We Could Miss It - If We're Not Looking

Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. – Mark 1:28-34

The Gospel of Mark is the shortest gospel. It races along at an exhausting tempo. Mark's frequent use of the word "immediately" (which he uses forty-one times) speeds the reader along at a riveting pace. We are only twenty-eight verses into Mark's account and already he’s used the word "immediately" six times:

• In Jesus' baptism: And immediately coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened... - Mark 1:10

• In Jesus' temptation in the wilderness: And immediately the Spirit impelled him to go out into the wilderness. - Mark 1:12

• In the calling of the disciples: And they immediately left the nets and followed him... And immediately he called them - Mark 1:18, 20

• In battling evil powers: And immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue... - Mark 1:21

• And the pace shows no sign of letting up: And immediately the news about him went out everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee. - Mark 1:28

Now Jesus adds healing the sick to his repertoire (Mark 1:29-30; notice Mark uses the word "immediately" two more times). As a result Jesus becomes even more popular. After healing Simon's mother-in-law in private, the word gets out and a large crowd gathers in the evening around Simon's house. They may have come sooner, but in order to honor the Sabbath, they wait until it is over: "And when evening had come, after the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door" (Mark 1:32-33).

Jesus is enormously popular - a true superstar! But if we are not careful in our reading we are going to miss something here; a pattern that exists in the growth and the message of the Gospel.
Notice in verse 28 that Jesus and the disciples just themselves finish worshiping. They had been in the synagogue. They leave it and go to Simon and Andrew. There they find someone who is in need of healing. What do they do? Do they bask in the glory of their worship, praise and teaching experience in the House of God? No. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. – Mark 1:29. Out of the abundance of the strength and power Jesus’ had gained by being in His Father’s presence He ministered what was needed to another.

Then, what does she do? … And immediately the fever left her. And she served them. – Mark 1:29b, 30

This sequence my loved ones is God’s pattern. We are strengthened for a purpose. We are healed, regenerated, taught, cleansed, filled with the Holy Spirit and spiritually empowered to serve! We find strength, spend time in God’s presence and when we rejoin the world, our hearts should turn toward the needs of others. Let’s remember how we were built – our mission – our ministry. I remain…

InHISgrip,
~J~