Mark 1:21-45 (New International Version, ©2010)I'm going to answer my questions here today, instead of in the comments section, for the sake for fair use copyright licensing. :-D
Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” 25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
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[a] came to him and begged him on his knees, “If you are willing, you can make me clean.” 41 Jesus was indignant.[b] 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.
What's going on?
I'm not going to go through the entire who, what, where, when and why (because there are so many of them), but I think there are two main dynamics here. Jesus is preaching and teaching the people, and the people are discovering that he has spiritual authority, and can heal them. Verse 22 says that people were amazed at his teaching, but it seems that it was Jesus' ability and willingness to heal people that was drawing the crowds. They weren't clamoring for sermons, they were clamoring for relief.
What's the main point?
The main point that I got out of it is that Jesus has authority.
What is the author trying to say?
It seems to me that Mark is trying to show his readers how popular Jesus was becoming with the crowds, to the point that he couldn't even enter a town if people knew he was there, because he would be mobbed.
How might this apply to my life?
Wow. There are definitely times when I want a lot of things from Jesus, and Jesus is compassionate, and knows my needs. But instead of spending so much time fretting about my personal well-being, I should probably spend more time getting to know Jesus better, appreciating the fact that he wants to have a relationship with me, instead of focusing on me, me, me. I think I need to post John 12:22-31 on my wall--don't seek "stuff," seek God. Why? Because God deserves our focus and devotion, and besides, he knows our needs and has everything under control.
What bugged me about this passage?
Remember this question, from the How This Works page? Verse 41 bugged me. Here is this leper, falling to his knees at Jesus' feet, begging to be made clean, and Jesus is indignant? That doesn't seem like a very compassionate response.
So, I looked the verse up in a couple different translations, and the general consensus seems to be that Jesus was moved with compassion, sympathy, pity, etc. So the NIV's use of the term "indignant" seems to mean that Jesus was indignant about everything the man had suffered, not indignant toward the man himself. That makes more sense--I've definitely felt indignant about the things people have to suffer through at times, and can relate to that emotion.
What about you? What did you get out of this passage?
I think it is important to see Jesus' human responses (indignant, for ex) to stress his humanity. I think sometimes we focus solely on His divinity and don't give as much attnention to His humanity. But, he was fully God and fully man. So, human emotions get that point across.
ReplyDeleteJesus is doing some radical stuff here. Teaching with authority for one. I have been taught that to teach you needed to get the authority to do so from at least 2 people and so Jesus' would have come from John the Baptizer and God. But, it wasn't clear to the people who gave him authority and this may be why they were astounded? (in my translation that is the word used.)
The other major radical thing is that Jesus is going around touching and healing all kinds of ritually unclean people.
Jesus is beginning to show the nature of His upside-down kingdom.
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ReplyDeleteOne more comment about this. If we're only following Jesus because we think it will make our life better--our kids won't rebel, our marriage will improve, God will "fix" whatever's spiritually, emotionally, or physically wrong with us on demand, and, of course, the fire insurance component--then what is our response when those things DON'T happen? Do we become disenchanted and abandon Jesus, the way the crowds eventually did?
ReplyDeleteBut if we're following Jesus because we know it's Jesus himself that we need, not what he can do to make our lives more pleasant, then that's a different story.
@Nancy--I'm just working on figuring this out, too. :-) I think you're right--it's probably best to post thoughts about certain questions in the thread (or post) they came up in.
ReplyDeleteThanks for doing this! You have so many great insights!!!
I am having trouble posting my answer on the other blog I keep getting disconnected and when I try to repost it says my answer was posted - so there may be duplicates or no answer at all. I deleted my previous post saying I posted it there just in case it wasn;t there, then I say your response - I think I am just going to go for a run and try again later :-)
ReplyDeleteHere are my thoughts. Because we live with the stain of original sin we will suffer in this life. We will physically die and our bodies will deteriorate. Upon death God can heal everything. "Earth hath no sorrow that Heaven cannot heal." (Thomas More)
ReplyDeleteI also think we have to pray according to GOD'S will, not use God as a genie. If we are praying for God to use us to further His kingdom, help us love more, help us serve more, help us understand Scripture more I fully believe God will answer these prayers in some way at a time of His own choosing. But, if we are praying for things that really have nothing to do with the kingdom of God, we can't be surprised when prayers go unanswered. Unfortunatly, I think it does happen that people at times abandon God because they are not getting the reply they want. But, God sometimes answers with a no, a maybe, or a not yet..in my opinion.
Jesus tells us his "yoke is easy and my burden is light" Matt 11:29b but he also tells us to take up our crosses and follow him. Is it easy or hard to follow Jesus? I think it's both. He gives us confidence and reassurance that He is with us and will help us, but what we are asked to do is not easy. We are asked to die to self and live in servanthood, not an easy thing to do!! Thank God for His daily forgiveness!!
I don't think Jesus intended for our lives to be pleasant in the way many people think (material goods, fortune, etc.). Instead, trust in God is what gives happiness. The Beatitudes is where true blessing is found. The NT has all kinds of messages on how we must persevere for the faith, it can be a hard road.
Amen!!!
ReplyDelete