Scripture/Sermon of the Day. February 4, 2024
Mark 1:29-39
Jesus Heals Many at Simon’s House
29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and
Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a
fever, and they told him about her at once. 31 He came and took her by the hand
and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
32 That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed
by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And 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.
A Preaching Tour in Galilee
35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a
deserted place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and his companions hunted for
him. 37 When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.”
38 He 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.” 39 And he went
throughout all Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting
out demons.
Reflection/Sermon:
I. Last week on one of my daily scripture reflections, the reading was
about how Jesus cured a person in the synagogue on the sabbath. There were
Pharisees who were present and they reminded Jesus what day it was and that he
needed to wait till the sabbath was over —
— which is, according to the law, AN HOUR AFTER SUNDOWN(OR WITH THE APPEARANCE
OF THREE STARS IN THE SKY).
It BEGINS A FEW MINUTES BEFORE SUNSET ON FRIDAY EVENING.
ANOTHER WAY TO DETERMINE WHEN SABBATH ENDS IS WHEN THE SUN HAS DESCENDED 8.5
DEGREES BELOW THE HORIZON.
II. So — what if someone needed medical attention and you weren’t sure if
the sun was 7 degrees or 8 degrees — or 8.5 degrees below the horizon? Because
if you did anything that was classified as work while it was just 7 degrees —
you’d be breaking the law.
And in Jesus’ case, the penalty for breaking that law could cost you your life.
Can’t you see how nit-picky people could get about obeying the law, and breaking
it?
Can you imagine how much power it gave these people — they had the power to make
your life pleasant or unbearable. So — you’d better be nice to them. Be
generous when they’re fundraising. Do favors for them.
When Jesus refused to play their games — when he ignored the warning of the
Pharisees and healed the man right in front of them, violating the sabbath law,
Matthew tells us, the Pharisees “made plans to destroy him.” Because in that
one act of healing — he took away their power.
III. Doesn’t it seem crazy that men who boasted of observing God’s law —
God’s will — perfectly, wanted to kill a man because he healed someone?
IV. But Jesus didn’t worry about it. Because after he cast out the demon of
the man in the synagogue, he went to Peter’s house and healed his mother in
law. Notice — AFTER the sun went down — after sabbath was over, they brought to
him “all who were sick or possessed with demons.”Now Jesus could LEGALLY help
people. One of the points of the story is — there’s no right or wrong time to
help someone. NOW IS THE BEST TIME.
V. Another important point about this story — that gets overlooked. In the
three years I was in seminary, there was no class or instruction in the
necessity for times each day of solitude. But here it is, in chapter 1 of
Mark’s gospel — and it’s not an accident that this was put here. For Mark, a
time of solitude each day is necessary for replenishing our spirit. It was a
vital part of Jesus’ routine. And Mark is telling us here to make it a vital
part ours as well. And then what does Jesus do?
He preaches good news, casts out demons heals. We could say: LOVE TAKES NO
HOLIDAYS. God gives us grace and love each day so we can pass it on to others.
BREAKING NEWS so good, Jesus risked his life to broadcast it.