Power and Peace: Jesus' Miracles and Sacred Silence

Reading of the Word

Mark 1:21–35 NASB 2020

They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, “What business do you have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Holy One of God!” And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him. And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee. And immediately after they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately 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 served them. Now 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 would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew who He was. And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time.

Matthew 6:6 NASB 2020

But as for 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.

Prayer of Illumination

Heavenly Father, as we ponder Your miracles and the gift of silence, open our hearts to experience Your profound power and peace. Illuminate our minds to seek Your presence in both action and stillness. Transform our lives with Your divine harmony and calmness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Introduction

Picture a skilled musician playing a beautiful piece on the piano. The melody flows effortlessly, but what we often forget is that this music is made possible not just by the notes, but also by the pauses between them. Without the rests, the music would be chaotic and overwhelming. The silence within the music gives it structure, beauty, and meaning.

Let's take a moment to consider the human heart. Did you know that it finds time to rest? With each beat—around 100,000 times a day—the heart pauses ever so briefly. These tiny moments of rest might seem insignificant, but they add up to provide the heart with the renewal it needs to keep us alive. Without these pauses, the heart couldn't function properly. It's a profound reminder that even in the midst of constant activity, rest is essential for sustaining life.

In the same way, Jesus often sought out solitude and silence. Even in the midst of His miracles, when the crowds pressed in and the demands were great, He intentionally withdrew to find rest and communion with the Father in prayer. This practice was not just a pause in His ministry—it was a vital part of it.

As we journey through today's message, we'll explore how Jesus balanced the power of His miraculous works with the necessity of retreating into the quiet places, seeking strength and guidance through prayer. We'll consider what this rhythm of action and solitude can teach us about our own lives, and how we might follow His example.

The Power of Jesus' Divine Authority

It was a very busy day.

Let’s highlight briefly what Jesus did on this day:

Taught on the Sabbath

Delivering a man with an unclean spirit

Healed Simon’s mother-in-law from illness and fever

Healed and delivered countless others.

Jesus exercised his authority to bring attention not to himself but to the message of the Gospel that he brought to the world.

The ministry of Jesus revolved around his quiet time with his Heavenly Father, not his work.

We must follow Jesus’ example and make intimacy with God the #1 priority in our lives. Just as Jesus calmed the storm, we tell our souls to “be still” so God will reveal himself to us.

The true treasure of earth is our relationship with our Heavenly Father and the victory won for us at Calvary to make this relationship possible.

Our work for God is not what is taking us to heaven. Jesus and trusting in his death and resurrection for our salvation is the only way to the Father.

John 10:9 NASB 2020

I am the door; if anyone enters through Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture.

John 14:6 NASB 2020

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through Me.

When we meet people, we are fulfilling the mission that Jesus began in his ministry. We don’t bring attention to ourselves but to the Good News we bring to the world.

As soon as we take our first step out of this place, we are in the mission field.

This brings us to a point of understanding that God wants us out in this world shining bright and meeting people where they are.

Before we do his Kingdom work, we must spend time with God in silence.

Quiet Place, Quiet Heart

His withdrawal into silence and solitude from the crowds was not a one time event for Jesus.

Before we go on, what is the difference between silence and solitude?

Solitude is about being able to, in the midst of noise and confusion, be settled in our heart.

Silence invites us to withdraw from distracting noise. It is both the absence of speech and the act of listening.

The back of your outline today as all the times in the Gospels that Jesus retreated to be with his Heavenly Father.

He needed strength and guidance for the day ahead. Many of His retreats were early in the morning, showing that before He undertook any task, seeking solitude and prayer was His first priority.

Many of the giants of our faith used the early morning hours to retreat into prayer, finding solitude and strength before beginning their day.

John Wesley—spent two hours daily in prayer. He began at four in the morning. Of him, one who knew him well wrote: “He thought prayer to be his business more than anything else, and I have seen him come out of his closet with a serenity of face next to shining.”We need to cut out outward and inward noise and distractions to meet with God.

John Wesley as a result of those countless hours of prayer, wore two spots in the carpet next to his bed where he had prayed. If you go to Wesley’s Chapel today, you can see this for yourself.

John Fletcher (another man who preached and lived in holiness of heart) —stained the walls of his room by the breath of his prayers. Sometimes he would pray all night; always, frequently, and with great earnestness. His whole life was a life of prayer. “I would not rise from my seat,” he said, “without lifting my heart to God.” His greeting to a friend was always; “Do I meet you praying?”

