Trust

 

The first chapter of Mark quickly introduces the readers to Jesus as the Son of God. John the Baptist baptized Jesus and God proclaimed from heaven that Jesus is His Son. At once, Jesus began teaching, healing, and casting out demons with power and authority. People in Capernaum started clamoring to be near Him to watch what He would do. The religious leaders began taking notice of Jesus. They started listening and examining Him to teach, heal, and cast out demons.

Mark's second chapter continues to show Jesus' teaching and doing miraculous things. No one has ever done what Jesus did, except as God empowered him or her being as a prophet or priest. From Mark 2, Jesus told the people He is the Son of Man. The time was right for people to know about Jesus and the plan of salvation.

Jesus’ activities up through Mark 2:12 were generally positive. People expressed amazement at what He did and glorified God. From Mark 2:13, Jesus received “push-back” from the religious leaders. They challenged Him—His power, authority, and teaching. The stories Mark records in 2:13-3:6 generally show Jesus' meeting with negative interactions. The Pharisees and Herodians challenge Jesus. The Pharisees wanted to restore the kingdom of David. The Herodians wanted to restore a Herod to the throne in Judea. These two factions determined to work jointly to kill Jesus. Even though Pharisees and Herodians were political opposites, each faction worked with the other only to persecute Jesus.

With the start of Mark chapter two, Mark used a teaching form called a chiastic structure. A chiastic structure serves to lead readers and hearers to understand the lesson by developing in a way that people understand the purpose of the writer. In the Bible, a chiasm can occur within a verse, paragraph, chapter, or book. Each repetition develops the point. Mark used a chiastic structure in Mark 2:1-3:6. The structure for this passage of verses is as follows.

A.   Healing the paralytic (2:1-12)            

B.    Calling the tax collector and eating with tax collectors and sinners

C.    Question about fasting

B’. Jesus’ defense of the disciples for a Sabbath harvest

A’. Healing the man’s withered hand. 

Parts A and A’ deal with Jesus’ healing people. Sections B, C, and B’ tell about Jesus’ teaching on eating. In A, the religious leaders did not outwardly challenge Jesus. Jesus knew what was in their hearts. He showed and taught He has authority even to forgive sins. (Note: the Jews supposed a person was sick because he or she sinned. That sickness was God’s judgment on the person for his or her sin.) With A’, the religious leaders spoke out and Jesus challenged them on their idea of the Law’s purpose. He used healing people to teach in this instance, too. In B, C, and B’, Jesus dealt with religious leaders challenging Him about disobeying the Law. They judged Him because of with whom He ate, when they ate, and why they ate. In each part of this chiasm, Jesus confronted the religious leaders on their interpretation of the Law and God’s intent of it. Jesus shows His authority is greater than that of the Jewish authorities. Mark 2:1-12 shows who Jesus is and His purpose by using one encounter recorded in twelve verses. These twelve verses retell Him healing and teaching with power and authority and His opposition and vindication. These verses tell who Jesus is, the Son of Man, just as He stated in Mark 2:10 and Daniel foretold in Daniel 7:13-14.

Gathered

¹When Jesus came back to Capernaum a few days later, it was heard that He was at home. ²And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them. (Mark 2:1-2 [NASB])

Remember, near the end of Mark chapter one, Jesus told Simon, Andrew, James, and John, when they found Him praying early in the morning in a quiet place, that He must go to other places in Galilee to preach and cast out demons (Mark 1:38). In chapter two, Mark records Jesus returned home to Capernaum. Capernaum was Jesus’ second home. He considered Simon and Andrew like family.

After Jesus cast out the demons after preaching in the synagogue in Capernaum, people flocked to Him. Jesus captivated them with His power and authority in His teaching, healing, and casting out demons. They wanted to witness Him do more. Some may have considered Him to be more than a magician or an outstanding teacher. No matter why people followed Him in droves, returning home to Capernaum showed how large of a crowd sought to observe and listen to Him. Mark wrote, “And many were gathered together, so that there was no longer space, not even near the door; and He was speaking the word to them” (NASB).

Jesus returned home to Capernaum. A vast crowd of people waited for Jesus to talk. No room in the house or near the door remained. People peeked in the window. They climbed onto the roof to listen to Jesus. Jesus came back to Capernaum. He did what He told the four men He had to do. Jesus preached the word. He taught about the Father and His words. Jesus speaking the word was a key part of His purpose. It was central to His ministry on earth. It became central to the Church’s ministry (Acts 6:4, 8:4, & 17:11, Galatians 6:6, & Colossians 4:3). Jesus drawing a crowd to Himself enabled many people to hear Him teach. Though the crowds and work wearied Him, the message the prophets foretold unfolded before their eyes.

Into the midst of this enormous crowd, four men carried their paralyzed friend. What might these men have concluded as they considered how large a crowd sought Jesus at home? What did they want from Jesus? Why did they suppose He could help their paralyzed friend? What would they do since they could not get near enough to Jesus for Him to look at their friend? God is omnipresent, everywhere present at the same time. He can spot you wherever you are, even at the back of a crowd.

