God's Healing Power

Where Does our Help come From?

Psalm 121:1–2 NLT

1 I look up to the mountains— does my help come from there? 2 My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth!

The gospel of Mark skips introductory birth announcements. It skips the angels, wise men, and shepherds and gets right into the action. This is the good news about Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. Jesus went into Galilee, where he preached God’s Good News: “The time promised by God has come at last! The Kingdom of God is near! Repent and believe the good news!”

Mark’s gospel takes the first chapter and half displaying God’s healing power, through Christ and his teaching. The Good News Jesus proclaims is God’s, the Kingdom is God’s, the power to heal all that is broken is God’s.

We were reminded in psalm 121 of where our help comes from. Jesus power to heal comes from God. At first look these verses from Mark look disconnected. They are connected by Mark 1:35

Mark 1:35 NRSV

35 In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed.

Jesus in his ministry needed to stop and take time to seek God. To proclaim the Good News of the Kingdom of God, we, like Jesus, must find time to lift our eyes to the mountains and remember where our help comes from.

As we wrestle with the healing and deliverance ministry of Christ, lets remember even Jesus God in human flesh, turned to God in prayer, the source of the Kingdom work of God. Let’s be like Jesus and find time to get away from the noise of life and intentionally seek God in prayer.

Healings and Exorcisms

Simon’s Mother in Law

After the exorcism in the synagogue, the work of the Kingdom of God goes to Simon and Andrews home. The work of the Kingdom isn’t confined to holy religious spaces, but goes out to our homes and even goes on from there.

At Simon’s home Jesus learns of his mother in law sick with a high fever. Now for Mark’s readers we must understand that the pressence of a high fever was attributed to demonic forces. So instead of seeing this as a physical healing, they would have seen it as another deliverance. Upon hearing the news Jesus went to her bedside took her by the hand , helped her sit up and the fever left her.

Simon’s mother in law in response to the healing is to serve.

Feasting on the Word: Preaching the Revised Common Lectionary: Year B, Volume 1 Theological Perspective

But as important as Jesus’ expression, in this case, is the response of the mother-in-law; she began to serve them. Service is a key topic in the call and pursuit of Jesus. This woman gets up and turns the Sabbath into a paschal day of service to others. Jesus does not command her. She is the one that assumes the initiative and awaits the consequences, discovering the value of mutual service above the sacredness of the Sabbath. She served them (1:31).

We see this response of service in the Kingdom of God in Mark 5:18-20

Mark 5:18–20 NRSV

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed by demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 But Jesus refused, and said to him, “Go home to your friends, and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy he has shown you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him; and everyone was amazed.

The work of the Kingdom of God makes whole. Heals completely. We often think of healing just in the realm of physical, but the healing power of God in His Kingdom heals the brokenness of all creation.

Many Sick and Demon Possesed

Word of Jesus healing spread quickly. The whole town gathered at the door and brought all that were sick or demon possesed. Jesus healed many who were sick and cast out many demons. Again we see the demons know who Jesus is.

God’s Kingdom work in Capernaum was growing exponentially. Jesus could have stayed and set up shop out of Simons house, but Jesus again seeks God in prayer.

Jesus Prayer habbit

Mark merely mentions Jesus wilderness experience of fasting and being tempted 40 days that launches Jesus lead by the Spirit into the work of the Kingdom of God.

Jesus bursts onto the scene from the wilderness after angels minister to him. Luke says Jesus full of the holy spirit returned to Galilee. Prayer launched Jesus ministry and empowered him to do the work God has given him to do.

In verse 35 Jesus again seeks God in prayer. He gets away from the crowd, gets away from the noise to seek God’s will. It would have been easy for Jesus to set up shop in Simon’s home and just keep letting people come to him, but we see the work of the kingdom goes on.

The Healing Work of the Kingdom goes on.

Jesus disciples search for him as if he is lost. They tell Jesus everyone is looking for you. Simon wanted Jesus to return to the house and continue the ministry there but Jesus replied, “We must go...” The healing work of the Kingdom goes on.

Mark 1:38–39 NRSV

38 He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” 39 And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.

The Power of Prayer

Jesus follows the Spirit into the wilderness to fast for 40 days, where he is tempted by the devil. In his fasting and praying the humanity of Jesus quickly recognizes his utter reliance on God.

Mark skips the temptation narrative just merely mentioning it, but it is out of this time of prayer and fasting that Jesus is led by the Spirit to launch God’s kingdom work. Prayer unleashes the healing power of God in the ministry of Christ. In Mark we see continued prayer sustains it.

As we approach lent let’s take time to escape the noise of life, and look up to the mountains and remember our help comes from God. Who made the mountains. Make a prayer closet in your home. Come use the prayer corner and or sanctuary as we open it up for times of prayer.

The Good News is God’s. The Kingdom is God’s. The power to heal completely is God’s. We like Jesus must seek God.