And they came to Him from every direction

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 have I come forth." And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

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 Saturday's reading, we learned of the imprisonment of John the Baptist. Jesus then began His ministry, in Galilee. Several fishermen, kinsmen and friends to one another and to Jesus, were His first disciples. As He then preached in the synagogue in Capernaum, all were astounded at His learning and His authority. A man with an unclean spirit spoke out, "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!" Jesus commanded the spirit to be quiet and to come out of the man. His authority was witnessed, even over the demons, and His fame spread all over 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 moves very fast, teaching us the events of Jesus' life, and establishing for us the many characteristics of His ministry. We know already of His authority in speaking and teaching, and over demons. Here He rebukes a fever. To take her by the hand is a personal act, one of tenderness, kindness, service (He "lifted her up"). She is restored to her place and in turn rises and serves them. My study bible repeatedly points out that Jesus heals in many ways, often requiring the help of friends or loved ones. In each case, He does what it takes.

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. The messianic secret must be guarded. Throughout Mark's Gospel, we will find that this is so. Here is a Messiah with a special mission, not a political one, and He avoids misunderstanding and false expectations through His ministry. He is here to bring a spiritual kingdom into the world, not a political one.

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 have I come forth." And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. My study bible points out that Mark's is the only Gospel to give us a full day in the life of Jesus. As He began His ministry with prayer (the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness), so He starts very early in the morning in a solitary place for prayer. Everyone is searching for Him - He is in high demand. But instead of staying where He is known and His fame makes Him in demand, Jesus tells His disciples they must go to the next towns - to preach and to heal - because this is what He is here for. My study bible has a wonderful note: Jesus' day is one "built around prayer and ministry. Jesus is the model for both, and He does not separate them. 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. Here He moves along to the next towns. He knows His task, and performs it although the crowds clamor around Him."

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. In the healing of this leper, we find yet another kind of healing -- and an astounding one, given the times in which He lives. Leprosy was considered a particular affliction, the result of sin. It required separation from community. But in this instance, we are given a clear illumination of Jesus' compassion: "I am willing; be cleansed." My study bible points out that Jesus heals "not from duty or a need to prove Himself, or in order to gather a following," but from compassion.

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." This was necessary because a leper was required to receive a certificate from a priest in order to rejoin the community. Jesus fulfills the Law, and does not violate it. But there is more to this: He guards His messianic identity. Healing is all from compassion, and reveals the love that comes from the Father: His Father's business. This also is consistent with the need to guard the messianic secret - His is to be a ministry that reveals God's will for this spiritual kingdom, and not the people's popular expectations of such a figure.

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. Despite Himself, Jesus' fame spreads. And expectations will no doubt rise and create a clamor. As His ministry proceeds, He is faced with the fact that this world will offer Him its own kinds of challenges, despite His best to do as He must for His ministry.

I think it's important to remember, and to note that Jesus' ministry is always about conveying direction. He is always doing His Father's will, and He exemplifies the Father in Himself. This is why His healing miracles are called signs. They are signs of the Father's presence, they tell us something about God. Jesus acts from compassion and through prayer, direction from the Father. What the world does with His teachings is something else altogether -- the world will respond as it does, with all kinds of misunderstandings and perceptions, giving Him a kind of fame He doesn't seek for Himself. But despite that, Jesus proceeds in the same way, through direction from the Father, starting with prayer, and revealing as He can the Father in all dimensions in which He is meant to do, in all the things "for this purpose" for which He has "come forth." In Jesus' story, we are told something about ourselves and our world: that we can't always control the outcome. People will make of all things what they will, but we turn again and again to God in prayer, to teach us where we must go from here, and what purpose we had best serve. Let's remember that we can't always control what people will do with the gifts we may offer, through a life of prayer and service as best as we can discern. But we can always turn back to God. Jesus sets us the great example that we should seek to follow in our lives, and remember what purpose we're here for, and what it means to undertake and stay "on mission." We can refresh ourselves each day -- perhaps each morning - through prayer and seeking discernment for what we do. The rest is not necessarily up to us.