Forgiven

³And some people came, bringing to Him (Jesus) a man who was paralyzed, carried by four men. ⁴And when they were unable to get to Him because of the crowd, they removed the roof above Him; and after digging an opening, they let down the pallet on which the paralyzed man was lying. ⁵And Jesus, seeing their faith, said the paralyzed man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” (Mark 2:3-5 [NASB])

Mark told of the resolve the men had and what they desperately did to get their friend noticed by Jesus. Jesus noticed the four friends, too. These men accepted if Jesus saw them, He would heal their friend. With that faith, they climbed the roof because they were desperate for a solution. How long did these men ponder their dilemma before going onto the roof? Mark does not say, but he shows their faith as they went upstairs with their paralyzed friend on a pallet. This pallet, some commentators consider, was a thick, quilted mat. Others understand it was like a mattress or army pallet of cloth and two rods. Whatever it was, it would be unwieldy to lower the man through a hole in the roof.

After digging through grass, dried mud, plaster, rock, and/or wood, the four men “let the pallet down” using ropes at each corner. The paralyzed man could not move to lessen injury if the pallet lowered askew. He had to trust his friends. The paralyzed man had learned to trust them since he could not take care of himself. The paralyzed man had faith and agreed to let his friends take him before Jesus, hoping He would heal him. He must have realized that since Jesus could heal his paralysis, He could heal any injury he received if he fell off his pallet. The faith of these men in Jesus, the Healer, gave them hope.

Jesus regarded the faith of the four men and their paralyzed friend. He recognized their realization of His power and authority. These five men acknowledged Jesus could do what was necessary to heal the paralyzed friend. Jesus had more in store for them that day than they expected. After seeing the faith of these five men, He said, “Son, your sins are forgiven” (vs. 5). Jesus understood they trusted in Him. He recognized the men had more than just a head faith or an emotional feeling. The trust of these five men in Jesus showed itself by visible actions. Jesus rewarded the men’s faith that, when faced with obstacles, kept strong. Do you stand firm in your faith in Jesus when difficulties confront you? God said He would never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6 & 8, 1 Chronicles 28:20, and Hebrews 13:5). Jesus reminded people of this promise. He did not leave or forsake this man and the hope his faith gave him. Jesus rewarded his faith with forgiveness. Forgiveness was more than the five men sought, but the relief it gave must have been breathtaking.

Jesus did not heal the man first. He addressed the Jews’ understanding of why a person is sick. Jews considered sickness of any kind a punishment from God for a person’s sins. Jesus addressed that idea by first telling the man, “Son, your sins are forgiven.” He did not say, “I forgive your sins.” He used a passive verb to show He acted for God, like rabbis act for God, as a mediator for this man. Jesus knows each person sins. The Jews understood that, too. They offered sacrifices to God regularly to atone for their sins. Jesus did not say He healed the man. He offered the man what he needed most: forgiveness. Forgiveness did not cure the man of his paralysis. The people recognized this.

The five men wanted to be in front of Jesus. Obstacles did not keep them from Him. Jesus saw each of these men. He recognized them and rewarded their faith in Him. Though they had not sought forgiveness, when the paralyzed man received it, he undoubtedly felt relieved. The paralyzed man might have thought, “Jesus knew what I needed most.” Regarding the religious leaders, Jesus raised two issues. By what authority does Jesus forgive sins? What is the relationship between sin and sickness?

Restored

⁶But some of the scribes were sitting there and thinking it over in their hearts. ⁷Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming! Who can forgive sins except God alone? ⁸Immediately Jesus, aware in His spirit that they were thinking that way within themselves, said to them, “Why are you thinking about these things in your heart? ⁹Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Get up, and pick up your pallet and walk?’ ¹⁰But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins,” He said to the paralyzed man, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” And he (the once-paralyzed man) got up and immediately picked up the pallet and went out in the sight of everyone, so that they were all amazed and were glorifying God saying, “We have never seen anything like this!” (Mark 2:6-10 [NASB])

The scribes of the synagogues dedicated their lives to copy the Torah. They taught at the synagogues what they had learned from rabbis’ teaching. The scribes watched Jesus heal and forgive the paralyzed man. They contemplated what the five men did and what Jesus said to the paralyzed man because. They considered how He taught like one with authority. The scribes might have thought in their hearts, “Why does this man speak that way? He is blaspheming!” (vs. 6) They considered and wondered if what Jesus taught was in the Law? Was it a fabricated teaching? Teaching fabricated ideas, as if they are from God, is blasphemy. Should the scribes trust what Jesus said? Should they challenge Him and report Him to the rabbis?

The scribes’ prime consideration for these questions was, “Who can forgive sins except God alone?” (vs. 7) They did not recognize Jesus as the Son of God yet. For Jesus to forgive a person of his or her sins meant the person did not need the Law to receive God’s forgiveness. Sinners did not need priests as their mediator. This meant they would not be offering a sacrifice at the temple for their sins. That would decrease the priests’ allotment of food for themselves and their families. Under the laws, God allowed only priests to be intermediaries and only God can forgive sins. God ordained them to fulfill the rituals of atonement, not anyone else. That means they saw Jesus as assuming God’s position of forgiving sins and assuming their positions as intermediaries between people and God. Thus, they judged Jesus guilty of blaspheming for assuming He is God. The Torah teaches the judgement of any person who blasphemes is death (Leviticus 24:10-23).

