Each

Luke 4:40 At sunset, people brought to Jesus all who were sick. He placed his hands on each one and healed them.

Jesus had just finished a long day. He had preached. He had taught. He had healed. Yet, people still had problems. More and more people came to Jesus to get help with their problems. If you have served in a helping profession, you know that after a while it is easy to stop seeing individual needs. Soon you stop seeing individuals with needs. Before long all you see is overwhelming need. It is easy to lose compassion for the individual.

In describing what was probably a typical day for Jesus, Luke adds a word he does not need to: ekastoi. This means “each.” The sentence would have read fine if he just wrote, “[Jesus] placed his hands on them…” Yet, he instead says Jesus “placed his hands on each one.” This stresses Jesus’ concern for each individual. The Greek text here says the people were sick with various diseases. Each person had his or her own unique problems, but Jesus cared for each one as an individual.

Whatever you may be going through today, Jesus knows what you are experiencing and wants to meet your unique need. He will deal with you as an individual. He knows, loves, and died for you.