Mark 1:29-39
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. 31He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and his companions hunted for him. 37When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” 38He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.
I've always wondered why Jesus wanted to "keep things secret" in the gospel of Mark. There are academic answers for that which I won't go into right now. But as I read the scripture the one thing that popped out at me in such a way that I could not look away was verse 38: "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." He literally turned people away who wanted to be healed, who could have added to his following. He walked away from them and said -- this isn't it. This isn't what I'm supposed to be doing right now.
I wonder some times if we miss it also. Perhaps if we stopped for a moment and listened to God and prayed a bit we might hear what it is we are supposed to do. I'm thinking that's what Jesus did. He was getting really excited about this healing stuff, but in stopping and talking to God, he realized, it's just not it -- it's not why I am here.
We Christians like to talk about our Jesus - our healer -- but is that what he came to do? Perhaps we should think about that. What are your thoughts?
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
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1 comment:
I like it!!! I do think somtimes we get caught up in the "flash" of healing or miracles jesus and the disiples performed but that is not exactly what GOD wants us to tell. GOD works through us normal people as much as the great ones. We do not all have the greatest turn around testimony but GOD still works through us. GOD needs his recognition of these events they are for his glory not ours. Maybe that is what JESUS was getting to here that if he stayed to perform these healings the glory would be his not GOD's. I may be way off track but that's me!!!
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