What is meant by the power of the Lord? (Luke 5:17)
17 Now it happened on a certain day, as He was teaching, that there were Pharisees and teachers of the law sitting by, who had come out of every town of Galilee, Judea, and Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them.
Clarify
•
Share
•
Report
•
Asked August 12 2019
•
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
Community answers are sorted based on votes. The higher the vote, the further up an answer is.
Tim Maas
Supporter
It seems to me that Luke is seeking to emphasize that it was not only in Jesus' teaching or words that power was present, but that He also displayed the same power through His actions. As Jesus Himself noted after forgiving the sins of the paralytic who was brought to Him -- which, despite the paralytic's physical ailment, was really the paralytic's more fundamental spiritual need, but for which action by Jesus the Pharisees considered Him guilty of blasphemy, since only God had the power to forgive sins -- it was "easy" for Him to merely say the words "Your sins are forgiven." But, as concrete proof that He had the actual authority to forgive sins, He then displayed His healing power as God incarnate (referred to by Luke in the verse cited in the question, which He always possessed, and of which He gave visible evidence in all the healings that He performed) by commanding the paralytic to rise and walk. Another similar incident occurred in Luke 8:42-48 when Jesus was surrounded by a crowd of people, and a woman who was seeking healing for a hemhorraging condition just touched the hem of His garment. Despite the many others who were apparently coming in physical contact with Him, Jesus knew that the woman had touched Him and had been healed, because He sensed that healing power had gone out from Him, despite the fact that He had neither individually seen the woman nor spoken with her.
James Kraft
Supporter
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the POWER of God unto salvation to everyone that BELIEVETH, to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. John 1:12 But as many as received Him, to them gave He POWER, to become the children of God, even to them that believe on His name. John 6:40 And this is the will of Him who sent me, that ALL that seeth the Son, and believeth on Him, may have EVERLASTING LIFE, and I will raise him up on the last day.
Jack Gutknecht
Supporter
the power of the Lord was there The details of this verse are not found in Matthew’s or Mark’s account of the paralytic’s healing. The presence of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law—along with the description of Yahweh’s healing power being present in Jesus—sets the stage for Jesus’ miracle and His subsequent dispute with the religious authorities. 17. power of the Lord … present—with Jesus. to heal them—the sick people. To say that "the power of the Lord was present for him to heal the sick" (Luke 5:17) is probably another way of saying that the Spirit of the Lord was present. Healing can mean forgiveness or restoration (Luke 5:31; Matt. 9:12; Mark 2:17; Heb. 12:13; 1 Peter 2:24).
Jay Saunders
Supporter
The power of the Lord is written about in examples of many healings but if you have ever felt the power of the Lord, you will never forget it. I have experienced it when God delivered me of my final addiction cigarettes. He delivered me from the power of drug addiction and habitual cursing when I got saved. But for some reason he waited for me to cry out to him in prayer for the latter. Now and years later I know that it was one of my many lessens in faith from the Holy Spirit. When the power of God comes on you for a brief time or a longer time nothing exists but the presence of the power. It is powerful like an electric shock, but it is never uncomfortable like an electric shock. All the 5 senses are put on hold, even your thought life, and sometimes you end up on the floor. You may blank out for a brief moment or longer. Time has no relativity when this happens. Time has no meaning or relevance. The awareness of time ceases. It returns after the glory leaves but you really want God's glory to stay. Most of the time the glory flows or submerses you for the briefest of moments and the peace is wondrous. Sometimes it is in waves pulsating as you lay there on the floor. You never feel the fall or are hurt by the fall. When you recover all your senses which can happen quickly or over a time period of minutes. You really don't want it to stop. Once I was overwhelmed by the Lord's power in a pew after the children's minister came into the sanctuary and declared that God told him that he would heal those who had suffered child abuse. Once I was laid hands on by a traveling evangelist and the power was on me for the whole sermon that he preached. It felt so good, I really did not want it to end. All I remember was that for over an hour I lay there in God's glory on my back with my arms lifted towards the heavens. Another time was when I prayed for a family in elder prayer and anointed them with oil, and one by one they fell to the carpeted floor in the glory. The glory was on me too but it did not overwhelm me to the floor because I was doing elder prayer ministry. Of course many go to church and never experience these things, but when you're deep in the chains of sin as I once was, it is the power of the most high God that can only set you free. I don't need to tell you my sin story because God's blood blotted it out. Sometimes you can feel it in the touch of another believer when you hold hands to pray a power like no other here on earth that can not be replicated, scheduled or be forewarned about that it is about to flow. But when the glory flows people are changed from the inside out. The glory of God can flow when you praise and worship the Lord. When it happens you are overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit and you enter in the glory because you are casting all aside to give him your praise and worship without reservation or care. Your love for him transcends earthly human bodily boundaries. The glory is the power of the most high touching mankind here on earth through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. Selah! Jay Dennis Saunders Joyful Worshipper Son of Thunder
Add your Answer
All answers are REVIEWED and MODERATED.
Please ensure your answer MEETS all our guidelines.
A good answer provides new insight and perspective. Here are guidelines to help facilitate a meaningful learning experience for everyone.
- Adhere to the eBible Statement of Faith.
- Your answer should be complete and stand-alone.
- Include supporting arguments, and scripture references if possible. Seek to answer the "why".
- Adhere to a proper tone and spirit of love and understanding.
- For more info see The Complete Guide to eBible