Do You Believe Who Jesus Is?

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.”

Introduction

Last week we looked at Mark 1 when Jesus was teaching in the Synagogue. We repeatedly asked the question “Do You See Who Jesus is?” We saw how the people saw Jesus, as a good teacher. They recognized His teaching had authority like no other. Then the demon came and proclaimed Jesus to be the Holy One of God. The people had an opportunity to see who Jesus is, but they missed it.

In the passage we are looking at today, we will see how the people had an opportunity to believe who Jesus is, but they missed it.

Let’s setup the scene really quick:

It is still the Sabbath (immediately left the Synagogue)

He walks to Simon (Peter) and Andrews house (they are brothers)

Archaeologists and Bible scholars believe that Peter’s home was near the Synagogue where Jesus taught. (about 75ft south of the Synagogue; close to the Sea of Galilee)

Jesus would have walked passed many homes to get to Peter’s house; many of the people who lived in these homes would have been in the Synagogue listening to His teachings and witness this great miracle.

Now we have traveled across this small community to Peter’s home and his mother-in-law is sick; this means that Peter had a wife. The Bible does not share much about the disciple’s family.

This brings us to Jesus’ healing service. We read that Jesus healed many people from sickness and released them from demons.

Do you Believe in His service?

How many you have friends that you specifically think of for special events or activities? When I hear someone playing soccer, I immediately think of my best friend Josh because he is great soccer player. When I need someone to help move something - Will & Daniel. If I have a question about music or need someone to sing/play instrument - Kiersten. Need assistance in the Student Ministry - leaders in the room.

There are people that I believe in their service because I have seen the work they can do. This is what was happening in Capernaum. The people were seeing the work Jesus could do, and they believed He could do more.

It started in the Synagogue and now we’re in Peter’s home with the mother-in-law. Do you see what Jesus did to heal her? “He went to her, took her hand and helped her up. ”The cure was instantaneous and complete, for she got out of bed and began to serve the needs of her guests, which probably means she prepared food for them. There was no recover time. There was no strength that had to built back up from being sick. When Jesus heals, He not only heals, but He renews one’s strength! His healing service was different from any doctor during that time.

The service Jesus can do is different from what man can provide. People has to use God’s time, God’s resources, and God’s wisdom to analyze the problem, treat the problem, and then recover from the problem. Jesus restores in a much different and divine way. Hod did Jesus treat the mother?

Next, we read that at sundown they brought all who were sick and oppressed by demons. Is the detail of sundown significant or is it an extra detail from the writer? --- We are at the Sabbath (Saturday). In Jewish tradition, the Sabbath technically starts Friday after sundown and goes through Saturday until sundown. To ensure they did nor break the Sabbath, they had to wait before bringing the sick to Jesus. Do you know what the punishment was for working on the Sabbath? Death - often times by stoning.

All of the sick and demon possessed were brought to Peter’s home. How would you feel about the community bringing all the sick and crazy people to your home?

This event led the community to believe in the service Jesus could provide. Jesus ministry was not about people seeing the service He could provide it was about showing them that He is the prophesied Savior and the Son of God.

This is where the change has to happen in a person’s life. Believing in Jesus’ service is not enough. We have to believe in His saving power! So do you believe in His saving power?

Do you Believe in His Saving Power

To just believe in Jesus’ service means that you missed who He really is and what He came to do. Who can tell me what John 3:17 says? “For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

This is why Jesus came - to save the world. Jesus was trying to show the people that He was the Son of God. The people got lost in the service provided, they missed the Savior. Do you believe in His saving power?

We sang the song a few minutes ago “I believe in God our Father, I believe in Christ the Son, I believe in the Holy Spirit, our God is three in one, I believe in the resurrection, that we will rise again, I believe in the name of Jesus.”

Do you believe in Jesus? Just believing in His service does form a relationship with the Savior. The disciples were slow at believing in Jesus. How do you know that? This passage does not say that…John 6.

In John chapter 6 we read about a conversation between Jesus and some disciples

John 6:25–71 (ESV)

Do you Believe Who Jesus is? There were some disciples who turned from following Jesus, because holding on to the services of Jesus is not spiritually fulfilling. There is a spiritual disconnection in your life and until you find Jesus, there will never be peace in your life and you will constantly be searching for answers and fulfillment.