February 3 | Luke 6:17-19

Pastor Dave Mann
Feb 3, 2025
2 min read

DAILY READING

REFLECTION

The Nations Show the Way

By Dave Mann

In the verses that precede today’s reading, we are told that Jesus had withdrawn to the mountainside to spend time in concentrated prayer. When he came down to a level place on the mountainside with the crowd, he taught and healed many people (v. 17). It was common for Jesus to spend significant time in prayer before major decisions or time in public ministry. See Luke 5:16, Luke 6:12, Luke 9:18, Luke 9:28-29, especially the high priestly prayer recorded in John 17, and in the Garden of Gethsemane before his arrest, trial, and death on the cross.

On this level place on the side of the mountain, the crowds came to receive Jesus’ authoritative teaching and to be healed of all manner of diseases and demonic oppression. They came from many different regions of Jewish communities, but also from the Gentile regions of Tyre and Sidon (v. 17). It is interesting that Jesus not only drew crowds from the Jewish communities but also from Gentile populations throughout his ministry. (See Luke 2:29-32, Mark 7:24-30, Matthew 11:20-24, Matthew 8:5-12, and Matthew 28:18-20.)

From the beginning, it has been the Lord’s design to reach out beyond the borders of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and into the ethnicities of all the nations (Genesis 12:1-3). Isaiah 49:6 is very clear.

The Lord says:

“It is too small a thing for you to be my servant

to restore the tribes of Jacob

and bring back those of Israel I have kept.

I will also make you a light for the Gentiles,

that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.”

Among this multi-ethnic crowd, how was Jesus able to heal so many? Scripture states that power was coming out of him. No doubt, it was the power that was gained through his time in prayer. It is not uncommon for those who have spent time in cross-cultural ministry to see believers from other cultures (the “Gentiles” of today) spend lengthy periods in prayer. I do not mean ten minutes or even an hour but rather a whole day or more. I had a Haitian friend who had the practice of spending a week in prayer at the start of each new year to receive his marching orders and new power. Maybe we have something to learn from our brothers and sisters who come from other nations.

PRAYER

Lord God, even in this action of prayer, I confess that I do not value enough the gift of prayer which you have given believers. Not only do you allow us to draw near to the Lord of the universe, but you also warmly encourage us to be one with you in the Spirit. I ask that you would quicken my heart to desire to respond to your gracious invitation, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DAVE MANN

I am a Pastor for Internationals (retired) in the UALC community. I am married to Pam, father of four, and grandfather of six. Pam and I have lived twenty of our years in other countries including France, Cameroon, Haiti, and Morocco. In retirement, we continue to enjoy writing devotionals, learning languages, and teaching English to internationals.

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