Often when I am reading the scriptures I see these moments, phrases and descriptions I have never noticed before. Today I noticed another one.

He went down with them and stood on a level place. A large crowd of his disciples was there and a great number of people from all over Judea, from Jerusalem, and from the coastal region around Tyre and Sidon, who had come to hear him and to be healed of their diseases. Those troubled by impure spirits were cured, and the people all tried to touch him, because power was coming from him and healing them all. Luke 6:17-19

The big thing that has always stuck out to me in this passage before was that everyone was healed. Now, don’t get me wrong that really is incredible! But how they are healed in this moment is fascinating.

Power was coming out of Him

I wonder what this looked like? Did it look like anything? Or was it just perceptible because of the effect it had on those around Jesus?

The idea of power is not something that is thought enough about by followers of Jesus in my opinion. We are happy to talk about the power of the cross and Jesus, but not about how it affects us in our everyday. Paul didn’t shy away from this in his letters however.

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5

Paul wanted the believers in His time to know that the good news of Jesus wasn’t just talk. it must have power because it is powerful! What a difference that would make in our lives. Just in case we think we don’t qualify Paul tells us at the end of his letter to the Ephesians

Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20-21

I’m not suggesting we become power chasers or anything like that. In fact we must be careful about ever doing that, the goal of following Jesus is still the same, we want to follow Him and become all that He has called us to be. I do think we need to be more aware of the spiritual power that He lends to us, through Him, and that we ask for the wisdom to use it well. The Holy Spirit has way more that He wants to reveal to us but it will require us being prepared to engage with Him and His power in ways that may not always feel comfortable or logical to us.