Does Your Life Reveal Jesus

 

Introduction

On this Mother’s Day of 2022, as a people of God, we remember the mothers of the Bible, women, like Esther, Ruth, Naomi, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Mary, Martha, Lydia, and the much-heralded Proverbs 31 women. We even recall our own mothers and the gifts they shared with us and other people, gifts like love, compassion, forgiveness, wisdom, a cool hand on a fevered brow, a meal out of little food, an effervescent joy in the face of difficulty, and an unparalleled love of God. We also can remember the women in our lives who loved us, encouraged us, gave us food, sent cards to us, and helped us in our hour of need. We might not remember their names, but we remember their actions. I know for me, as I recall actions of kindness, goodness, and love, several women served God by caring for me. I do not remember their names, but when I think about each one, I say, “You know, Ms. Whatshername.”

Today, I will use a much forgotten and possibly unknown woman of the New Testament. Six verses in three Gospels - Matthew, Mark, and Luke - tell us about her. This woman is the unnamed mother-in-law of Simon, later called Peter. Mark’s recounting to his readers about this incident wants them to understand the woman’s name is not as important as Jesus. He is the object of this brief retelling in the Gospels. We will call Simon’s mother-in-law Ms. Whatshername.

What if you heard about a young lady who finally had finished her formal studies and began her career? She was a diligent worker. One Mother’s Day, she surprised her mother. She told her mom to dress sharply. This young lady had something she wanted her mom to see. She drove to where her mother lived, a house without running water or electricity. A house she herself remembered as home, a home filled with unending love by a mother who raised her and her four siblings. That day, she drove to her mother’s home and took her to an unknown destination. She and her mother walked into a building and met a young man. This man dressed sharply, too. He handed the mother a royal blue box with a red bow on it. The mother looked at her daughter, then back at the box. The young lady nodded at her mother. The mother took the box and looked at her daughter again. The daughter smiled and nodded. The mother, trembling, gently lifted the hinged lid. She saw a shining key in the box. The mother looked at her daughter with a question in her eyes. The daughter told her to hold on to it. Next, mother and daughter returned to the daughter’s car and rode several kilometers from the office. The daughter stopped in front of a yellow house. It had a front porch and clean windows, surrounded by blue shutters. The daughter got out of the car, opened her mother’s door, and helped her out of the car. She took her mother’s arm and walked her to the front door. The mother stood trembling. “Could it be?” she wondered as her daughter opened the box for her, then placed the key in her mother’s hand. The daughter pointed toward the keyhole and watched her mother insert the key with trembling hands. As the lock turned and the door opened, the mother, with tears in her eyes, turned to her daughter and hugged her. This loved daughter had given her mother a house for Mother’s Day. More than that, she had shown to her the love she had sown in her. The person to focus on in this story is the mother. Her daughter’s life revealed even more who the mother was.

Background

¹⁶As Jesus walked beside the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and his brother, Andrew, casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁷“Come follow Me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” ¹⁸At once, they left their nets and followed Him.

¹⁹When He had gone a little farther, He saw James, son of Zebedee, and his brother, John, in a boat, preparing their nets. ²⁰Without delay, He called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired me and followed Him.

²¹They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²²The people were amazed at His teaching because He taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³Just then, a man in their synagogue, who was possessed by an impure spirit, cried out, ²⁴“What do You want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!”

²⁵“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” ²⁶The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

²⁷The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits, and they obey Him.” ²⁸News about Him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. (Mark 1:16-28 [NIV])

In the day or two before the time at Simon’s house, Jesus had traveled around the Sea of Galilee and called four fishermen to come with Him. As they walked into Capernaum, He and the men entered the synagogue because it was the Sabbath. While there, Jesus taught the scriptures with power and authority and cast out evil spirits from a man (Mark 1:21-24). The evil spirits recognized who Jesus was. They said He is the “Holy One of God.” Jesus commanded them to be silent (vs. 25). The time for His identity to be known had not come. The people in the synagogue were amazed at what and how Jesus said taught. They wondered aloud at the power and authority by which He did and spoke these things (vs. 27-28).

Mark’s Gospel emphasizes the unfolding ministry of Jesus. His purpose was to tell people who Jesus was by telling of His ministry. For this reason, Mark did not begin with Jesus’ genealogy, like Matthew. With the first two chapters of Mark, Jesus’ ministry rapidly unfolds, showing readers and listeners Jesus’ power and authority. He did this so they would come to believe in Jesus as the Messiah.

