The Circle of Life

Introduction

If you’re of a certain age, you’re familiar with the movie the Lion King. That movie came out in 1994, the year that my daughter was born (and coincidentally, before Disney was the woke-monster it has become). My daughter was a big fan of the movie - and it’s a good movie. One of the things that stuck out in the movie is a song played at the beginning and end of the movie, when the monkey holds out Simba to the rising and roaring of ‘The Circle of Life’. And not to spoil the end, but at the end of the movie, the monkey is holding out Simba’s offspring, and that’s the ‘Circle of Life’.

Tonight I want to speak on a different ‘Circle of Life’. The life I’m speaking of is not that of the flesh, but of the Spirit.

Christianity has been self-perpetuating for the last 2,000 years. The reason it’s been self-perpetuating is because of a circle of life that we see in this passage of Scripture.

The reason Christianity is dying out, is not because it’s less true today, but because fewer people are participating in the Circle of Life.

When Jesus began His ministry, Jesus reached out to some. In Mark’s Gospel, we see Jesus reach out in Mark 1:16–18 “Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.” Next we see in Mark 1:19–20 “And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.”

It’s after this that we see the Circle begin.

The first thing that we notice is that Jesus is Brought to People

I. Jesus is Brought to People

A Presentation (v29)

We see that Simon & Andrew took Jesus, James & John to their house.

(Let me just say this: It’s a wonderful thing when Jesus is brought into the home!)

Do you know what would do us all good? Make sure that Jesus is ever present in the home. Not only present, but the center. So many homes are falling apart, but I’ll go out on a limb and say NEVER has a home fallen apart where Jesus was at the center of it in the lives of the husband and wife.

But they brought Jesus with them. This is the key - those that KNOW Jesus, must BRING JESUS WITH THEM! Peter’s mother-in-law needed Jesus, but she didn’t know Him! Therefore, it was imperative that He was brought unto her.

A Presentation

A Problem (v30a)

Peter’s mother-in-law was sick. The Bible says that ‘she lay sick’

From this we conclude:

She was (obviously) sick - something was wrong with her

She was also useless.

Other than gaining rest, someone who is laying down is not very useful. What do you point this out?

Because when we consider what she is a picture of, it has a greater implication. She’s a picture of the lost. One who is suffering without Christ. You see the lost live, but they don’t live useful lives. The lives they live only benefit the temporal - and the temporal is ultimately useless in the grand scheme of things.

Those that know Jesus need to bring Jesus to those who don’t know Him, but NEED Him.

We see a Problem

Their Posture (v30b)

The Bible tells us: Mark 1:30 “But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.”

Anon (def) immediately; at once; straightway

In other words, this problem with her was important to them. They didn’t delay. They didn’t hesitate, they said - Jesus, there’s a problem here!

Church let me ask you - what will it take for us to get the urgency of people standing on the slippery slope to Hell for eternity? What type of fire must be lit under us to keep it from being lit under others for all eternity?

We must get a burden for souls!

We see their Posture

A Prayer (v30b)

So we see the work of Simon, Andrew, James & John was two fold: They presented Jesus unto her, but then they presented her unto Jesus in prayer.

Much the same, our work is two-fold: We must not only present Jesus unto the sick, but pray that Jesus help the sick.

Two of the three most important aspects in the life of a Christian is shown here. The three most important aspects are that of:

Telling of Others about Jesus (Witnessing)

Talking to Jesus about Others (Prayer)

Learning of Jesus so that we may Help others (Study)

We see a Prayer

Jesus is Brought to the People. Secondly, as a Result, People are Made Whole

II. People are Made Whole

A Heeding

So Jesus was led to this ailing woman. Jesus listened to the pleas of those that knew Him.

Aren’t you glad that we have a God that answers prayer?

Aren’t you glad that we have a God that desires to help?

The Bible tells us: 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.”

God desires to heal.

The Bible tells us: Matthew 7:7–8 “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you: For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.”

We see that Jesus listened to the plea.

A Hand

Jesus listened, then He reached out His hand unto that woman.

Here we see Jesus doing what only Jesus can do! He reached out and took her by the hand.

(Ill.) It’s been about 24 years ago, but I remember when Jesus had reached out to me. What happened in my life is what is playing out here. I was sick - sin sick. I had no hope, what I was doing meant nothing in the grand scheme of things. My life was worthless. But then, someone who KNEW Jesus, BROUGHT JESUS UNTO ME. Then I’m sure he and others were praying for me. Then on a Friday night, I knew Jesus to be reaching out for me! This hand was a little different than when Peter’s mother-in-law saw it… the hand that reached out for me had wounds in it.

The wounds in that hand, brought Healing unto me.

A Healing

My healing was just like that woman’s. We see that the sickness that plagued her. The sickness that held her down & made her unproductive - it was gone! Immediately!

When the Saviour reached down for me - he had to reach way down for me! But when He did, and I placed faith in Jesus, I was IMMEDIATELY MADE WHOLE!

As you know, today is my birthday. 50 years ago today, my mother birthed me into this world. It’s a matter of record, and a matter of fact. But the truth is, I can’t remember that day. But I’ll tell you what, I don’t expect I’ll ever forget the second birth that I experienced!

Jesus Healed me and made me whole!

We see a Healing

So thus far, we see Jesus brought to people, and people made whole. Next we see People are brought to Jesus

III. People are Brought to Jesus

The Saved became a Servant (v31c)

Once Peter’s mother-in-law was healed, she didn’t sit around and rest on her healed hind-end. She got up and ministered - that means served. So the Saved becomes a Servant.

This my friend is the natural order of things. The saved (for various reasons) now moves into a roll of active participant.

Salvation should bring Gratitude:

I say should - it doesn’t always: Such is the case in Luke 17:12–18 “And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off: And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us. And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God, And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.”

Salvation should bring a sense of Obligation: Romans 12:1 “I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.”

The Bible tells us that since Christ laid down His life for ours, it’s reasonable for us to give up our lives for Him. We should feel a sense of obligation to give back to the one who gave all for us!

Salvation should bring Obedience:

Gaining a Heavenly Father, it’s natural expectation for children to obey their fathers.

So we see the Saved becomes a Servant - then this leads to…

The Miracle Moved Others (v32-33)

The miracles that Jesus performed in the lives of men had an impact on the masses!

IF the Saved becomes servants

IF it gives us a Grateful Heart

IF it fills us with a sense of Obligation

IF it brings us unto Obedience

This will be a testimony to the world! And it will draw men to Jesus!

Jesus said: Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.”

The Miracle Moved Others

The City was Healed (v34)

Revival broke out.

MANY were healed.

MANY devils cast out.

Not EVERY, but many. There’s never been revival where EVERYONE got saved, as salvation is the choice of man - but many did! And the city experienced a revival! It was a whole lot better place once Jesus was brought in!

The City was healed

We’ve seen Jesus brought to people, and people made whole. Then we’ve seen how People are brought to Jesus, and lastly the circle closes - Jesus is Brought to People

IV. Jesus is Brought to People

We’re back to where we started

The Cycle Continues (v38)

Jesus needed to be brought to the next towns. There were others that needed Jesus.

Let me tell you this: Not only do the neighboring towns need someone to take Jesus to them, but so does our neighbors next door.

My friends this is the Circle of Life. The question is, will you make sure that the circle is unbroken?

The Cycle Continues

Conclusion

Christians: Are you doing your part in this circle of life?

Have you been Saved?

Have you become a Servant?

Are you Shining for Jesus?

Are you bringing Jesus to others?

This life is too precious to waste!