Jesus was aware of the scribes’ reflections. As part of the Godhead, He knows all things. Jesus realized the scribes did not look positively at Jesus forgiving a man for his sins. He knew they considered Him to be blaspheming. Instead of the scribes speaking out and challenging Him, Jesus challenged them about their deliberations. Because Jesus understood their thoughts, He proved to them He is God, though they did not want to admit it. What does God detect when He searches your heart? Doubt, fear, or trust?

How did Jesus confront these scribes? He said in verse nine, “Which is easier, to say to the paralyzed man, ‘Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Get up, pick up your pallet, and walk?’” Which is physically easier to say of these two statements? The first statement has six syllables, and the second has nine syllables. The first statement is easier to pronounce. Since Jews concluded sins cause sickness, if a person got well, that meant God had forgiven the person’s sins.

Mark wrote what Jesus said in verse ten. Jesus said, “But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.” Jesus realized the people wanted visible proof of Jesus’ authority to forgive sins. With Jesus’ question, He offered a way to prove His authority. Jesus healed the man to authenticate what these people could not verify by sight — forgiveness. People cannot see forgiveness, but they can see when a person is well. Even though saying “Your sins are forgiven” is easier, Jesus knew He would confirm Himself as the Messiah by healing the man. The people would see the healed man and know God forgave Him. Jesus, as God’s mediator, would prove to the scribes and other people He is who He says He is, the Son of Man.

Jesus used the Son of Man title fourteen times in Mark’s gospel. Daniel 7:13-14 is where this title first occurs in the Bible. In these verses, God gives the Son of Man eternal dominion, honor, and a kingdom. The “Son of Man” does not have the military connotations the title “Messiah” has. The Jews expected the Messiah to be the victor, who delivers them from Roman rule and reestablishes the kingdom of David. If the scribes had understood Jesus used this title, “Son of Man,” as Messianic, they would have understood Jesus’ purpose earlier. But the scribes misunderstood its meaning as Jesus used it. Do we have the right idea of who the Messiah is? Do we want Him just to be our hero? Are we expecting Him to be like the Son of Man, about whom Daniel prophesied?

With this title attributed to Himself, Jesus proclaimed in verse eleven, “I say to you, get up, pick up your pallet, and go home.” He declared His authority to the scribes and the people by ordering the paralytic to do these three things. Notice Jesus did not discuss His command with the paralytic’s four friends. The faith was the paralytic man’s own. He himself had to accept the authority Jesus has over sin and illness. This man had to trust in Jesus to enable him to arise. He had to act on this belief by picking up his pallet and going home, too. The paralytic man’s mental belief showed in his outward actions.

With the healing of the once-paralytic man, Jesus showed His divinity. He can powerfully and authoritatively forgive sins and heal. Jesus showed who He is by His power and authority. The people were “amazed,” Mark said in verse twelve. They glorified God.

The scribes did not express amazement, according to Mark’s retelling. They realized Jesus’ success came at their expense. The scribes and other religious leaders had lots to lose if Jesus is who He said He is. He would become the mediator and high priest for the Jews and others who believed in Him. Jesus, being the Messiah, would make the priests and sacrifices redundant. The priests would lose their income and their status in the community.

In Mark 1:32-34, Mark stated an entire city gathered to see Jesus heal the sick and cast out demons. This time, they saw the declaration of forgiveness by Jesus. They listened to His grand declaration of His right to do it. Jesus, Mark wrote, has the power to forgive sins, to heal, to cast out demons, and to preach and teach.

5 people’s faith took the man to Jesus.

1 man’s faith accepted health and forgiveness.

Everyone glorified God and exclaimed.

Application and Conclusion

We may not be sick now, but we have been. We may not have demons, but we could have in the future. We might not trust in Jesus, but we can. People came to see Jesus for themselves, to listen to what He taught, and to watch as He healed and cast out demons. Until this moment in Mark, people had not seen Jesus authoritatively forgive sins as if He is God. They glorified God because they saw Jesus heal a man and forgive him. Does your faith cause everyone around you to be amazed and to glorify God because of what He did?

We come to the point the Jews faced that day. Will we believe in Jesus? The four men considered Jesus could heal their paralyzed friend. The people accepted for themselves that the stories they had heard about Jesus. The scribes were curious. They later felt fear-fear He would take away their way of life and fear He would lead the Jews astray. The religious leaders were the keepers of God’s word and the way to go before God from a distance. Each of these people encountered Jesus from hearing about Him, seeing Him, and some, by believing in Him as the Son of Man. Each of us today encounters Jesus through reading this Bible study, reading the Bible, hearing about Jesus, and seeing miraculous healing. We face Jesus in our minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits. Jesus speaks to our spirits before and after we have professed faith in Him for salvation.

Today, you can hear about and come to have faith in Jesus through watching a church service on television, on the internet, or in person. You have the chance to meet Him on your own by reading your Bible and by praying. The four friends had faith in Jesus to heal their paralytic friend. It was the paralytic’s faith in Jesus that healed and forgave him. Today is your day to decide who Jesus is for you. Is He the Son of Man, the One who has dominion, power, and glory, as Daniel declared? Will you believe in Jesus by faith that Jesus is the Son of God who came to be your mediator and forgiver of your sins so you can be in God’s presence now and forever?

