If you heard about or met an extraordinary man, would you be intrigued to hear more about him or desire to meet him? I’m certain many ladies have; you probably married him!
We meet many ordinary people regularly, but extraordinary people do not appear as often. Leaders who are competent to lead and able to do what they say are rare. When one is recognized, normally good honest people flock to see them; meet them; seek to find out all they can about them. They want them in their lives.
Many people with a life ending disease who hear about an extraordinary skilled physician seek to learn more about them. Many seek to be seen by them in their medical clinic to find if they may be able to heal them of their chronic disease or make their body as comfortable as possible so as to live as long as they may.
Mankind is eager to do this much for their physical lives here on earth. Do you believe you have an eternal spiritual life living along with you simultaneously in this physical life? Might it develop a chronic illness which could be life ending? If your physical life can have sicknesses, your spiritual life might become sick also?
What if I told you your spiritual life can have life ending illnesses; such illnesses which may cause much pain and suffering in the spirit life? If you are experiencing pain, sorrow, depression, loneliness in this life, your spiritual life may be ill. Sometimes this disease unchecked and undiagnosed might lead to suicide of the physical life; taking the spirit life along with it. If these spiritual illnesses are not cured they can never allow rest and peace to come for you, even for all eternity? Do you believe your spirit will live for eternity? If it does, do you need to keep it healthy for the eternal life; the life hereafter?
Let me tell you about a Great Physician. He is an extraordinary man. Mark tells the world about him. This physician can ease your pain and suffering from spiritual and psychological diseases called sin. He can make your spirit life, which lives simultaneously with your physical life, as disease free as your physical life can. His treatment can keep your spirit life disease free as long as you obey his commands. If you love him he will love you as long as you keep his commandments. John 14:21. 21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.
You know about the extraordinary man you perhaps married; how he loves you and you love him? He cares for you. This Great Physician treats you with even more care and love than any human can.
The children of Israel had heard of a prophecy foretelling of God bringing comfort to his people. God told Isaiah to speak comfort to his people. They had been through many hardships due to their sinful disease–turning away from God and following their own cares and friends wishes. Let us read:
Isaiah 40:1-5
40 Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, saith your God. 2 Speak ye comfortably to Jerusalem, and cry unto her, that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned: for she hath received of the Lord's hand double for all her sins. 3 The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. 4 Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low: and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough places plain: 5 And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
This prophecy was foretold for their expectation of a spiritual leader, an extraordinary man, to come before them with the proclamation of another more extraordinary man who would bring healing to their physical and spiritual bodies. God pardoned them and returned to them; loved and cared for them. His inflicted pain and suffering was abated. God spoke to them concerning this messenger who would arrive first to proclaim the coming of the Messiah (Hebrew), the Christ (Greek). From this point forward, all Israel sought the coming of the Messiah.
Malachi 3:1
3 Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the Lord, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the Lord of hosts.
This former prophecy, sought by all Israel, was fulfilled and Mark proclaims to the world it came to pass. Let us read:
Mark 1:1-11
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God; 2 As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 3 The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. 4 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. 5 And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. 6 And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; 7 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. 8 I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost. 9 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. 10 And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: 11 And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.
Mark begins with the gospel–the good news–of this extraordinary man named Jesus. He immediately declares to the world it is about the son of God. (vs. 1) To the Jews, Mark reminds them of the prophecy they knew and sought–the messenger who prepares the way for the Messiah. This messenger was John the Baptist who baptized in the Jordan River all Israel who came seeking this extraordinary man.
John declared, however, he was not the extraordinary man they sought; this man was mightier than John. (vs. 7) God declared this man unto all Israel at the Jordan River when John baptized him. God spoke and sent a symbol of acceptance upon this extraordinary man; The Spirit, like a dove. It came down and rested upon this man. God spoke from heaven in the hearing of all present that day, “Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.” (vs. 11)
This extraordinary man, Jesus, the son of God, began doing the work of God for mankind. As people today are curious, so were they at that time. Jesus began doing things which people seeking peace, comfort, love, and healing, both physical and spiritual, did. They were intrigued to meet him and to know more about him. Many began to seek him to receive healing from him; both physically and spiritually.
Why did they do this? Let us read:
Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.
After choosing special followers to assist him in this work, Mark says, Mark 1:21-22. 21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
This extraordinary man was truly extraordinary. He astonished them with his competence and knowledge. He then began healing them; all who came to meet him. With his power over the physical body as well as the spiritual body, his notoriety caused those seeking peace and comfort from their ailments to seek him. Notice:
Mark 1:23-28
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Mark 1:32-34
32 And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. 33 And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
Mark 1:39-45
39 And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. 40 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41 And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean. 42 And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed. 43 And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; 44 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45 But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
Do you seek a better life; one filled with the power of God assisting your every need? Do you believe this story by Mark, telling of things Jesus, the extraordinary man, can do for you.
All men must face death in the physical body, unless you are here when Jesus returns to gather his own to meet him in the clouds and be taken into heaven. All mankind will suffer illnesses. Modern physicians assist God in the body's healing process. But, God truly delivers the healing. Perhaps this current ailment is a discipline of the body and soul of each man to bring about righteousness. However, if physical death occurs, spiritual death may not. The righteous soul will live eternally, pain free, and peaceably with God in heaven. Therefore, do not fear a righteous man’s death. God has rewarded them with no more pain and suffering from the evils of this physical life. The spiritual life will obtain a period of rest from their labors in the Kingdom of Heaven.
Revelation 14:13
13 And I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me, Write, Blessed are the dead which die in the Lord from henceforth: Yea, saith the Spirit, that they may rest from their labours; and their works do follow them.
Do you want to know more about this extraordinary man? He can be found where righteous followers assemble and where they live. Seek righteous people who follow after righteousness and you will be introduced to him. There you can learn more about him–Jesus, the son of God.
