For this purpose I have come forth

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." But He said to them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth."

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

- Mark 1:29-45

In yesterday's reading, we learned that John the Baptist is already in prison. Jesus begins His Galilean ministry, preaching, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." He walks by the Sea of Galilee, seeing the brothers Simon and Andrew. He tells them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." Later He meets James and John Zebedee, and they follow Him as well. Going to Capernaum, Jesus entered a synagogue and taught. All are astounded at His authority, not like those of the scribes. A man with an unclean spirit rose and said to Him, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are -- the Holy One of God!" But Jesus told the spirit to be quiet and to come out of the man. The people responded: "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. Mark's Gospel now takes us into the personal -- from the synagogue Jesus and His disciples go to the house of brothers Simon and Andrew. Peter's a married man, and his mother-in-law is sick with a fever. Jesus' ministry is not just for the public in the synagogue, but here it becomes quite personal -- even the form the healing takes. He took her by the hand, lifting her up. Mark's Gospel gives us the details that tell us of a tender personal scene, perhaps unusual in its intimacy of touch for the time. But it tells us about Jesus: He is not merely the impressive, authoritative, powerful preacher who commands even the demons. Here He cares for the older woman, Peter's mother-in-law. She is restored to her place in the household through His touch. And I think we might also consider that from the point of view of the Church, it is an honor to serve Christ and His disciples.

At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. Here, the public comes to the door! His personal healing is not only for the immediate family and relatives, those of His circle but rather the "whole city was gathered together at the door." Nor is His healing of those with demons reserved only for the public place in the synagogue, but also the personal. Again, His power prevents the demons even from speaking. It is clear where the authority lies, what kingdom He is bringing.

Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." But He said to them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." Again, this briefest of the Gospels, while moving along at its swift pace and with simple language, surprises us with its detail. My study bible points out that Mark's is the only Gospel that gives us a full day in Jesus' life, "a day built around prayer and ministry." We always note the emphasized image of Jesus at prayer, setting His example for us all. Everyone is looking for Him, but Jesus is doing what He must, sticking to His business. First comes prayer, time with the Father. My study bible notes for us: "Jesus' priority is prayer to His Father: prayer before service. He goes to a solitary place to be free from distraction, despite the multitudes' need of Him. His ministry comes out of His relationship with His Father, not foremost out of people's need." And it is clear from the text this is so. First there is the time for prayer. Despite the fact that so many are looking for Him, He does what He must for this ministry -- and, one presumes, what the Father calls Him to do. It is time to move to the next towns and preach the message of the gospel, the good news of the Kingdom at hand.

Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction. Again, we get a personal picture of Jesus here in this healing of the leper. Jesus is "moved with compassion." Leprosy condemned a person to exclusion from community; a certificate was necessary from the priest to be allowed back into community. Again, my study bible usefully points out this key to Jesus' character and its display through His ministry: "Jesus heals from compassion -- not from duty or a need to prove Himself, or in order to gather a following." In another sense, we can also see the completeness of Jesus' healing power. Leprosy was considered a kind of evidence of sin or guilt, a condition reflecting the consequences of sin in the world. Jesus touches the leper as well; this healing touch goes deeper than the skin, and the implication is clear when the man goes to show himself to the priest, to come back into religious community. And here is yet another paradox of this man, Christ, with so much power and authority: He doesn't want the healed man to speak publicly about Him. He proclaims the Kingdom, but not His own divinity. The signs are there, but His Messiahship must remain secret. However, this news is not contained, so that Jesus is mobbed by crowds. Even in the deserted places, they come to Him from every direction.

Here, coming so quickly in Mark's Gospel, is tremendous evidence of all of Jesus' healing and teaching abilities. He has total power over demons. He heals by touch, in the personal and immediate. He rebukes demons in public in the synagogue before the community and by personal contact. He even heals the leper by touch. All of this is here for us to see and to read about Him. His duty and love is first of all for the Father, with the Father -- and this compassion extends to all. The great paradox is in the personalness of Jesus. As there is intimacy and love and loyalty to the Father, so Jesus' relationship and "touch" seem to come to each of us, this story says. And we can experience this in our lives. The intimate moments depicted, the healing of Peter's mother-in-law or the admonition to the healed leper to tell no one, but to simply go to the priest, tell us something wonderful about Jesus. His heart is greater than anything that we can know, and yet it comes first from His intimate relationship with the Father, as do all things we know about Him as Son. He teaches us all through His example of love and service. He is not pleasing the world, but pleasing God the Father through God's own love, compassion, loyalty, trust. God the Almighty invites us in to this intimate, personal picture, this secret of Christ, proclaimed in the Gospels. It is always inviting us in, to "Follow Him." This is the good news of the Kingdom at hand.