For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9 [NASB])

For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law. (Romans 3:28 [ESV])

And to the one who does not work but believes in Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted as righteousness. (Romans 4:5 [ESV])

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1 [ESV])

Being forgiven and saved from the judgment you deserve because of your sins comes by faith in Jesus. Nothing you can do will earn salvation. Just faith.

Nevertheless, knowing that a person is not justified by works of the Law but through faith in Christ Jesus, even we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by works of the Law; since by works of the Law, no flesh will be justified. (Galatians 2:16 [NASB])

 

Search

 

Mark 1:1-34 revealed Jesus knew the time was right for Him to fulfill God’s plan. The time of His ministry had come. The first six Bible studies explain this. Each encounter Jesus had with people showed His authority and power. Mark’s gospel is a catalogue of Jesus’ ministry. As a reminder of what Mark wrote in the first thirty-four verses of chapter one, below is a summary.

After John the Baptist baptized Jesus in the Jordan River, Jesus traversed to the wilderness for forty days, endured Satan’s temptations without sinning, then returned to inhabited Israel. On Jesus’ return, He called four fishermen to follow Him. These fishermen immediately left their boats and nets. Jesus then walked into the Capernaum synagogue where He taught Scripture with power and authority. While in the synagogue, a man possessed by many demons confronted Jesus. Jesus cast the demons out after commanding them not to say who He is. After revealing His power and authority at the synagogue, Simon and Andrew invited Jesus to their home. When they arrived, Simon showed his care for his mother-in-law by telling Jesus she was sick in bed with a fever. Jesus had compassion for the woman, walked to her bed, touched her hand, and helped her arise. He willed for her to be well, and it happened. She served the people in the house. After the Sabbath ended, the entire city of Capernaum showed up at the door. These people wanted Jesus to heal and cast out demons. Some just wanted to see Jesus do miracles. They heard about Him and wanted to see him.

In the above occurrences, Jesus showed He has power and authority over sickness and the spiritual world. He taught Scriptures and called disciples with power and authority. In Mark 1:35-39, Jesus prepared to show His power and authority again. He modeled for the disciples what is most important.

Commune

³⁵And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. ³⁶Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; ³⁷and they found Him and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” (Mark 1:35-37 [NASB])

Mark wrote of Jesus’ ministry as one encounter quickly followed by another. “In the early morning” meant the morning after the Sabbath. The Sabbath included the hours from 6pm Friday to 6pm Saturday. This means Jesus awoke before dawn on Sunday. He arose from his bed and left Simon’s house. He left to be with his Father privately. Jesus wanted privacy to commune with His Father in prayer before the day got busy. His relationship with the Father was more important to Him than anything else. From reading the New Testament, a person can discern Jesus considered prayer to be important. Sometimes, His disciples joined Him and saw its importance. As their teacher, they noted Jesus secreting away to quiet places to pray. Jesus was holy, yet prayer was important to Him. How much more important should it be to us unholy people?

Mark recorded Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Jesus. They hunted him down in a good sense. Simon begins to show the character that Bible readers and scholars recognize about Him. He is a leader. Simon is also impulsive. He had to hunt for Jesus because He did not tell Simon He aimed to go to a quiet place. Simon felt they must see more people so Jesus could heal them.

Simon’s sense of urgency, Mark relays in verse thirty-seven. When Simon found Jesus, he said to Him, “Everyone is looking for you.” Imagine how Simon felt and how he might have expressed his finding of Jesus. Perhaps, he huffed and put his hands on his hips when he spoke to Jesus. If it was us, would we have huffed and said, “Where were you and why did you leave us?” Consider Simon’s words; he said, “Everyone.” Did all 1000+ people of Capernaum think Jesus lost and so searched for him?

From reading about Simon Peter later in the Bible, we recognize he was impulsive and spoke in exaggeration. When Simon told Jesus he would never deny Him, he was very adamant he would not leave Jesus. Just as adamantly, he denied Jesus to three people, the girl and two men, before the rooster crowed twice. Is it possible in this verse, Simon was excited that his teacher had become popular so quickly? Did he want to show himself to be a disciple of this authoritative and powerful teacher? We do not know Simon’s motivation for his exaggeration and his hurry.

We recognize, after the fact, Jesus came to earth to help all people, and He came in obedience to the Godhead. Jesus, as part of the Godhead, wanted to continue to commune with the other two-Father and Holy Spirit. Jesus modeled ministry for the disciples. It includes time for ministry and time with God. With this thought, Jesus responded to Simon’s urgency.

Herald

³⁸He said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also preach there, for this is why I came.” ³⁹And He went into their synagogues preaching throughout Galilee and casting out the demons. (Mark 1:38-39 [NASB])

Jesus did not sit back and reflect on the number of people He healed from sickness and demon possession. He did not regale people with how He cast out the legion of demons. Jesus understood why He came to earth. He understood He had not finished His mission. Jesus came to earth at the right time. His ministry was at the right time. People searched for a savior, though the one they thought they needed was not the one Jesus came to be. Jesus explained to Simon and the others who searched with him for what He came to do. He said he came to preach.

