Let Us Go / What A Difference A Day Makes

Let Us Go / Mark 1: 29 - 39

Intro: What A Difference A Day Makes by Maria Grever and Stanley Adams. “What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours. Brought the sun and the flowers where there used to be rain. My yesterday was blue, dear. Today I’m part of you, dear. My lonely nights are through dear, since you said you were mine.”

I. When I worked on this sermon, I thought of this song. I began to relate it to this passage because what Mark has done here is to give us a glimpse into a day in the life of Jesus.

A. What a difference a day made in the life of Simon Peter’s mother-in-law. A nameless, faceless woman whose life was changed by a day in the life of Jesus.

B. In the text, Jesus came and took Simon Peter’s mother-in-law by the hand and lifted her up and the fever left her. (GK verb egeiro, to get up is same as used for the resurrection of Jesus.)

C. She responds to the healing touch of Jesus by serving (GK diakoneo) This is no woman bowing to cultural convention and keeping in her restricted place as a servant; this is a disciple who guietly demonstrates the high honor of service for those who follow Jesus. --- SHE IS THE FIRST DEACON.

II. What a difference a day made in her life. VS. 32 & 34 – That evening, after sunset, the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. . . and Jesus healed many who had various diseases and also drove out many demons . . .”

A. What a difference a day makes. 24 little hours. --- Any single parent, anyone who has worked more than one job, anyone who has raised children knows that sometimes the days seem a lot longer than 24 hours

B. I remember the days when I took care of 3 sons, managed to keep a house clean, the grass mowed, the weeds pulled, prepare meals, and juggle three work schedule of 3 jobs just to make ends meet.

C. We can certainly relate to Jesus in these verses. It is comforting to know that even Jesus had days when he must have felt pulled apart in a million directions by scores of demanding people. How did he handle the pressure may give us an indication as to what might work for us.

III. VS. 35 - Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.”

A. The lesson to be learned here is that Jesus NEVER HAPPENED TO FIND HIMSELF ALONE. He was deliberate about it. So must we.

B. I remember Barbara telling me that one day she just had to be alone for a few minutes. Her son, Christopher and her husband, Steven looked for her everywhere. Finally, Steven went to the bedroom a opened the closet door to find Barbara sitting on the floor. His question, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE? WE’VE BEEN LOOKING FOR YOU!”

C. VS. 36 – 37 Simon had his companions went to look for him (GK – katadioko HUNTED – implicit strong, hostile sense) andwhen they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you.” Simon Peter’s frustration is met by Jesus saying “Let’s go somewhere else - - -“

Conclu: Somewhere else! What’s wrong with here? There is plenty to do here! Why can’t we just stay here?

There is a reason this room is called a SANCTUARY. A sanctuary is defined as a place of refuge, asylum, or protection.

VS. 38 – “Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else --- to the nearby villages --- so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”

As much as we would like to stay in our SANCTUARY, we must know that is not our purpose as a disciple of Christ Jesus. We are to go somewhere else where we too can “preach.”

What a difference a day makes, 24 little hours. 24 hours to go, 24 hours to preach. 24 hours to make a difference. Let’s go!