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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." 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 yesterday's reading, we read that Jesus proclaimed (after John the Baptist was put into prison), "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." He called His disciples Peter and Andrew, and James and John Zebedee. Walking by the Sea of Galilee, He said, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When He had gone a little further from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. They went to Capernaum and Jesus began teaching in the synagogue. All were struck by the authority with which He taught. A man with an unclean spirit shouted out, "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 rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "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. We go from the public to the very personal and intimate. We are in Simon's family home. In the healing of Simon Peter's mother-in-law, we get the sense from reading the Greek that Jesus does all the work and takes the initiative: He comes near to her, He takes her hand, He lifts her up. The word here for "serve" (Gr. diakoneo) shares the root of our word for deacon.
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. Jesus' work continues through the day and into the evening. Healing and casting out demons are a part of this work, they go together: healing is restoring us to this Kingdom He brings into the world. The demons are not allowed to speak: the revelation of the Kingdom is Jesus' to make, in His own way, and in His Father's timing.
Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. My study bible notes here: "Mark is the only Gospel which gives us a full 24-hour day in Jesus' life, a day 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."
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." And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. My study bible continues: "Here He moves along to the next towns. He knows His task, and performs it although the crowds clamor around Him." We understand the emphasis: His task is one of obedience to the Father's will; that is, how the Kingdom unfolds and is revealed in the world is directed by the Divine, and not human perspective or seemingly advantageous opportunity in our sight. It's quite telling that Jesus says "for this purpose I have come forth." It gives us a hint of a life lived in knowledge of His identity. Choosing to come forward, and to reveal, is a specific choice, made for the last years of His life, and with a specific mission. It is a choice made of love for us.
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. My study bible notes here: "As the dialogue between the leper and Jesus demonstrates, Jesus heals from compassion -- not from duty or a need to prove Himself, or in order to gather a following. Jesus' authority is comprehensive: (1) in teaching, (2) over demons, and (3) over sickness -- powerful testimony to His divinity. But He wishes this and His messiahship to be kept a secret."
The beginning chapter of the Gospel of Mark tells us so many things about Jesus, and moves us quickly into His work, His ministry. He heals Peter's mother-in-law, He prays alone in the very early hours of the morning in a deserted place without other demands and distractions, always seeking the will of His Father. He gives us an example with everything that He does. His mission is to serve and to reveal, but the power and authority in that mission is from God. It is in Christ and in His Person. Moreover His compassion comes from this place of authority; nothing here is simply obligatory with Him, nor is it made to impress others. He tells the healed leper to do as Moses taught, to go to the priest (as a certificate was required to rejoin the community). Jesus in all ways shows a kind of balance and right-relatedness that is free from motives that are purely emotional or sentimental or opportunistic. His own union with the Father is a union in love and justice, in what is appropriate. And if we take that lesson to heart, we see a balance that is a kind of model for all of us. Where do our motives come from? What do we allow to sway us when we decide what's for the highest good? In Christ's discernment is the power of God, and for this discernment we, too, pray in our lives. To please God then becomes the highest goal we can make, because in doing so -- as in His example -- we also serve others in the best way we can. God is love, let us remember.