The Encounter

²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. ³¹So He went to her, took her hand, and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them. (Mark 1:29-31 [NIV])

Matthew’s account of this is found in Matthew 8:14-15. He said, “When Jesus came into Peter’s house, He saw Peter’s mother-in-law lying in bed with a fever. He touched her and the fever left her, and she got up and waited on Him.” (NIV) Luke’s retelling of this same encounter is in Luke 3:38-39. He said,

³⁸Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. ³⁹So, He bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them (NIV).

Each of these men tells of this encounter Jesus had with Simon’s mother-in-law, whom we will call Ms. Whatshername, and the men who were with Him. Though each man wrote about it from his own perspective, each included three key details. Jesus looked at the woman with the fever. The fever left her. Ms. Whatshername was healed. The passive verb tense in Mark shows Ms. Whatshername is the recipient of the healing; Jesus did the action; He healed her.

In each of the Gospel accounts, the joint story moves from the woman, who is sick, to the fever having left her. In two of them, Jesus touched her. In one, He rebuked the fever and commanded it to leave her. In Mark’s Gospel, Jesus raised the Ms. Whatshername from her lying down to sitting. Next, He helped her to stand. The fever would have dehydrated her and made her weak. Jesus shared His strength with her. At this point, Mark makes the statement that the fever left the Ms. Whatshername. He does not state Jesus’ touch healed her. Neither Matthew nor Luke said this either. Mark made this emphasis on Jesus easier to understand when, later in chapter one, he wrote about Jesus healing the leper. In that encounter, Mark told his readers and listeners, “A man with leprosy came to Him and begged Him on his knees, ‘If You are willing, You can make me clean.’ Jesus was indignant. He reached out His hand and touched the man. ‘I am willing,’ He said. ‘Be clean!’” (Mark 1:40-42 [NIV]) The healing Jesus did for Ms. Whatshername occurred because Jesus willed it. Jesus desired, willed, to heal her like He did the leper.

Jesus wants everyone to be free from their bondage, be it sin, illness, demons, false teaching, or anything else that keeps people from believing in Him for salvation. Jesus desired to heal Ms. Whatshername, and she was. Jesus is most important to remember and focus on as one reads the Gospel accounts. The person He “touched” is secondary. Jesus was the One who changed people’s lives back then and now. His intention for all people to come to know Him as their Savior is why He came to earth, died on the cross, and rose to life again. Jesus, by using His power to heal Ms. Whatshername, opened a door for her to be receptive to the gospel.

The Purpose

Since each encounter with Jesus has a purpose, what were the purposes of this mother-in-law’s encounter with Jesus? What are the purposes for us and each person who listened to and/or read about this story? Jesus met people. He did things for them. Why? The obvious Sunday School reason is so they would believe in Him and be saved. Think deeper than that. Jesus did these things so that His disciples would see and model them and teach about them. Why was it so important they and Jesus did these things?

Power and Authority

It was important to show Jesus’ power and authority over sickness. Just as Jesus showed He has power and authority to cast out demons and preach the scriptures authoritatively, He could heal people. Remember, Mark’s Gospel shows people Jesus really is the Messiah. That would hopefully lead them to trust in Him for salvation. The mother-in-law’s life revealed Jesus as the Messiah to the people who watched, listened to stories and read about her encounter with Jesus. Consider it another way. Jesus met Ms. Whatshername because she was sick. His meeting with her could reveal even more who He is.

Think about the story of Lazarus. Jesus did not go to Mary and Martha until four days after Lazarus died. Why? Jesus explained it to His disciples in John 11:14-15 when He said, “Lazarus is dead, and for your sake, I am glad I was not there, so that you may believe. But let us go to him.” Consider the Jewish point of view. For Jews at the time, a person’s death was verified if they had not awakened within three days after a dying. Jesus going to Bethany, where Mary, Martha, and Lazarus lived, on the fourth day proved something for the Jews. It proved to the Jews Lazarus was undeniably dead. When Jesus called Lazarus to come out of the tomb, they would know without a doubt Jesus raised him from the dead. Jesus used Lazarus to reveal who He is. He used Ms. Whatshername of Mark 1:29-32 to reveal who He is. He proved He is all-powerful and has all authority.

