Connected To God

Mark 1:29-39 (February 8, 2009)

1) The Text

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.

2) The Context

Mark has begun to tell of a day, a sabbath, early in Jesus’ ministry spent at Capernaum. In the synagogue, Jesus has taught “as one having authority” (v. 22) beyond knowledge of the scriptures; he has healed a man possessed by evil simply by commanding the evil force to leave him. Now, with the four disciples he has called so far, he heals the mother of Peter’s wife. That she serves them shows that she is completely and immediately cured (v. 31). Note that Jesus “took her by the hand.” No respected religious leader would do so, especially not on the Sabbath. Was she so ill that Jesus could not wait a few hours to heal her until the Sabbath ended and avoid controversy as to whether this healing could be done on the Sabbath? Mark does not say.

Then, after the Sabbath, at the start of the next Jewish day (“that evening”, v. 32), many who are in like condition to the man in the synagogue (mentally ill) and to Peter’s mother-in-law (physically ill) are brought to him. Many gather around the doorway (“door”, v. 33) of the house to see his miracles. The evil forces recognize his power over them but he intends to show himself as God’s agent later, so he does not “permit the demons to speak” (v. 34). Jesus then withdraws to be alone to commune with God (v. 35). Perhaps Peter and the others see him as missing an opportunity to heal, but Jesus insists that his mission extends beyond Capernaum (v. 38). He travels throughout the region, proclaiming the good news to Jews who meet for worship and study, and overcoming evil forces in people (v. 39).

3) Interpretation

Mark records the early days of Jesus’ ministry as filled with healing. As so often in Mark, Jesus is the man of action. Again, His reputation spreads and people are drawn to bring their sick and disturbed to Him. He is clearly seen as a wonder-worker - and the crowds continue to come.

However, Jesus is Jesus - not just a wonder-worker. Any power He has comes from being who He is - the Son of God and an essential part of this is the time spent in communion with the Father. So, after the excitement and bustle of the evening’s events at Simon’s house, Jesus leaves the house long before dawn to find a place of solitude where He can pray and be still with God.

Given Mark’s style, the fact of including this small incident shows the importance he places on the fact that Jesus is not only someone who does things “at once” and “straight-away” but is also someone who takes time out of the busy-ness. He knows the needs of those who are sick and disturbed - but He also knows the absolute necessity of silence and communion with God.

The secret to Jesus and his ministry is that his life and his ministry were directed by God. The disciples want Jesus to do the popular thing. Lots of people wanted to see Jesus in the community, but he said he needed to move on. Jesus was directed by God. He was connected.

Part of Jesus attractiveness is his real-life connection with God through prayer. Unlike us, he was never too busy to pray, even in the busiest of times. Jesus, as a matter of routine would withdraw to pray, and as a result he was able to minister to the people who came to him. The disciples, observing Jesus day by day, began to realize that there was a connection between how he lived his life and his obvious intimacy with God. This caused them to say, “Teach us to pray.” They were drawn to know God as Jesus did - they knew that Jesus stayed spiritually connected and directed and they wanted that for themselves. Being spiritually alive is the privilege of every believer.

Jesus constantly had people around him who needed to be ministered to – people who took his time. Yet Jesus stayed focused and connected through times of stillness and solitude with God. He stayed connected.

It is following a time of prayer that Jesus discerns that His mission is not to be confined in one place - but that the Good News is to be proclaimed throughout Galilee. They leave the village - and Jesus spreads the news of the Kingdom - by preaching and by healing - particularly healing those who are held bound by evil.

This balance in Jesus’ life was to be an example to His first disciples - and may be even more important in our day where so much emphasis is placed on what people do - what people achieve. Often, this means that people lose sight of the importance of “being” - of spending time with the God who created them.

Jesus offers an example of what it means to be a whole person - who gives His time and energy generously and lovingly to those around Him - but who also gives time and space generously and lovingly to God.

4) Thought Exercise

How can we give time and space generously and lovingly to God?

How can our connectedness to God through prayer enable us to give our time and energy to those around us?