Did Jesus come just to preach to the residents of Capernaum? He said they must go somewhere else to the towns nearby. Jesus realized there were always people somewhere else that needed to learn about Him and the salvation He gives. Why? Because He came by the power of God to preach the gospel. “Preach” comes from the Greek word kerusso and means to proclaim the gospel. It means to be a herald of the Good News. Jesus came to save everyone. To do that, each person must hear the gospel. It's not just for a few places. Jesus modeled ministry that reached outward from home to connect with each person in the world. Staying in the comfort of one’s home does not lead to that occurring. Ministry requires going and proclaiming. When did you last herald the good news?

In verse thirty-nine, Jesus continued modeling as He ministered how to go and proclaim. Jesus showed Himself to the Jews first. He met them where they congregated, the synagogues. Jesus showed He was more than a teacher like the scribes who taught in the synagogues. He was a rabbi, a priest in the truest sense. Jesus continued teaching and preaching with power and authority throughout Galilee, the northern-most province of Israel. He continued casting out evil spirits, showing He has power and authority over the spirit world. He did these things because He loves everyone. Jesus did these things because He came to each to set free each captive person. He did these things because He is almighty and omniscient.

Jesus’ life was the example the disciples would recall. As they obeyed the Great Commission of Jesus in Matthew 28:18-20, they would remember Jesus praying and proclaiming. Jesus said in His commissioning of all disciples,

Jesus came up and spoke to them (His disciples), saying, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. God, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to follow all that I commanded you; and behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” [NASB]

Application and Conclusion

Jesus kept busy proclaiming the fulfillment of God’s time had come. The Messiah was with them in person. With the fulfillment of time, the Romans would crucify Jesus as the Jews requested. This would open the veil between God and humanity so people could know God personally. They would understand God is not just a lawgiver and judge who speaks through the priest. People could experience the removal of the weight of their sins. They would realize the salvation Jesus gives as freedom. Do you take Jesus’ example of being a herald personally? Do you share about the salvation He gives so each person can know Him as their Savior? As a disciple of Jesus, He commissions each person who believes in Him to proclaim the gospel.

Jesus added visual examples of His power. He amazingly healed the sick and cast out demons. Jesus also, in this passage, taught the disciples about the necessity of prayer. Prayer is about having a relationship with God. It quickly should go beyond obedience to an act of love, of wanting to be with the One you love most. Life gets busy; we let it. We let “life” get in the way of relationships, even our relationship with God. Jesus showed we should get away from life to be with God. Why? Because He is our source of life and salvation. God continues each day to give us life. If for no other reason to pray, we should thank God each day for awaking on earth.

Jesus modeled that prayer was more than saying, “Thank you.” Prayer is personal. It should come from our desire to be with God. Prayer is when our heart and spirit call out to His heart for connection with Him. God, through the Son, gives each person the possibility of quenching daily our heart and spirit’s desire. We can commune with God in a soul-satisfying way and never be parched again.

Jesus is more than a model for people. He is the Christ, the Messiah. Prophets foretold He would bear the sins of all people, so those who believe in Him will receive salvation from their sins. These believers will have an eternal relationship with God. God’s heart calls to ours. Our heart yearns for His. We each choose either to turn to God and have our greatest desire filled, or turn away from God and never be fully satisfied. Jesus gives us the freedom to choose a soul-quenching relationship with God.

Do you let life get in the way of a relationship with God?

Jesus shows how to get away from life and have a relationship with Him.

Healed

 

Jesus’ ministry began when John the Baptist baptized Him in the Jordan River. Following His baptism, He spent forty days in the wilderness, during which He did not sin when tempted by Satan there. Jesus began formal ministry from this point. He walked to Galilee and walked around the Sea of Galilee. Jesus met and called Simon and Andrew, brothers and fishermen, and John and James, who were brothers and fishermen, too. After they walked to Capernaum, they immediately entered the synagogue, where Jesus taught from the Scriptures with power and authority. He was confronted in the synagogue by a man overcome by demons. To these demons, who recognized Jesus was from Nazareth and the “Holy One of God,” Jesus commanded, “Be quiet and come out of him!” (Mark 1:25)

Each of these instances showed Jesus’ power and authority. He had power over temptation, too. Jesus displayed His authority when He called disciples. He revealed power and authority when He taught from Scripture in the synagogue. Jesus exhibited His power over demons. Mark’s purpose was to show Jesus is the Son of God who came for everyone. He spent no time reminding his readers and listeners about Jesus’ genealogy. Mark was determined to share the good news about Jesus. So, he declared who Jesus is at the beginning of his gospel. Mark told of Jesus’ actions and words during His three-year ministry. This Bible study continues teaching from Mark 1 as he disclosed more of Jesus’ life and ministry.

Touched

²⁹And immediately after they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. ³⁰Now Simeon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately spoke to Jesus about her. ³¹And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she served them. (Mark 1:29-31 [NASB])

Mark continued to use his favorite adverb, “immediately,” to begin this passage. Jesus wasted no time. He spent every moment intentionally ministering. Jesus showed the disciples and others who watched or heard about Him what Christian service should include. Serving as a Christian means being ready for opportunities to serve other people. It means readily telling them about Jesus, the Messiah.

