Our Deepest Need is Not Material, But Spiritual
Mark 1:29-45
Jesus Heals Many
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and 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.
Jesus Prays in a Solitary Place
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. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy
40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.”
41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.
43 Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44 “See that you don’t tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.” 45 Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.
The source of the Son’s power is the Father, who has given him the Spirit. (Go back and read the baptism story in 1:9 again.) But Jesus must stay connected to the Father through prayer. Mark 1:35 is one of my favorite verses in the Bible, and one that is most convicting— if Jesus needed silence and solitude for his work, how much more do I?
We see here again that when the Kingdom comes, there is healing. And yet we also have this strange note that Jesus seems to want to avoid crowds. Why? This is a tension that Mark is setting up for us, but I’ll go ahead and give the spoiler now: the mission of Jesus is not primarily to heal the world, but to die for the world.
In other words, our deepest need is not material but spiritual.
You need to pray more. Commit now to getting up earlier Monday morning and spending time in silence and solitude.
P.S. I’m teaching a Bible study on How to Read and Understand the Gospel of Mark (and the entire Bible, too!) Wednesday, March 9, 6-7 PM. You coming?
P.P.S. Plus we have Wednesday morning communion each Wednesday in Lent, 7:00-7:20 AM, with Chick-fil-A breakfast to go on your way out. You’re coming, right? I would LOVE to see families with school kids there.
