purpose you have given me; help me keep clear about what you have called me to. Help me stay true to your purpose for me amid the many competing demands, Lord, keeping my sense of what you have sent me to do, rather than being pulled off course by every good demand.