At the right time, Jesus was born on earth. At the right time, He was baptized. Now, Mark shows in his gospel, the right time for ministering was still immediate. Jesus realized His time on earth was brief. He must tell and show people who He is. Jesus wants people to know why He came to earth. So, at once, Jesus and the disciples left the synagogue and went to Simon and Andrew’s house in Capernaum. They walked to their house to complete the Sabbath day, which was from sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday. When they arrived at the house, Simon and Andrew spoke to Jesus about Simon’s mother-in-law being sick. Jesus arrived at Simon’s house at the right time.

Jesus continued to reveal Himself. To people at the synagogue, He began revealing his power and authority at the synagogue. Jesus taught Scripture with power and authority and had power and authority over the Satanic powers, as He showed when He cast out demons from the man. With this recent occurrence at Simeon and Andrew’s house, Mark continued telling how Jesus continued to show His power. After Simon and Andrew spoke to Jesus (vs. 30), Jesus walked to Simeon’s mother-in-law and touched her hand. The fever left her immediately. The touching and raising her up held no magical power. His divinity and loving intention that she gets well caused the fever to leave her body and she be well.

Consider what occurred in Simon’s and Jesus’ actions. By telling Jesus about his mother-in-law, Simon showed he cared about her and that she was equally important as anyone else in his eyes. Consider this: no antibiotics or aspirin existed in those days. Fevers could come from bacteria or virus in the region, such as dysentery, pneumonia, and malaria. Jesus did not say he was afraid to touch her. He did not ask for hand sanitizer, latex gloves, or mask. Jesus recognized the woman was ill since she did not force herself to get up and serve them like women of that time did. He wanted her to be well. Jesus did not want her to worry about hosting.

Knowing these things, Jesus went to the mother-in-law’s bed with Simon and Andrew. He entered her room to heal her. Jesus wanted her to seek and come to recognize Him as the Messiah. He cared about her body, mind, soul, and heart. Jesus touched the feverish woman and helped her get up. His power as the Son of God because He willed it healed her. Jesus cared about her as He cares about all women and men. Jesus freed this woman from sickness and from anguish that she was not being an excellent hostess.

With this action, Jesus showed to the world He has power and authority over sickness and demons. He taught and spoke with power and authority when He taught the Scriptures. Jesus did these during the Sabbath. Jews believed people must not work on the Sabbath. Jesus later taught, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27 [NASB]).

Gathered

³²Now when evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. ³³And the whole city had gathered at the door. ³⁴And He healed many who were ill with various diseases and cast our many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. (Mark 1:32-34 [NASB])

Until the people gathered at Simeon and Andrew’s home after the Sabbath, Jesus revealed Himself just to Jews. With the casting out of the demons at the synagogue, word spread. The people of Capernaum sought to understand more about Jesus. John wrote this in John 12:32. He stated Jesus said, “And I, if I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto Myself.” Jesus came so that each person would hear about, seek, and believe in Him so they would be saved.

Jesus’ ministry was to proclaim the kingdom of God has come. He set about proving He is the Son of God. He did this so when He told them He was the prophesied Messiah, they would believe in Him for salvation. By powerfully and authoritatively showing His divinity, He brought more people near to Himself and released people captive to sin, illness, blindness, demons, and a host of other things (Luke 4:18 & Isaiah 61).

When the Sabbath ended, people of Capernaum brought sick people and demon-possessed people to Jesus for Him to heal and release them from their captivity. They flocked to see Jesus’ works to prove what other people said was true. Remember, the people of Capernaum came from several places — Rome, Greece, Syria, Israel, etc. They had known other people could do the same works. These people wanted to see Jesus prove He has power and authority. People wondered if Jesus is truly the Son of God.

Mark said the whole city gathered at the door of Simon and Andrew’s house. Mark claimed that 1500 people from Capernaum were at the same house. He might have exaggerated. From each gospel writer’s account, people sought to see the man called Jesus. They wanted to understand who Jesus is. They wanted to see what He could do. It was worth the time to take that person to Jesus if He truly could heal their sick family member or friend. Mark did not say anyone believed in Jesus as the Messiah that day. From this passage, we realize an entire city could testify Jesus has power over sickness and demons and power and authority to teach Scriptures.

Besides these things, Mark noted Jesus would not let the demons say who He is. The time was not right for Jesus to be known as the awaited Messiah. Politics were not right; the people would expect Him to be their victorious warrior-king. For Mark, primary importance was to show Jesus is who He says He is, the Servant-Son of God who came to set captives free. That captivity could be because of illness, slavery, sin, society, etcetera. In the right time, Jesus would show Himself to the world as the long-awaited Messiah. Peter was the first to declare Jesus as the Messiah. In Mark 8:29, after Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do people say I am?” Peter replied, “You are the Christ (Messiah).” Notice after this confession by Peter, Jesus warned the disciples to tell no one about Him. That revelation was not due.

Application and Conclusion

Jesus quieted the demons. He told others not to declare He is the Messiah. Now, almost two thousand years after Jesus’ ministry, many people still have not been told about the Messiah. Some Christians live as if Jesus is still telling His followers not to say who He is. Does He act less in our world today? Do marvelous rescues of the oppressed, enslaved, and sick people not occur? Or is there nobody who needs saving anymore?

