Power With Purpose Series

Read Mark 1:29-34, then Play Video from movie Leap of Faith “Bring in the Flock “

What a contrast - There is a great deal of difference from the way Jesus performed miracles and in the way people perceive miracles happening today.

Just as the video demonstrated, our world is full of people who will pretend to have miraculous powers.

However, as Mark tells us, Jesus does not need props or money or backstage handlers to express his power.

For Jesus it was simply a touch, an embrace, a word and sometimes just a mere thought and his miraculous power was unleashed. The lame could walk, the blind could see and the leprous was cleansed.

As we continue our series this morning on the Life of Jesus, I want us to focus on the miraculous power of Jesus by looking at one of his miracles of healing. By looking at his miracles of healing, we discover why Jesus is a distinctive messiah worth following.

Note The Setting

Verse 29, says after Jesus taught in the Synagogue he left and went to the home of Simon (another name for Peter). Mark gives us another detail to the setting, Simon’s mother in law was sick. In these small details we discover several ideas about Jesus and his new companions.

In verse 18 we read Simon and Andrew left their nets to follow Jesus. Now we discover Simon was actually doing more than just leaving nets. If he were to follow Jesus it would mean he would be leaving his home and his family. The call to be a fisher of men was more than changing vacations it was a changing of priorities. Later Jesus would tell his disciples, "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his father and mother, his wife and children, his brothers and sisters—yes, even his own life—he cannot be my disciple. And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple. Luke 14:26-27. Mark’s insight into Simon’s family life was showing us what he was willing to leave to follow Jesus.

There is a second detail uncovered in this setting – The action of Jesus. Verse 30, Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. Up until this point we have seen Jesus at his baptism, we have heard of his teaching and we have seen him cast out an evil spirit. No one had witnessed a miracle of healing. However because he spoke with authority and he had power over demonic forces. Someone in the room thought it was appropriate to tell Jesus of Simon’s mother in law’s condition. Note his action – verse 31, So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. Like his calling of the disciples, Jesus takes the initiative to act and heals this woman’s fever. This is the first of 11 healing miracles recorded in Mark’s gospel and in this miracle we learn some important lessons.

The miracle required nothing from the recipient – There was no evidence of faith on the part of the woman, no pleading by the woman; Jesus simply helped her up. Jesus does not require our activity to display his power.

The miracle restored her completely – verse 31 says she got up and served them. The implication is she served them immediately. Why does Mark make point this out to his audience? To demonstrate Jesus’ healing power brings about complete restoration.

The miracle had a purpose – Simon was about to leave with Jesus on the kingdom mission. The healing Simon’s mother in law would make it easier for Simon to focus on the mission rather than what was happening back home in Capernaum.

While we learn some interesting facts in the setting of this miracle the lesson for us comes in…

The Service Rendered

We are not told of the woman’s illness; it is simply described as a fever. What is interesting to me is not that she was healed, but how she responded to the healing. Vs. 31, The fever left her and she began to wait on them. The text implies she served them immediately. I do not know about you, but when I am recovering from an illness, the last thing I want to do is get up and get right back to work. I want to ease into the routine. Maybe come back to work with half days, work myself up to full strength. However that was not the case of this woman, the power of Jesus had removed the fever and she recovered strength immediately. Mark is giving us some insight to an encounter with Jesus. Anytime you have a positive encounter with Jesus the natural response is to serve him.

Nicodemus – Helped bury Him