Mark 1:29-39 Restored to Serve

Introduction: What will hold the center of our lives? Something will be and must be the center. We may be self-centered and the center is us, our strength, our abilities…Maybe you think it would be more selfless to live for another person: a spouse, a politician, a celebrity, or even a group of people, to live your life for a social or political movement.But we often find that as we pursue self-sufficiency or human sufficiency, creaturely sufficiency, we discover that we are insufficient. Mired in Sin, sickness, and broken relationships…Our insufficiency, our lack of self-sufficiency, is because we have no life in ourselves; we have no solution in ourselves.In a fallen world, Christ must supply. God must be the center, the supply, fountain that then allows us to serve others. Otherwise, our service depends on ours or others strength. We make ourselves idols. Little relationship-gods. Little world-changing-gods. Little deciders and arbiters of right vs. wrong, little-insufficient-fixers.In our passage today, Jesus continues his ministry, but now on a more intensive scale. We see after he has preached in the synagogue that very same day he heals Simon Peter’s mother-in-law…She, with renewed strength, shows life-giving hospitality to the disciples, & and through her Christ-strengthened hospitality she supports and enables Jesus’ intensive ministry.Lastly, We see when Jesus has physically exhausted himself, He still turns to the Lord for strength & communion in Prayer.The gospel is good news because even though we are insufficient to take on godlike roles, we are water-less foundation—God himself, supplies us by his by Christ’s life-giving role. Being united to Christ Jesus’ death, sufferings, life, and resurrection changes our service from self—to Supernatural Service.Read: Mark 1:29–39Prayer of Illumination#1 Restored to Serve vv. 29-31#2 Sickness & Satan Cast Out vv. 32-34#3 Prayer the Fuel of Ministry that stays Focused vv. 35-39#1 Restored in Order to Serve[29] And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. [30] Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. [31] And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.· Verse 29 shows we are following Jesus straight from the synagogue…· They Come back from spiritual food. Hearing authoritative teaching.· That Jesus can make us holy. Forgiven. And Defeat the world and all spiritually forces arrayed against our soul…So exhausted from the morning, they return to Peter’s house for physical rest…for food.· Enter Simon & Andrew’s House with the other two James & John· Simon Peter’s Mother-in-law is very sick with a fever.o She us Unable to serve…Things are not the way they ought to be in creation where we are Healthy and strong· Jesus compassionately takes her by the hand and lifts her up, and She is healed, and she is instantly strengthened to service.· Jesus does no half measures with people.o I’ve been battling being sick, and even as I got better. I felt weak.· When Peter’s mother-in-law’s restored, she is restored to service which does seem to flow into the ability of Jesus and the disciples to carry on their ministry work (vv. 32-39).· She was not restored in order to serve herself to go to Greece and have a Mamma Mia moment…o that would’ve harmed the ability of Jesus and the disciples to persevere in ministry, both Jesus’ preaching ministry and the miraculous ministry of Jesus.· So the principle found here is that Christ heals, he restores in order that we might in love and gratitude, serve our savior & serve others.o This is a foundational principle for all believers. In whatever calling God has placed on our lives.o Mark 9:35 And he sat down and called the twelve. And he said to them, “If anyone would be first, he must be last of all and servant of all.” (ESV)§ The 12 apostles…though leaders of the church…are called in order to serve others, in their calling as apostles.o Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (ESV)§ Christ’s death, is a humble service as he left heaven and give up his life for us.· Jesus is able to return home, be refreshed after his morning preaching, and be served because of the ministry of this godly woman.· However, ironically, his healing means he now has the whole town coming to him for healing and for demons to be cast out.o But at least he is now once again active after having received hospitality from this godly mother-in-law.#2 Ministry at a Grand Scale[32] That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. [33] And the whole city was gathered together at the door. [34] 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.· After Sundown, in other words when the sabbath was over. And every is allowed to travel about again.· Note the phrasing carefully all who were Sick OR Oppresseed by demons.o Mark clearly Distinguished demonic activity from illness.o He heals the sick. He casts out demons.o Demons are not just mental illness, and sickness is not just demon-possessed people. (Right, you can’t just say, Satan made me sick…) But the good news is being sick isn’t just because of Sin or Satan.o All these things are brought about because of the Fall into Sin the curse of a fallen world. What the catechism calls the “misery” of the fall.o Jesus’ ministry shows that if he can reverse the effects of the fall, demonic activity, and physical sickness, then he can address the weighty eternal problem of sin sick hearts and souls separated from God and each other.o If he can give a foretaste of heaven in his first coming he can bring the fullness of heaven in his second coming. Physical healing points to spiritual removal of sin: Isaiah 53:5 But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed. (ESV)· This is not a guarantee of physical healing here on earth today…Instead Jesus’ healing ministry shows he would be able to deal with sin by his death on the Cross.