Lest we think we are in a world where Jesus is irrelevant, consider the violence, wars, prejudice, thievery, rage, illnesses locally and globally, depression, and suicide. Is there less reason for Jesus to care today about people? No, just as in the past, the world needs a Savior, who heals, frees, shows mercy and love, and forgives sins. No one has ever died, then returned to life, ascended to heaven, or interceded with the Father as Jesus did/does. His intercession to the Father and breaking into our reality with His powerful works still occurs and will until time ends.

Where do you stand with Jesus? Have you heard about Him? Did you turn your back on what He offers? Have you listened to people tell of Him, believed in Him, and accepted His love and salvation, but live as the world lives? Have you never heard of Jesus? Are you curious?

Jesus is the Son of God, who was born to a virgin by the Holy Spirit. He was raised and faced testing and temptation, but never sinned. He died a sinner’s death by crucifixion (suffocation) on a cross, like the worst of sinners experienced. Three days after His death, He came back to life and walked among people for forty days. After those forty days, Jesus ascended to sit at the right hand of the Father, interceding for His followers to the Father. He lives throughout eternity and existed before time began.

Now, where do you stand with Jesus? Will you seek Him and believe? Will He be Messiah and Savior for you? Jesus told the demons not to say He is the Messiah. Why? He said it not to lie, but because it was not the right time.

Now is the right time.

If we Christians stay silent, even the rocks will cry out (Luke 19:40). Jesus is not telling you today to stay silent. After His resurrection, He commissioned His disciples. Jesus said, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:18020 [NASB]).

The Messiah already is. His existence on earth and in heaven cannot be dismissed.

Will you dismiss your salvation? Will you dismiss Jesus’ commission of you?

The Best

Jesus gives us an excellent ministry plan to follow. Consider what Mark had to say in the first chapter of his gospel. Unlike Matthew and Luke, he did not begin with Jesus’ genealogy, His birth, or His childhood. Mark began his testimony with the beginning of Jesus’ official ministry on earth. He said this with the first verse, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” [NASB] Mark showed Jesus realized what was most important for people.

To support what he testified as an eyewitness, Mark included Isaiah’s prophecy about the one who would go before Jesus’ ministry and what that messenger would say. He said, “As it is written in Isaiah the prophet: ‘Behold, I send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way; Make ready the way of the Lord, make His paths straight.’” (Mark 1:2-3 [NASB]) Next, Mark explained who this prophesied messenger of God was, John the Baptist, Jesus’ cousin. His other supporting testimony about the validity of Jesus as the Son of God came from the life of this cousin, John in verses four through eight. Next, we learn John, baptized his cousin, Jesus, the One about whom he told his followers.

From this point, Mark began his eyewitness testimony of Jesus’ ministry on earth. First, he noted John baptized Jesus and “Immediately coming up out of the water, He (Jesus) saw the heavens opening, and the Spirit (Holy Spirit) like a dove descending upon Him; and a voice came out of the heavens: ‘You are My beloved Son, in You I am well-pleased.’” (Mark 1:10-11 [NASB]) Notice Mark often used adverbs and action words to enliven and make poignant his testimony. As soon as John baptized Jesus, “immediately” He saw the heavens open and heard the voice of the Lord. Next Mark said, “Immediately the Spirit impelled Him to go out into the wilderness.” Jesus’ status as the Son of God impressed the hearers. He next showed His status and power as the Son of God in the wilderness while withstanding temptations for 40 days. Through those days, Jesus knew what ministry was most important for humanity.

Did Jesus go home and rest after being in the wilderness once God proclaimed Him as His Son? Did He take His ease and say, “Ah, finally, water, food, and rest, just what I needed? Now I can sit and ponder what the Father said and did.” No, Mark said in verses fourteen and fifteen, “After Herod’s soldiers took John into custody, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the gospel, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” Jesus’ time had come. The kingdom of God was at hand. It was closer than at any other time in history since Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. What Jesus declared is the theme of Mark’s testimony. What we need to realize is Jesus did not just get baptized and then tell the time for earth; He got busy.

Mark gave many examples of Jesus being busy about the Father’s work. First, after Jesus returned from the desert, he went to Galilee, which was near the desert, and said, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” [NASB] Next, as He walked along the Sea of Galilee, He called fishermen to follow Him. First Andrew, who introduced Him to Simon (Peter), then, He called James and John. Note, of these first four disciples, three of them–Simon, James, and John–became Jesus’ inner-circle of closest friends. These were the ones He took to the garden at the transfiguration, and when He prayed before His arrest after Judas’ betrayal. Note also, these four men did not tell Jesus, “Wait, I must help my father haul the fishing nets in.” Mark said, “Immediately He called them, and they left their father and followed Him.”

Now, if Jesus was just a man wanting to build up fame and gain followers, He could have stopped there. Yet, we don’t see that happening. Jesus is about the Father’s business, to tell people, “The kingdom of God is here; repent and believe in the gospel.” What we next read in the Gospel of Mark is Jesus traveled to Capernaum and immediately He entered to the synagogue and began to teach. The people listened with amazement at His teaching; He spoke as one who had authority, not as a scribe or a local man taught what to say by a Rabbi.  What Jesus taught wasn’t new. How He taught was. Jesus taught with power and freshness. What He said wasn’t the same lesson the people listened to as the scribes spoke.

