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
The Woman at the Well – told her entire town about Jesus simply saying Come and See!
The Boy with 5 loves and 2 fish – met Jesus and was willing to share his meager resources
Zacchaeus was willing to give back 4 times what he had taken from his fellow Jews.
The Adulteress was willing to forgo her promiscuous lifestyle.
In Mark 14 a woman will anoint Jesus with sweet perfume as a gesture of love.
Time after time, positive encounters with Christ led to acts of service and transformation. Serving Christ should never be viewed as a “have to” event “I have to do this” nor should we serve out of guilt. Rather when we have a positive encounter with Christ the nature response should be one of serving Christ and his church. The examples above show us that there are a variety of ways to service. Nicodemus and Zacchaeus served through resources. The woman at the well served through evangelism and the boy share what he had; a lunch. The focus is not the resource, the focus is the action – positive encounters lead to service.
When I realize that Jesus took away my sins, gave me a family called the church and a purpose for living and a destination for eternity, I have had a positive encounter with Christ. The natural outflow is not guilt or I have to do something to pay him back, No, the natural response to my positive is using my gifts, my talents, my resources to serve him and his kingdom.
This is what Simon’s mother in law did on that day, and it is the pattern of people in the gospels and it is guide for us as well. I can think of several people in our church today who living out this principle. By being around them you can tell they have had a positive encounter with Christ. It is seen in their service, their attitude and their outlook. May we all live in such away for if you have given your life over to Christ you have had a positive encounter with Christ.
There is a third item we need address today regarding the distinctive messiah
The Seekers
Last week we saw Jesus confront the evil spirit as a result Mark told us in verse 28, News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Now with the healing of the mother law it seems the name of Jesus is on everyone’s lips. Note verse 32-34,
32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
33The whole town gathered at the door,
34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Imagine the scene the whole town is bringing friends and family to Jesus. Not because of who he is; they do not realize he is God incarnate (God in the flesh). They are not aware He is the messiah, the one who will take away the sins of the world. They are not coming to join him in his new kingdom venture. They are coming to Jesus for what he can do for them. It is at this point they are coming as consumers.
Some people do the same today, they view Jesus as Mr. Fix it. Marriage is broke – need some religion. Trouble with kids, I had better get them in youth group. Anger issues – Need my Jesus fix. But, Jesus is not in the fix it business – he is in the transformation business. In the beginning of his ministry he had large crowds follow him – Because they had a fix it mentality – however at the end of his life many left because they wanted the quick fix, not the transformation he was offering.
How do we know Jesus is not about fixing every problem? It is seen in two words in the text I just read.
Let’s look at it again…
Verse 32, That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
Now look at verse 34, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons
Jesus had mercy, he healed many people, but he did not heal all of the people that day. In fact if you study the gospels you discover Jesus only healed 20 people in his three year ministry.
Understand Jesus’ purpose or focus was not to be a physically healer; Jesus had a greater purpose in coming to earth. Jesus was interested in healing people spiritually. He wanted to heal people of the sin problem that separated them from God.
If Jesus is the model for the church, we must remember there a lot of things we can do, but there is only one thing we must do. Reach lost people and reconnect them to God. Yes Jesus healed, yes Jesus taught, but his primary purpose was to seek and save the lost.
Like Jesus, people will come to us as consumers – they will want us to have this program or this ministry. While many programs and ministries are good, not all of them are beneficial to fulfilling the mission of reaching lost people for Christ.
It can be very easy to become sidetracked into having many ministries and activities. We can become so busy doing ministry we forget to be the church. Friends the church is the lifeline to our culture. Jesus understood that, that why he showed mercy in healing many, but he did not heal all. For the people of Capernaum and Palm Bay need more than physical healing they need what Simon’s mother in law received a touch of the master’s hand. Question what helped Simon’s mother and law the most to be healed physically or to be healed spiritually? We all know the answer to be healed spiritually was far greater than the breaking of the fever. Spiritual transformation is always more important than physical wellness.
The distinctive nature of Jesus is seen in his ability to transform any situation. On a day when people marveled at his teaching, they were more amazed at his ability to heal. What was truly amazing was his ability to be both merciful and missional. He extended mercy through his healing and was missional in his approach, not healing all but focusing on his purpose.
If Jesus is the pattern for the church may we be both merciful and missional to the world. It begins with positive encounters and continues with spiritual transformation. That is a power the world cannot fake or manufacture, but the world so desperately needs.
Prayer
