Mark 2:1

  

Mark 2:1 says, And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house.  After some time alone in a desert place to escape His growing notoriety, Jesus returned to Capernaum.  Though Jesus is not here today, the Holy Spirit is, and rather than keep the truth about Jesus secret, we are called on through the power of the Holy Spirit to tell the world about Him. Even though we need time alone with Him, we need to spend more time proclaiming His good news to the world than alone keeping the gospel to ourselves. Verse two adds, And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them.  Jesus`s return to Capernaum was publicized quickly, and soon His house was overflowing, and people could no longer get through the door.  It would be wonderful if we had that same situation in churches today, but normally people of the world simply ignore what is going on in the church, but we still put our faith in the same Jesus Who was in Capernaum that day.  Verse three continues, And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. Four men had a friend who was sick with palsy that they wanted to bring to Jesus for healing, but they seemed to be blocked from getting to Him.  How many of us say we would bring our friends in need to Jesus, but seem to encounter something blocking us from doing so?  If we do encounter something in the way, what do we do then?  Verse four states, And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay.  These four men would not be stopped from getting their friend to Jesus, so they tore through the roof and let him down before Jesus.  There could have been many reasons to give up.  First, they had to get through the crowd. Next, they had to get the man up on the roof.  Then, they had to remove enough of the roof to let him pass through.  Finally, they had to let the man down without dropping him.  They could have decided at any point that it was too much trouble, but they didn't give up.  How often we let the least little obstacle keep us from bringing someone to Jesus?  We should be just as determined to bring our friends and family to Jesus as these men were.  Verse five adds, When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee.  We see that when Jesus saw their faith, He told the man sick with palsy that his sins had been forgiven.  Through faith, the four men brought their friend to Jesus for a physical healing, and because of faith, both theirs and his I believe, the man's sins were forgiven.  We must be willing to do as much as we can to bring people to Jesus. 

Mark 1:32

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.

   

Mark 1:28

 Mark 1:28 says, And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.  After Jesus cast the unclean spirit out of the man, His fame began to grow.  I believe that many of these people who heard about what Jesus did were more curious than aware of Who He was.  Many people today hear of Jesus and all that He did, up to and including dying on the cross for the sins of mankind, and they are curious but do not believe that He really is the only Savior of mankind. Verse twenty-nine adds, And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.  Verse thirty continues, But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.  Jesus and the four disciples with Him, Simon or Peter as he would be known, Andrew, James and John, went to Peter's house, and found his mother-in-law sick with a fever.  We may think of the disciples as young single men, but we know that some, at least Peter, had families that they were responsible for.  I don't believe that God expected them to ignore that responsibility, and neither does He expect us to today in the name of serving Him.  Verse thirty-one concludes, And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.  Jesus took Peter's mother-in-law by the hand, and her fever left her.  She then ministered to their needs.  When God heals us, He heals us to serve others under His direction and by His power.   If you are one of those who has simply been curious about Jesus Christ but have never accepted Him as your Savior and Lord, curiosity is never enough to save anyone. You have to believe that He is Who He says He is to be saved and accept Him as your Savior by faith.  Verse thirty-two 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' 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.