Mark 1:32 says, And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. As word of Jesus's healing power spread, people were even bringing those in need of healing to Him after dark. Even though they were not necessarily coming for the right reason, which would have been for spiritual healing, Jesus did not turn them away. People today often come to Jesus for the wrong reason, but He does not turn them away. Of course, they may never come to accept Him as Savior and Lord, but that will be because they rejected Him and not because He rejected them. Verse thirty-three adds, And all the city was gathered together at the door. Mark said the whole city was at His door. It would be wonderful if we could get that many people to come looking for Jesus today, even if many came for the wrong reason. Verse thirty-four continues, And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. Jesus healed many people of different diseases, and He cast out many devils, forbidding them to even speak. Again, there was no great war in casting out these devils. They were powerless before Jesus. If we have faith in Jesus, we have no reason to fear the devils or demons of this world. The devils obeyed Jesus because they knew Who He was, which is probably more than many of the people gathered there knew. We must know Who Jesus truly is in order for Him to have any power in our life today. The devils knew Him and had no choice but to obey Him. We, on the other hand, may know Him but have a choice as to whether or not to obey Him. Verse thirty-five says, And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. Jesus got up very early and went to a solitary place and prayed. After ministering to the needs of the multitude the day before, Jesus needed a quiet time alone to pray. No matter how busy or successful we are, even if we are doing what God has called us to do, we should never forget to set aside a time to be alone with God in prayer, even if we have to get up early to have that time. Verse thirty-six adds, And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. Simon and the other disciples followed Jesus. Like the disciples, we should also want to follow Jesus wherever He leads us. Verse thirty-seven continues, And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee When the disciples found Jesus, they told Him that all men sought Him. It would seem that they were more interested in what the people wanted than in what Jesus needed. We can never allow what people want to come before what Jesus needs from us. It would be wonderful if all people sought Jesus, but that is not the case and many times those who do seek Him do so for the wrong reason, simply looking for how Jesus can do something for them, instead of looking at what He has already done for them and what they can do for Him. Verse thirty-eight concludes. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth. Jesus said that they would go to the next towns, and He would preach there. I believe that when He said that was the reason He came that He wasn't referring to His preaching only, but to His mission to reach out to all people with the gospel. Jesus came to bring salvation to all people who would put their faith in Him, and that has never changed.
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