· And Jesus today would have us not go to faith healers but look forward to heaven, where there will be no more sickness or sin in our glorification.· A couple more observationso The “whole city” at this little home…Is a reminder of The great depths and extensiveness of the miseries of the fallo And the fact that he is in the Holy Land of Israel and having to Cast out MANY demons shows how terribly wrong things are with God’s covenant people in the holy Land. But God is on the Move. The Day of the Lord is there and Jesus was beginning to bring the about the binding of satan that he could deceive the nations no more. Satan’s activity is weaker now…Not gone, not inactive, but weaker…unable to stop the advance of the gospel around the world, unable to stop God from restoring people to service to the Kingdom of God. “Look at the end of v. 34 again, And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.· This is called the Messianic Secret: Jesus early in his ministry did not desire these crowds, the title of Messiah too early on. The demons would stir up Misdirected adoration…think of the example of every time a celebrity of some stripe says, “they are now a Christian” or support “X” political cause. Everyone goes crazy in support OR opposition, but often they don’t allow time for the person to develop or to set actual expectations…so you impute all your thoughts and opinions onto that person…The messiah has connotations of throwing off political powers, not nearly enough Spiritual Freedom and not the Humble death upon a Cross he is actually headed towards.· …To stir up a celebrity craze and ownership of Jesus as the messiah now would be to cause confusion… Confusing the kingdom of God with the throwing off of the Roman Empire. Political Rule.· Note this from William Lane: “The people come to Jesus, not because they recognized his dignity and function but because it is rumored that a miracle worker has come in their midst. Jesus had come to preach repentance and the nearness of the kingdom but the people think only of relief from pain and affliction. They fail to perceive the significance of Jesus’ conflict with demonic power.· In compassion and grace Jesus extends to them authentic healing, but it is not primarily for this purpose that he has come. In the morning he withdraws from the village and the clamoring crowds. (Lane, 80).Look in verse 35…#3 Early Morning Prayer and Avoiding Mission Drift in the face of demonic opposition..[35] And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. [36] And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, [37] and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.”· Very early, while its still dark, Jesus goes, Up on the Hillside overlooking Galilee, a barren place…either he is intentionally isolated,o Departed, away, intentionally isolated, reminding of his victory over satan’s temptations,o Heb. 5:7 In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears.”o Unpack the trinity and incarnation and prayer.· The reproach, comes from Peter, “everyone is looking for you”§ They need you! While certainly God uses people to tell us to wake up and do our duty. Peter misunderstands jesus’ mission. And is attempting to pull Jesus’ mission in a direction he does not intent.§ The world wants us reactive to the next need. So we stop looking at the big picture.§ Satan can use this. How?· Jesus, everyone wants you to heal their sickness and cast out the oppressive effects of their sin.· But as William Lane says, “[Jesus’] purpose is not to heal as many people as possible…but to confront men with the demand for decision in the perspective of God’s absolute claim upon their person.”· Do you recognize God’s absolute claim on you?· Or will you allow the world to have a claim on you? Your flesh? Your sin to claim you? Or even just doing a lot of nice polite things? What claims your heart & time?· Jesus is about to say, faithfulness to his calling means leaving a healing ministry in Capernaum in order to go on a preaching ministry.· It cannot be about popularity, protecting appearances….Can you imagine the The newspaper “Jesus local healer abandons town to sickness and societal problems like demons…In order to talk religion. In order to speak about hell and sin and salvation.”· Jesus—in his incarnation—his earthly ministry models for us Faith—by praying, seeking, strength to resist abandoning ultimate things for important things.· Look in verse 38 again, and Jesus said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” [39] And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.· First, Jesus prays, for strength to stay on mission and fulfill the will of God.o His isolation allows him to Say, God what would you have me do? So too stay in scripture believer, pray over the WORD, “God, how would you have me live?”