April 16th, 2026
This week, a very simple thought has been on my heart: the good news about Jesus—the gospel—cannot be contained. The message of Jesus Christ should always be overflowing from our hearts, through our words and our lives. It’s a choice to do what He’s called us to do, but the light of Jesus is meant to shine out of His church effortlessly by the power of the Holy Spirit. After Jesus ascended to heaven, Christianity spread like wildfire so quickly that it was said of the disciples that they “turned the world upside down” (Acts 17:6). Romans 1:16 says,
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”
It is not our wisdom or clever presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ that draws people to Him. Our surrender and obedience are necessary, but it is the gospel itself that brings salvation. When the truth about Jesus is declared, men will be drawn by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said,
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)
There are three different miracles that captured my heart this week regarding these truths. The first is found in Luke 4:31-37. It says,
‘He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And He was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at His teaching, for His word possessed authority. And in the synagogue, there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “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.” 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. 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!” And reports about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.’
Every encounter with Jesus reveals a facet of His heart and the heart of the Father. In this miracle, we see the authority of Jesus demonstrated powerfully. Prior to the encounter with the demonic, it says they were astonished by His teaching, because of the authority it possessed. How much more did they marvel after they saw His authority over darkness?
The end of the story is what caught my attention this week. It says, “reports about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.”
Jesus didn’t have to send His disciples out to advertise for His meetings. The news spread because people couldn’t stop talking about the One who demons obeyed. The next story I want to look at is found in Luke 5:12-15. It says,
‘While He was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about Him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities.’
Again, we see God’s heart revealed in Jesus’ encounter with a broken man. This leprous man did not doubt Jesus could heal Him. He’d heard the stories about what Jesus could do. What he wasn’t sure of is whether Jesus would heal him. Jesus responded, “I will” and this is a revelation we all need. In the first story, Jesus’ authority and power were highlighted, but His power is always combined with His willingness to heal. He is more willing to move on our behalf than we are to ask, and it only takes a mustard seed of faith!
Look at the final sentence of this account. Even though Jesus commanded the man to tell no one, the good news could not be contained. It says, “even more, the report about Him went abroad.” Crowds came because they heard there was One who was able and willing to heal and deliver.
The final story I want to look at this week is found in Luke 7:11-17. It says,
“Soon afterward, He went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about Him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.”
This story reveals to us the tenderness of God’s heart. Surrounded by a “great crowd,” Jesus saw a woman who would likely have been unseen by anyone else, and He stopped everything for her. With no son or husband in that society, this woman would have undoubtedly been left destitute. He was not moved with compassion for the dead young man, but for the woman left alone. He raised the young man and gave him back to his mother.
Once again, the story ends with the declaration that the news about Jesus could not be contained. The report about Him spread to all the surrounding country!
When Jesus moves in someone’s life, it will always bring Him glory, because every encounter with God magnifies who He is. We see different aspects of who God is in these three stories. We see authority and power as well as willing mercy, but those things do not contradict each other. Jesus is as powerful as He is compassionate. He is as much a King as He is a friend. As followers of Jesus, we are called to spread the report of Him everywhere we go. What news are we spreading? Are our hearts bursting with the good news of Jesus? That’s how He intends us to live. If the only thing that comes out of our mouths is negativity, then it’s time for another encounter with Him. Whatever it is we have need of, there is very good news! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gospel is still the power of God unto salvation. He is still drawing all men unto Himself. He will meet you right where you are, today!
“I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.”
It is not our wisdom or clever presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ that draws people to Him. Our surrender and obedience are necessary, but it is the gospel itself that brings salvation. When the truth about Jesus is declared, men will be drawn by the power of the Holy Spirit. Jesus said,
“And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)
There are three different miracles that captured my heart this week regarding these truths. The first is found in Luke 4:31-37. It says,
‘He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee. And He was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at His teaching, for His word possessed authority. And in the synagogue, there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “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.” 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. 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!” And reports about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.’
Every encounter with Jesus reveals a facet of His heart and the heart of the Father. In this miracle, we see the authority of Jesus demonstrated powerfully. Prior to the encounter with the demonic, it says they were astonished by His teaching, because of the authority it possessed. How much more did they marvel after they saw His authority over darkness?
The end of the story is what caught my attention this week. It says, “reports about Him went out into every place in the surrounding region.”
Jesus didn’t have to send His disciples out to advertise for His meetings. The news spread because people couldn’t stop talking about the One who demons obeyed. The next story I want to look at is found in Luke 5:12-15. It says,
‘While He was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” And Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him. And He charged him to tell no one, but “go and show yourself to the priest, and make an offering for your cleansing, as Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” But now even more the report about Him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear Him and to be healed of their infirmities.’
Again, we see God’s heart revealed in Jesus’ encounter with a broken man. This leprous man did not doubt Jesus could heal Him. He’d heard the stories about what Jesus could do. What he wasn’t sure of is whether Jesus would heal him. Jesus responded, “I will” and this is a revelation we all need. In the first story, Jesus’ authority and power were highlighted, but His power is always combined with His willingness to heal. He is more willing to move on our behalf than we are to ask, and it only takes a mustard seed of faith!
Look at the final sentence of this account. Even though Jesus commanded the man to tell no one, the good news could not be contained. It says, “even more, the report about Him went abroad.” Crowds came because they heard there was One who was able and willing to heal and deliver.
The final story I want to look at this week is found in Luke 7:11-17. It says,
“Soon afterward, He went to a town called Nain, and His disciples and a great crowd went with him. As he drew near to the gate of the town, behold, a man who had died was being carried out, the only son of his mother, and she was a widow, and a considerable crowd from the town was with her. And when the Lord saw her, He had compassion on her and said to her, “Do not weep.” Then He came up and touched the bier, and the bearers stood still. And He said, “Young man, I say to you, arise.” And the dead man sat up and began to speak, and Jesus gave him to his mother. Fear seized them all, and they glorified God, saying, “A great prophet has arisen among us!” and “God has visited his people!” And this report about Him spread through the whole of Judea and all the surrounding country.”
This story reveals to us the tenderness of God’s heart. Surrounded by a “great crowd,” Jesus saw a woman who would likely have been unseen by anyone else, and He stopped everything for her. With no son or husband in that society, this woman would have undoubtedly been left destitute. He was not moved with compassion for the dead young man, but for the woman left alone. He raised the young man and gave him back to his mother.
Once again, the story ends with the declaration that the news about Jesus could not be contained. The report about Him spread to all the surrounding country!
When Jesus moves in someone’s life, it will always bring Him glory, because every encounter with God magnifies who He is. We see different aspects of who God is in these three stories. We see authority and power as well as willing mercy, but those things do not contradict each other. Jesus is as powerful as He is compassionate. He is as much a King as He is a friend. As followers of Jesus, we are called to spread the report of Him everywhere we go. What news are we spreading? Are our hearts bursting with the good news of Jesus? That’s how He intends us to live. If the only thing that comes out of our mouths is negativity, then it’s time for another encounter with Him. Whatever it is we have need of, there is very good news! Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. The gospel is still the power of God unto salvation. He is still drawing all men unto Himself. He will meet you right where you are, today!
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