So that I may preach there also

Scripture Reading:

Mark 1:29–45 NASB95

And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they spoke to Jesus about her. And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them. When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city had gathered at the door. And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons. And a leper came to Jesus, beseeching Him and falling on his knees before Him, and saying, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” Moved with compassion, Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed. And He sternly warned him and immediately sent him away, and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” But he went out and began to proclaim it freely and to spread the news around, to such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas; and they were coming to Him from everywhere.

I. Introduction

a. Last week we learned how Jesus’ spoke as one with authority. Meaning He was not just regurgitating what their Rabbi or teacher had taught them. He always referred to what He had to say, “I Say to You”, instead like a scribe, rabbi so and so says this”

b. Also He had called Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John to be fishers of men.

c. We know as part of the Gospel of Jesus Christ it was Christ’s, the disciples and our mission to share the gospel with others.

d. However today we are going to see a quandary: We are to tell people about Jesus, but Jesus was telling demons and people not to go and tell others of what happened? What a problem!

e. But before that i wanted to start with one of the most important passages in today’s scripture reading.

II. Prayer

a. Mark 1:35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.

b. Jesus, although was always in constant communion with the Father and Holy Spirit, he would always take time to spend quiet time with the Father.

c. Jesus during the sermon on the mount gave us guidance on prayer found in Matthew 6:5-8.

d. Matthew 6:5-8 ““When you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. “But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you. “And when you are praying, do not use meaningless repetition as the Gentiles do, for they suppose that they will be heard for their many words. “So do not be like them; for your Father knows what you need before you ask Him.”

e. If you notice, when giving us instructions how to pray, He stated, “...go into your inner room, close your door and pray to your Father who is in secret...”

f. This was just like He did, “ in Mark 1:35, “...went away to a secluded place, and was praying there.”

g. He did this before going out and sharing the gospel. If we spend the time in communion with our Father, we will also become fruitful in sharing the gospel with others.

h. I found one of my text books from by Bible School days called, “The Spirit Helps Us Pray”. In there is a passage that was defining a prayer type called communion. Now this is not us taking communion, with the bread and wine this is defined as the following:

“…the word “communion” indicates fellowship and social intercourse at it most intimate. It carries the idea of a close partnership or a merging of spirits into a blessed oneness, like the intertwining of cords into a single rope”.

III. Jesus Agenda

a. Defining Jesus’ agenda is found in Mark 1:38, “He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.”

b. Healing and deliverance, when Jesus was in Nazareth, He quoted Isaiah 61:1 and it is described in Luke 4:17-21

c. “And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. And He opened the book and found the place where it was written, “THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE OPPRESSED, TO PROCLAIM THE FAVORABLE YEAR OF THE LORD.” And He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on Him. And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”

d. Jesus agenda was to go proclaim that if you believe in Him you will be saved. He was there to set you free, heal you in spirit, soul, heart, body. Deliver you from the evil one, etc...

e. Now if Jesus told His disciples that He needed to go and preach in other places, then why would He tell the leper not to go tell others about what He done for them? He even told the demon to keep their mouth shut.

f. This even seems to contradict what Jesus said in Matthew 28:19-20, ““Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

g. What happens when a huge amount of people start coming into your life and making demands on you? Is it easy to do what you intend to do? or is it difficult because all these people start making demands on your life?

h. This is why Jesus was telling them not to go tell a bunch of people, because He had a mission and when many people start coming and making demands then it becomes more difficult to achieve His goals and agenda.

IV. Obedience

a. Mark 1:44 “and He said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

b. Jesus said in Matthew 5:17 ““Do not think that I came to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I did not come to abolish but to fulfill.

c. Jesus came to fulfill the Law and the Prophets, therefore it was expedient that the leper go and fulfill the Law. In the case of the leper it was following the law of the leper found in Leviticus 14.

V. As we come to the New Year and we look to maybe doing new things or accomplishing new goals. Some may even have, what we call, New Year resolutions, I would like to challenge each of us, to make communing with God on a delay bases and sharing the gospel with others a priority this year.