Thanks for taking the time to read the message this week. I hope and pray that everyone is doing well this week.
For the last few weeks, we have been in a continuing series of messages on the Gospel of Mark. We are going chapter by chapter and verse by verse through this Gospel for as long as it takes.
In our message last week, we saw that Jesus was just at the start of His public ministry. He came out of the wilderness temptation, and then He chose some of His first disciples. He told them that they would become fishers of people, and they left everything behind and immediately followed Him.
In our passage for today, we find that Jesus is beginning His teaching and healing ministry in the city of Capernaum. On the Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach the people. The people were amazed at the teaching that Jesus was giving because He taught under His own authority and not like the teachers of the law. This meant that Jesus made statements about what was the truth without going back and quoting from others in order to authenticate what He was saying. He taught under His own authority because He was God come in the flesh. All authority was His in Heaven and on earth.
In addition to teaching, another important part of Jesus' ministry was healing those who were sick and those who were oppressed by the devil. People from all over would come who were sick so that Jesus could lay His hands on them and heal them. Jesus was filled with compassion for the needs of the people. He cared about their spiritual needs and their physical needs.
One thing to note in this passage is that the evil spirits recognized Jesus right away. They had no power when Jesus confronted them. When He told them to depart, they had no choice.
In our passage today, we also see that Jesus performed a miracle for Peter's family. Peter's mother-in-law was sick, and Jesus brought her back to health. She showed her gratitude by serving and helping the Lord and His disciples.
Now, what can we learn for our lives from this passage so far. First of all, we see the divinity of Jesus firmly displayed. By having teaching authority, authority over disease and authority over the spirits, Jesus demonstrated in no uncertain terms that He was God. He forbade the evil spirits to identify Him because He wanted people to come to their own conclusion about who He was. And that is what everyone has to do. We all must decide who Jesus is and if we will acknowledge who He is and invite Him into our lives to be out Savior and Lord.
In this passage, we see that we have an example for our service for the Lord in this world. Jesus ministered to the whole person. He told them about His message of love and forgiveness, and we have been given the ministry of reconciliation by the Lord as well. We are to go into the world and preach the Gospel and tell people that they can be reconciled to God through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.
We also, like Jesus, have a ministry for the whole person. Jesus met the needs of the people. Those of us who claim Jesus as Lord also have the duty to minster to the sick and to help people that are hurting in this world. If all of those who claim to know Jesus would work together, we could provide medical care, food aid and other assistance to the least of those among us. That is our duty in imitation of the teaching and practice of Jesus.
Now, in the last part of our passage, we see that Jesus went out into solitary places to pray. He needed to recharge by spending time with His Father. That is our example. We cannot go out into this world and help people if we are not filled up with the power of the Lord, and this comes about by spending time each day in prayer. We need to pray and meditate and let the love of Jesus fill our hearts so that we can give the love of Jesus to others that we meet throughout the day.
In all things, Jesus is our example. Let us go into the world and tell others about the Lord, and let us help others to have a better life while await the coming again of Jesus. Amen.
Prayer Requests
I am having a lot of health issues right now. Please keep praying. I am still able to go to work and post the messages, so I am thankful for that.
Please pray for peace. The world right now is a total mess. We need peace on the streets of the US. We need to keep praying of Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Sudan, Myanmar, Syria and Yemen. Pray for peace in Haiti. Wherever you know there is conflict, pray for peace.
Keep praying that those affected by the winter storms here in the US will get the aid and the help that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of India and Senegal. Pray that many will come to know the Lord Jesus.
Next week, I will post the verses on Tuesday. We will continue in our study in Mark. May God bless you all.
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