A challenge, an example, occurred next. A man with an unclean spirit was inside the synagogue and this unclean spirit challenged Jesus. This spirit said in verse twenty-four, “What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are-the Holy One of God!” What this unclean spirit said in the synagogue was significant in several ways. First, through the man’s voice, the spirit spoke for all demons. Second, it proved even demons know who the Son of God is. Third, this demon recognized the extent of Jesus’ power and challenged Him. Jesus acted. Immediately Jesus rebuked (sharply disapproved) the demon for declaring who Jesus is. Jesus said, “Be quiet!” He also commanded the demon to leave the man’s body. With one last attempt to remain in the man’s body, the demon threw the man into convulsions, then screamed with a loud voice and exited the man (vs. 25-26). Jesus did not only teach with authority, He had authority. He showed He had authority over the spiritual realm by commanding the unclean spirit to be quiet and to leave the man. Mark emphasized Jesus’ authority in action. The demons, the spiritual realm, acknowledged Jesus’ authority and power. Jesus has authority in heaven, on earth, and under the earth.

Did Jesus end His ministry with a pat on His back and His chin raised? No. When Jesus exited the synagogue, He went to Simon’s house. Being the Sabbath, the men probably shared the Sabbath meal. Simon found his mother-in-law sick with a high fever and he immediately told Jesus. Jesus did not say, give me a minute and some food so I can recover. With great care and love, Jesus went to her, raised her up, took her hand, and the fever left her. Jesus showed His love and showed He has power over the health of people. In gratitude, Simon’s mother-in-law waited on them. She gave them something to eat and drink. After the Sabbath ended at sunset, the people of Capernaum, having heard of Jesus’ teaching, casting out demons, and healing the sick, brought other people for Jesus to heal and from whom to cast out demons. Some people came to watch.

Jesus’ fame began, but the people still only sought Him for what He could do for their physical bodies. They still did not repent and believe. This may possibly be the reason the disciples searched for Jesus when He left the house to pray in a secluded place. They recognized His abilities, too, just like the people who gathered at Simon’s house to watch Jesus heal and cast out demons. Possibly they sensed there was more to Jesus than that. Mark recorded these four disciples searched for Him because everyone was looking for Him. Of course, this was an exaggeration. Only the people around Capernaum, a town-village of a couple thousand people, heard what Jesus had done there.

Jesus knew He must tell everyone-people outside of Capernaum,“The kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe.” He said that is why He came to earth in human form. Healing and casting out demons were good things to do. Because of Jesus’ love, and His power and authority over all things, He came to make people whole-physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Healing showed Jesus’ power and gave physical wholeness, but His primary task was to preach. Because of Jesus’ love for people, He wanted, and wants still, to make people completely whole by uniting them with the Father by making them righteousness. Jesus knew nothing a person could do would make him or her righteous. Righteousness for humankind required a perfect sin sacrifice as a substitution for the judgment because of their sins. This perfect sin substitution would free them from having to offer their lives as the judgment for their sins. Jesus’ preaching the kingdom of God is near meant God had come down and was right then among them; accept, repent, and believe. Without His preaching, people would not know and accept Jesus’ gift of His sacrifice and then become clean from sin, become righteous. Only this way can people become whole physically, emotionally, and spiritually.

Jesus never lost the compulsion to preach the Good News. He preached, taught, healed, raised people from the dead, cast out demons, and in other ways made people well. Jesus never forgot to preach and teach the Good News. Helping people heal and become well is good, but without spiritual righteousness, no one can ever be completely whole. Spiritual righteousness given through Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection is how God makes people completely whole. Often, we followers of Jesus get baptized, begin to listen to and work for God, then forget the mandate. Nothing is wrong with helping people, but if they don’t know Jesus, the work we do is just good. When we tell people the Good News of Jesus Christ, that work is best. Jesus loved and so healed. Jesus loved people and died so they could be made righteous, made whole, and have an eternal relationship with God.

Here’s where it gets real. Are you a Christian who began your walk with Jesus by telling people about Him? Did Jesus give you a heart of love for other people and so you care about their life situation? Look around; have you gotten lost in the process of doing good for people by helping them with rent money, medicine, learn a language, etc.? Have you forgotten to tell them why you have a heart of love for them, which is because Jesus loves them enough that He died in their place as the penalty for their sins? That’s what our lives should be about. Nothing is wrong with helping people, but helping people without telling them the Good News is just that, good, not the best.

Tell the Good News.

That is the greatest act of love for a person.

Jesus still calls to people. Will you allow yourself to be used by Him for this purpose?

Good vs Best–What will you do?

Christ still lives in the world today,

Tell the good news, tell the good news;

Giving strength to all souls who pray,

Tell the good news, tell the good news.

Tell the good news, tell the good news,

Tell the good news that Christ has come;

Tell the good news, tell the good news,

Tell the good news to everyone

-Tell the Good News by Gene Bartlett

Lord, I gave my life to You. I asked You to save me and use me for Your service. I’ve not hated or hurt anyone, but in my doing, I forgot the best. Lord, forgive me for not loving You more and for not loving other people well so that I did not tell them Your good news. Forgive me for allowing my works to tell the good news and not my voice. Lord, You never forgot to be about the Father’s business. Make me constantly aware and vigilant of where You are working so I can join You and tell Your good news. Make me and use me for Your purpose for Your best.