Sorry about the delay in this study, we lost internet for a couple of days.
As we continue our look at Mark (Mark 1:21-39), we find Jesus in Capernaum, a fishing village on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. While there Jesus goes into the synagogue to teach. The Bible tells us that the people were amazed because Jesus taught as one with authority. Jesus' authority was so great that a demon cried from a possessed man, "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!" Jesus then rebuked the demon, and freed the man from it's presence.
After Jesus leaves the synagogue He went to Simon and Andrew's home where He finds Simon's Mother-in-law sick with a fever. Jesus heals her sickness. That evening the whole community shows up with their sick and demon possessed looking to Jesus for the answers to their problems.
Jesus worked late into the night healing the sick and freeing the possessed. I can imagine an exhausted Jesus climbing into be. Everyone counting on Him to fix their problems. The people sleeping on the ground around the house waiting for Jesus to wake up.
Then we read the most interesting thing, "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. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons."
The Good News:
There are three things that we need to focus on in these passage. The first two I will just briefly look at because we will look at them later the third is the main focus of today's blog.
1. We have a teacher in Jesus who isn't like the other teachers. He has authority over every created thing, both physical and spiritual, and at His very word the demons tremble. James 2:19 says, "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror."
2. We have a Lord who cares deeply about His people. He is concerned about all of our problems. Whether we are dealing with sickness, disease, demonic influence, depression, addiction, or a host of other problems that we face in this life freedom is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Who will always bring blessing to His people. "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose."
3. This is the main point that I wanted to share today. When we find Jesus going to pray and then telling His disciples that it is time to go somewhere else, it might catch us off guard. What about all those people that are looking for Him?
The beauty in this passage is that Jesus goes to pray. This gives us a great example for handling the stresses of life. It is easy to get caught up in all the needs surrounding us. And we could spend our lives in one place dealing with one need after another, which would be a good thing. But in the end we could miss God's best for our lives. Jesus could have stayed in that little fishing town healing the sick and casting out demons but then the greater work that God called Him to do would have been sacrificed to the needs of the masses. Jesus' mission was to preach the good news and to ultimately become the fulfillment of the greatest news of all. Your sin debt is paid in full.
Jesus wants us to know that no matter what is going one in your life, we have a friend in Jesus who is always looking out for our best. We may not always understand what is going on around us but we can be sure that Jesus is in control.
May you rest in the good news that Jesus finished is finished the work He came to do. While He was on the cross, He declared, "It is finished." The curtain in the temple was torn from top to bottom freeing us all to have full access to the Holy of Holies.
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