Love and Compassion

We Christians believe Jesus has power and authority. We have had two-thousand years to read about Him and see God work in amazing ways during this time. Let us consider another reason Jesus used Ms. Whatshername to reveal Himself. What purpose did Jesus have? Jesus showed His love for her and had compassion for her because she suffered from a high fever. Back then, no antibiotics existed for infections. Fevers came in many ways, including malaria, typhoid, cholera, or flu. What Jesus noted was this woman was sick. She was special to Simon and Andrew. How do we know this? They mentioned her to Jesus, hoping He would do a miracle and cure her. Jesus recognized their love for the woman. Jesus loved her, too. He wanted to help her. Jesus revealed His love and compassion for Simon’s mother-in-law by healing her.

Equal Importance

Though different statuses existed in the ancient world of Jesus’ time and people’s value depended on who they were or what they did (Does this sound familiar?), Jesus showed to the people in Simon’s house and to Ms. Whatshername that all people are equal in importance. God made each person in His image. When He finished creating them, He said, “It is good.” God did not choose one person or people group to be less important or inferior to others. Similarly, Jesus considered women as important as men. “Whether slave or free, man or woman, Jew or Gentile, all people are one in Christ (Galatians 3:28).” In that vein, all people in the world are made in God’s image. Jesus came to save each person. He does not care if you come from a Christian, other religious, or atheist background. Jesus includes all people to receive the salvation He offers for sins. When any person believes in Jesus for salvation, he or she gains identification as a child of God. That means God begins making the person into the image of Christ by the Holy Spirit that lives in him or her. Paul said in Romans 8:15b-16, “The Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by Him we cry, ‘Abba, Father.’ The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.” People who trust in Jesus for salvation are no more what they were. The Holy Spirit transforms him or her into the image of Jesus. Read these verses to understand more. 

For those God foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son that He might be the firstborn among man brothers and sisters. (See Romans 8:29 [NIV])

Do not be conformed to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is–His good, pleasing, and perfect will. (Romans 12:2 [NIV])

And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into His image with an ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit. (2 Corinthians 3:18 [NIV])

Therefore, we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. (2 Corinthians 4:16 [NIV])

Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Philippians 1:6 [NIV])

Jesus met Simon’s mother-in-law to reveal He loves everyone without prejudice.

Gratitude

Ms. Whatshername’s life revealed gratitude. Because of Jesus’ care for her, His love and compassion because He healed her, she cared for Him. This healed woman wanted to thank Jesus. She thanked and loved Jesus by serving Him. Ms. Whatshername may have served Jesus by washing His feet, giving Him the best pillow to sit on, taking His outer garment to clean, and feeding Him her best food. The Gospel writers did not say in what way she served them. Ms. Whatshername knew how to serve. This loved woman wanted to give her best to the man who healed her. She said, “Thank you,” with her actions. Ms. Whatshername recognized who healed her, thanked Him with what she had, and thanked Him openly so other people saw. This story of Jesus’ encounter with her shows people how they can express gratitude and that saying thank you is a good thing. Jesus' encounter with Ms. Whatshername came to be written and shared. The writers told the story to point to Jesus and tell who He is. It shows what He does. Ms. Whatshername’s life became an example of how to respond to meeting Jesus. Her life spread the news about Jesus. Does your life spread the news about Jesus and the salvation He gave you?

Think about the opening story of the young lady giving her mother a beautiful house. Is there someone you have not thanked? Do you take what they gave for granted? Does your life give a testimony about who helped you? We each have Ms. Whatshernames in our lives. We remember the kindness they showed us, but we cannot remember her name. Her life was not her own, just as yours is not. You are made in the image of God, like her. The young lady did not give her mother a house to display the amount of money she was earning. She gave her the house because of what her mother had given to her. A heart of gratitude and generosity. Consider who you have not thanked. Consider if that may be Jesus. Have you thanked Him and testified about Him because of His power and authority, love and compassion, and unprejudiced gift for you?

