“29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons, and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also, for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons” Mark 1:29-39.
In this first chapter of Mark, the author is keen to show the healing power of Jesus. Jesus immediately leaves the synagogue and enters the house of Simon and Andrew. When Jesus is told that Simon’s mother-in-law is ill with a fever, Jesus takes her hand, “and the fever left her.” She begins to wait on the three of them, signaling her physical wholeness and her spiritual response to Jesus. In no way can we read into this menial service her insignificance, for the angels offered similar service to Jesus in the desert (see Mark 1:13).
When the Sabbath ends that night the town brings all their sick and demon-possessed to Jesus, and He heals many of them. He would not let the demons speak because they knew who Jesus was. This refers back to Jesus healing the demon-possessed man in the synagogue, and it was noted that the demons “cried out, ‘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’” Mark 1:24. And then a few hours later, early in the morning before sunrise, Jesus heads out alone to a deserted place to pray. This assures us that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, who relies of God and not on sorcery or magic. The authority, strength, and power of Jesus comes from God alone. Jesus then heads out to other places, always on the road, to heal the sick and to preach, the two ways He “proclaims the message”, the good news, the Gospel. Throughout Mark, Jesus keeps his bags packed traveling to many places outside of Jerusalem in Galilee.
Today I am struck by how Jesus would not be distracted from His Divine purpose, and may I suggest that this is our task as well. So today pray that you will not be distracted from the purpose and plan god has laid out for your life. Stay focused, deliberate, prayerful, and faithful.
Lord Jesus Christ, Son of the Living God, have mercy on me a sinner.
From the Bible:
“Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. But sexual immorality and all impurity or covetousness must not even be named among you, as is proper among saints. Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving. For you may be sure of this, that everyone who is sexually immoral or impure, or who is covetous (that is, an idolater), has no inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God…” Ephesians 5:1-33.
“Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain” 1 Corinthians 15:58.
“Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” James 4:7.
Comments