Daily Thoughts from Mark: Successful Living (Mark 1:29-34)

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed 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. (Mark 1:29-34, ESV)

Today in Capernaum there is a church built over the site that is believed to be Peter’s home, right next to the synagogue.  Peter’s mother-in-law would normally have been up and showing hospitality, but this day she was unable due to illness.  Family was obviously concerned.  Jesus’ power was made evident in that all he needed to do was take her hand and the fever left.

This kind of power cannot be kept secret and soon people from all over the area came with sick relatives and demon-possessed loved ones.  They were at the door of Peter’s house, not a normal public meeting place, so you can imagine the chaos.  Jesus demonstrated his power and compassion by healing all of them and casting out many demons.

These two activities are mentioned separately because not all illness is caused by demons.  What is most interesting is Jesus’ refusal to let the demons speak.  Like the one in the synagogue the demons knew who Jesus was, “the Holy One of God.”  What this meant to them is not clear, but they wanted to identify him and he would not let them.

Jesus did not want people to flock to him out of sensationalism.  It was clear enough already that people would misinterpret his coming as a bid to overthrow Rome.  And too many would come only for what they could get from him, caring nothing for what he had to teach them.

We don’t come to Jesus so he’ll make our lives more successful.  We come primarily because we desperately need forgiveness and desperately need to know our Creator.  Jesus said no one comes to the Father except through him (John 14:6).  So we come.

And as much as we might be tempted to offer Jesus as a way to make lives more successful, he does not give us that option.  So witness those sons of Sceva who tried to cast out demons in Jesus’ name and were overpowered (Acts 19:13-16).  We offer Jesus rightly as the one who is king and who deserves loving obeisance.  Successful lives are a secondary benefit If they come.