Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed

 

 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 

 

Yesterday we read that, after John the Baptist 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 He 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.  This passage reveals to us the family life of Saints Peter and Andrew, and shows that Peter was married.  It follows upon the command of rebuke to the unclean spirit (see yesterday's reading, above), and reminds us that St. Luke tells us He rebuked her fever (Luke 4:39).  Simon's mother-in-law is then restored to her place of importance in the house, as she also may serve the Lord His ministry.  It's important that we understand the word served here means to "minister" in Greek; in fact, it is literally the word from which we derive "deacon" (διακονέω/diakoneo).  

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 is yet more demonstration of Christ's use of His authority.  His healing power is linked to His authority over the demons and His capacity to disallow them to speak.  Christ is the One who may reveal what is hidden, and choose to hide what must not yet be revealed before its proper time of preparation.

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.  My study Bible comments that St. Mark's is the only Gospel that gives us a full 24-hour day in the life of Jesus.  It is a day built around prayer and ministry; Christ is the model for both, and He does not separate them.  His priority is prayer to His Father; in other words, there is prayer before service.  Although Jesus is God incarnate, He prayed continually, and frequently found a solitary place to be free from distraction, despite the multitude's need of Him.  My study Bible adds that Christ's ministry comes forth from His communion with the Father and the holy Spirit, and flows to people in their needs.  It says that His praying in the morning shows us that we need to put first priority on commitment to God, for only then we will be equipped to serve others.

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 says that Christ's dialogue with the leper reveals that Jesus heals from compassion; it is not from a sense of duty or a need to prove Himself, or to gather a following. Once again we observe elements of Christ's authority, which my study Bible calls comprehensive:  we see it in teaching, over demons, and over sickness.  Altogether, a powerful testimony to His divinity.  And yet, this divine identity as Messiah must remain for now a secret.  But in some sense, this is a secret that cannot be kept hidden.

We may look at the final story in today's reading, the healing of the leper, and consider Jesus' repeated effort to keep His identity hidden.  But Christ's public ministry coming into the world is akin to the coming of spring.  The good news bursts open like flowers blooming from bulbs hidden underground until this moment.  It's not the only time we read that Christ tried to keep hidden, and could not do so.  In fact, in chapter 7, we will read that Jesus will journey to the Gentile region of Tyre and Sidon, seeking to escape the multitudes who pursue Him:  "From there He arose and went to the region of Tyre and Sidon. And He entered a house and wanted no one to know it, but He could not be hidden" (Mark 7:24).  It's as if the good news of Christ's gospel is so full with its own energy that it must burst forth and cannot be limited.  Clearly Christ begins His public ministry with an understanding that He will need to reveal His identity as Messiah in a way that will not be confused with the popular expectations and demands for what is desired in such a figure.  He neither desires to be made a king, or to lead a political movement, or simply to give a new philosophy to the world.  Instead, the way in which Christ is revealing Himself shows us -- as my study Bible has pointed out so far in this Gospel -- just what His authority and power is all about.  Moreover, Jesus is ultimately obedient to the Father's will in all of this unfolding and public ministry that begins with healing, preaching, the casting out of demons, and calling of disciples.  Let us consider Christ's authority and power, and how it is rooted in love, for this is where our own highest loyalty must be, and what compels us forward toward Him.   St. Paul speaks of the glory shining in Moses' face, and covered by a veil -- a veil that is lifted by Christ for all to see.  He writes, "Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord" (2 Corinthians 3:16-18).  This is the power and authority to which we are drawn, and through which we are compelled only by love to draw closer.   Let us follow Christ's example, and start with prayer, for it is there where we begin seek the true image of glory.