Recap and Conclusion

Jesus came to save people from their sins. Simon’s mother-in-law was no exception. None of us are sinless. The Gospel writers wrote about Jesus and His encounters with people to show He is who He says He is. His ability to speak with power and authority, to heal and cast our demons with power and authority, and to die and rise to life again all come from who He is, the Son of God, Deity. Jesus is part of the Trinity and has all power, might, love, compassion, mercy, forgiveness, grace, etc. needed to do what He did and continues to do in this world.

On that day, Jesus taught the scripture with power and authority. He told four men to follow Him. He walked to the home of two of the fishermen. Simon and Andrew told Him about Simon’s extremely sick mother-in-law. Jesus knew of this woman’s illness. He realized Simon and Andrew were concerned for her health. Jesus understood before the day began what would occur and who He would meet. At the right time, He arrived at the home. One purpose Jesus followed Simon and Andrew to their home was to heal Ms. Whatshername. At the right time, Jesus understood her illness would be concerning. He recognized the time was right for people to see the truth of His deity by seeing His power to heal Ms. Whatshername’s body.

We do not know if Ms. Whatshername had heard of Jesus. He had only made Himself known in Capernaum that day. Would news have traveled to her about Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue even while she was sick? Whether or not she had heard of Jesus’ power and authority and the miracle He performed, Jesus walked to her and compassionately raised her up to sit. His power over life and death healed her. This woman may not have known yet that Jesus is the Messiah, but she recognized Him as a guest, a man with power, and the one who healed her. She arose from her bed and served Jesus and the other people who arrived at their home with Him.

Jesus revealed to people who He is through Simon’s mother-in-law’s life. Consider another way to say it. Ms. Whatshername’s life revealed who Jesus is. How so? Her life, because of this illness, resulted in six things being known. 

1.     Her life resulted in her family loving and respecting her.

2.     Her life resulted in Jesus showing compassion and love that led to showing His power through healing her.

3.     Her life resulted in praise and thanks to Jesus.

4.     Her life resulted in the spread of Jesus’ name and fame.

5.     Her life showed Jesus’ modeling for His disciples how to minister to and heal people.

6.     Her life resulted in the men being well-fed. (Which man does not want plenty of tasty food?)

Matthew, Mark, and Luke’s writings about Ms. Whatshername’s high fever allowed each person who read or listened to the story about her to learn of another area of Jesus’ power. It causes us to consider if our lives reveal who Jesus is. Three questions you should ask yourself.

1.     Who is your life story about you or Jesus?

2.     Does your life reveal Jesus to other people?

3.     Do you show your gratitude by trusting Jesus, and loving and serving Him?

God made you in His image. You should reflect Him. If not, what is in the way? Do you believe in Jesus as the Son of God and that He died for your sins? Have you confessed your sins to Jesus and promised never to do them again? You can avoid sins by relying on Him for strength. If you have never made this decision to believe in Jesus for salvation, today is not too soon. Your life can still reveal Jesus. Most importantly, Jesus is showing you, right now, who He is. Will you trust what He has revealed to you and become a child of God? Will you accept Jesus as your Savior?

Jesus was unafraid to show He is the Son of God. He was bold. You never walk in your own power to live your faith boldly. The Holy Spirit will give you strength and empower you to be bold for Jesus.

Be like the daughter who continued to reveal who the mother is.

Be like Simon’s mother-in-law and reveal who Jesus is through your life.

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.

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Creation To Christ Story FULL VIDEO English from Creation to Christ Story on Vimeo.

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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?

Peace, Be Still

 

The dimming of one candle,

The sparkling of another.

Winds pass,

They caress and blow.

Yet the still, soft whisper speaks to me.

 

“Peace be still,

All is well.

By My voice, all things live and move.

By My plan, all things pass away.”

 

Pain may grip the heart for a day or more.

Soon replaced with the joy of life.

 

The winds pass over the waters.

A froth or wave may crest.

Still, the Lord’s voice,

His hand upon it rests.

 

No breath, no star, no night, or day

Bursts through except as the Lord ordains.

No sun, no storm, no awakening, or sleep

Erupts from its slumber, except as the Lord speaks.

 

Nothing passes or surprises God almighty.

He gives His peace in the storm and joy for each day.

Whether the dimming flicker of one candle or the sparkling of a new,

God is with us as we embrace the passing winds,

Whether flowing rambunctious or calm with life imbued.

 

“Peace be still,

All is well.

By My voice, all things live and move.

By My plan, all things pass away.”