· If Jesus needs to pray for strength so do we…o You too, cry out to the Lord both alone and throughout your day, Lord help me: to not be anxious, help me to do the right thing, help me in my next conversation, help me as I walk in the door to see my family.o Jesus here needs help. Help to not be overwhelmed with the volume of needs brought about by sin. He could have become trapped for three years being a Healer. A Miracle worker who was beloved and acclaimed as he dealt with all the problems downstream.o The temptation for us is to be like a person downstream of a dump to pick trash out of the river…But Jesus and we know we must venture up stream to the source. And the heart of the Issue—the mission! Proclaiming the Kingdom of God is here, that He is the messiah, and he will gather DISCIPLES, train DISCIPLES, who will follow him, and after he accomplishes salvation on the cross and is raised again that will not Fear but Stay on Mission and do the work of WORD & PRAYER in a fellowshipping, worshipping community.· The ministry of Word and Prayer book ends Mark Hereo Acts 6 [restate]o Acts 6:2 And the twelve summoned the full number of the disciples and said, “It is not right that we should give up preaching the word of God to serve tables.o Acts 6:7 And the word of God continued to increase, and the number of the disciples multiplied greatly in Jerusalem, and a great many of the priests became obedient to the faith. (ESV)Prays, we need to move on so I can preach· Yes he will heal and cast out demons as a sign wherever he goes· But his mission…What he is calling people to is the gospel, to a humble, serving kingdom.o One of repentance, trust in salvation being found in Christ, being found in God’s kingdom, drawing near spiritually in our hearts in Jesus.o Jesus is calling us to a kingdom of Forgiveness, reconciliation of relationships between God and man, service, humble service towards others, and the defeat of darkness of Satan.o And Jesus plans to do this with the Scripture preached: The Scriptures are a living and active spiritual sword that when they break through, they sever sins powerful cords over a person’s mind and heart.o The Spirit breaks the bonds of deception, of Pride, of living for yourself, and forever raises you to new strength to serveo Sin makes us servants of sin. Sin makes us servants of our flesh’s next desire. This destroys our love for one another.§ But He saves us so that The First shall be last and the last shall be first.· Do you wish to be made strong in service to Christ, who has loved you and given his life for you?o Pray and ask the Lord to use you in service to the Kingdom, your family, community, wherever he calls.o Whenever I think of being strengthened and restored, refocused to serve the Lord I think of Joshua, “be strong and courageous.”o Joshua 1:6–9 Be strong and courageous, for you shall cause this people to inherit the land that I swore to their fathers to give them. [7] Only be strong and very courageous, being careful to do according to all the law that Moses my servant commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may have good success wherever you go. [8] This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. [9] Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.”o How has God strengthened you to serve? What does your freedom from sin? Free you to do? What does your ability to know Truth, right from wrong, and the ability to love sacrificially, even enemies do for your Classmates, your co-workers, your relationship to your siblings, the way you approach dating and marriage, and the way you serve within your marriage?J.C. Ryle makes these remarks though I’ve switched his “They” to “you”, “[do you] fear that [you] shall not be able to persevere, and shall bring discredit on [your] profession…fear no longer…know that Jesus is an almighty Saviour, who never forsakes those who once commit themselves to him. Once raised by his mighty hand from the death of sin, and washed in his precious blood, [you] shall go on ‘ministering to him’ to [your] life’s end. [You] shall have power to overcome the world, and crucify the flesh, and resist the devil. Only…begin, and [you] shall go on. Jesus knows nothing of half-cured cases and half-finished work…trust in Jesus and go forward. The pardoned soul shall always be enabled to serve Christ. - Ryle, 12· Let us go back to the beginning: Without Christ you are weak and bedridden—when Christ comes by the Holy Spirit and raises you to new strength, what is he calling you to do?· Faith does not look within, does not find strength, identity, purpose, belonging, and a life mission from within or from social media, but from Christ Jesus!o Then yes your heart healed and built up by the H.S. will become a partnership as your encourage your soul, your meditations, you begin to bleed gospel, bible, and the mind of Christ. But never confuse the source of this life and strength this identity and purpose.o Galatians 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.o Remember the words of the Heidelberg Catechism question 1, I am not my own, but belong with body and soul, both in life and in death, 2 to my faithful Saviour Jesus Christ. 3 He has fully paid for all my sins with his precious blood, 4 and has set me free from all the power of the devil. He also preserves me in such a way that without the will of my heavenly Father not a hair can fall from my head; indeed, all things must work together for my salvation. 8 Therefore, by his Holy Spirit he also assures me of eternal life and makes me heartily willing and ready from now on to live for him.PrayerBenediction This is a public episode. 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