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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 touch him, and said, "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
On Saturday, we read that after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel." And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." They immediately left their nets and followed Him. When H had gone a little farther 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. Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, saying, "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!" And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came 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. 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' first act of ministry, we read on Saturday, after having chosen disciples, was to begin to preach in the synagogue. In response, immediately there was reaction from an unclean spirit within a man, and Jesus rebuked the spirit. All of this is couched within a reality of healing; Jesus' power works against the unclean spirits, and against the ailments of mankind. Healing and casting out demons are framed within the same power of Christ, which is ultimately a truly healing power -- it is setting things aright, liberating human beings from the things that cripple, afflict, ail, and cause pain. The healings go from the spectacular in public to the needed in private. My study bible notes regarding Jesus' forbidding of the demons to speak: Our Lord's refusal to fully disclose His identity as Messiah is foreseen by Isaiah, who wrote of the Messiah as Suffering Servant (see Isaiah 42:1-4). There are various reasons for secrecy, including the growing hostility of the religious leadership, the people's lack of understanding of the Messiah as earthly, political leader, and Jesus' desire to evoke genuine faith not based simply on signs or miracles. The Servant, as referenced from Isaiah, refers first to Christ, my study bible tells us, but also by extension to all who follow 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." My study bible points out that Jesus sets an example for all of us on what the spiritual life truly is. Although He's God incarnate, He prays continually, often finding a solitary place to be free from distraction, despite the needs of the multitude who search and clamor for Him. The Lord's ministry must come from His communion with the Father and the Holy Spirit, and it flows to people in their needs. His praying in the morning teaches that prayer comes first in the sense that above all else is our commitment to God, then we will be equipped to serve others. This is the perfect example of the two greatest commandments, first and second, as cited by Jesus: love of God, and love of neighbor.
And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. My study bible cites Ambrose of Milan, who has pointed out that "new creation began where old creation ceased" as Jesus preached and healed on the Sabbaths.
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 touch him, and said, "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. This is an astounding healing, as leprosy was considered a kind of punishment for sin. Leviticus 13 and 14 contain the biblical law regarding leprosy, and Deuteronomy 24:8 describes the purification of lepers and leprous houses, which was a duty given to priests. As lepers were considered "unclean" they weren't permitted to live in community or to worship in synagogues or the temple. Jesus touches this leper to heal him, although touching the unclean was forbidden (Leviticus 7:21). My study bible says that in addition to Jesus' compassion, it shows that He is not subject to the Law but over it: "to the clean, nothing is unclean." We note Jesus' "immediate" fame (as noted on Saturday, the word immediate appears frequently in Mark's Gospel); this is a ministry that has extraordinary effects.
It's important to understand how Jesus' ministry works. Healing is the character of the whole of the ministry, because healing itself is the reality of God. Whatever we need to be or to do, whatever we need in terms of correction and setting-aright, is all in the reality of God. This is the characteristic of the Kingdom, to set aright -- and to liberate us from what ails us. The evil one is the author of afflictions. In the Synoptic Gospels, Jesus is asked by a lawyer, an expert in the Law, what is the greatest commandment. Jesus gives two: the first is Deuteronomy 6:5 -- "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength." And the second is Leviticus 19:18 -- "You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord." It's important that we understand that Jesus gives those commandments together, but also in order, first and second. As in all of His actions and commandments, Jesus does not simply teach things to people, He lives out the teachings that He gives to the rest of us. In today's reading, we see these commandments, in the proper order, exemplified: His first priority is relationship with the Father, and out of this flows love of neighbor. And we might add, proper love of neighbor. Jesus does not fill every request for sign or miracle that is given Him in the Gospels; the leadership will demand a sign, even Herod Antipas will demand a sign from Him. Jesus' priority, on the contrary, is faith. He lives by faith, He acts by faith, He teaches us faith. Faith is a voluntary love and trust of God, and thus we come back to this first commandment. As Liberator or Redeemer, Jesus is the one who brings in the greater forces of the Kingdom, to prevail against the evil one, the one who causes us pain and afflicts us. He liberates people from demons and unclean spirits, He liberates people from affliction and pain. The very character of this Kingdom is healing on all levels; whether we are talking about repentance to heal the soul or we are talking about the healing of the body, all of it is connected. We find real health in God, and an inseparability of body and soul and spirit. Christ's ministry exemplifies the "holistic" idea of life, that nothing is separate from the life of God, and so nothing in our lives should remain separate from our life in faith, as one of participation in this Kingdom. This is the restoration after the Fall. Let us take careful note of such a reality. We may not find that our "afflictions" all look the same as the ones in the Gospels. In a modern "first world" country, leprosy isn't a threat. But other ailments are all around us like plagues that afflict and burden and enslave, particularly problems of anxiety or depression, going hand in hand with addictions and all kinds of other ailments. Healthcare may be first rate for some, but it doesn't mean the world is freed from all diseases. On the contrary, if we consider violence and instability a threat and affliction, we can see what is happening all around the world. It becomes clear how necessary our faith is, how extremely powerful is this healing alternative to the picture we see around us. Let us remember that in Christ's redeeming power is healing itself for all things, beginning with the heart and soul of all beings. Let us be like Him, and live out our faith, with first things first, and second things second, His way. We can't truly see what it is to heal ourselves or the world without this direction, in the first place. Loving one's neighbor isn't merely responding with a "yes" to all requests, nor is it seeking immediate solutions to all problems. God teaches us what love and healing really is, and how to share that power with others.