We always try to come up with excuses (me included) but does God accept them?

We have to be dedicated to a daily walk with God.

Don’t spiritually starve yourself!

Get out of bed and spend a little time with Jesus before anything else happens in your day.

The work before the work.

I love early in the morning because it is so quiet. The distractions are minimal and I can concentrate solely on him. It is such a beautiful time of day to meet with God.

For us to find stillness and silence, we:

Find our closet of prayer. We withdraw from this world.

This closet could be the least distracting area in your home.

It can be sitting outside watching the sunset

It could be with a fishing pole out next to the stream.

I spend time either in my bedroom with the door shut, at the church, or out back just enjoying the quiet and watching 2 of my dogs sunbathe.

On that note, feel free to come to the church anytime during the week to spend time with God in the sanctuary. If i’m not here, call me and ill come down and let you in.

We need to find God, and he cannot be found in noise and restlessness. God is the friend of silence. See how nature—trees, flowers, grass—grows in silence; see the stars, the moon and the sun, how they move in silence… We need silence to be able to touch souls.” —Mother Teresa

We come to church, even if the excuses are running through our minds.

We don’t stay home to find rest. This rest will not truly satisfy us. We come to church to find rest in Jesus so not just our bodies but souls will be rested and renewed in him.

We commit to rejecting excuses that try to pull us away from the things of God, knowing that they have no place in our lives.

The devil is an equal opportunity hater

The devil is relentless in his attacks, seeking to kill, steal, and destroy. One of his strategies is to keep us away from church, as he knows that distancing us from our spiritual community weakens our faith and resilience.

We seek God’s will so our Heavenly Father can do above and beyond all we ask or desire.

I said last week that the American Dream is the Christian Nightmare.

When we seek the things of the world, they will never satisfy us. Worldly dreams often lead to disappointment and failure.

When we seek God, God satisfies our soul and gives blessings beyond measure. He allows us to dream and then goes above and beyond those dreams to give us a testimony.

Encountering the Power and Peace of Jesus

Jesus’ main focus was the soul but healing the body would show the world his power.

Jesus wasn’t as focused on healing this man as much as he was giving him spiritual freedom.

Jesus didn’t come for miracles. He came for something much greater. His mission was to save the world from the evil he was being confronted with.

The demons knew who Jesus was and were afraid of the impending doom to come.

The devil knows the Word of God.

"The devil knows how to quote Scripture when it suits his purpose." - Charles Spurgeon

"The devil is a better theologian than any of us and is a devil still." - A.W. Tozer

They were utterly powerless in the presence of Jesus.

This emphasizes the totality of their powerlessness, making the contrast with Jesus' authority even more striking. It underscores the idea that in the presence of Jesus, all other power is insignificant.

The words of Jesus to these evil demons were profound: 'Be quiet!

The demons were bringing turmoil; Jesus countered by commanding silence.

Silence has immense power!

Silence says more than any words can.

"In the silence of the heart, God speaks." - Mother Teresa

And just as profound were His next two words: 'Come out!'"

The silence ended the turmoil and the command showed the result of the silence.

The demons have no choice but to listen to the command.

In silence with God, He can bring an end to the turmoil in your heart as well. We simply need to echo those profound words: 'Be quiet!' and 'Come out!'"

God can deliver you from anything you are enduring. As you quiet your soul with Jesus, he can take away the chaos and replace it with his peace.

To Sum It Up: Jesus' miraculous works and sacred silence reveals the profound power and peace that can transform our lives if we only dedicate ourselves to stillness and silence before God.

Conclusion

Imagine a skilled conductor leading a symphony orchestra. The music is full of dramatic crescendos and lively passages, but between these moments, there are delicate pauses and soft interludes. It is in these quiet segments that the harmony and rhythm of the entire composition are realized, allowing the full impact of the music to resonate.

In the same way, Jesus' miracles are the dramatic crescendos of His ministry, showcasing His power and grace. His moments of silence and prayer are like the interludes in the symphony, providing the space for reflection and deeper connection. When we dedicate ourselves to stillness and silence before God, we allow His transformative work to harmonize our lives, creating a profound and lasting peace amidst the dynamic movements of our daily experiences.

Let us embrace both the powerful crescendos and the sacred silences, trusting that in this balance, God's true power and peace will orchestrate a symphony of transformation in our hearts.

Prayer After Message

Heavenly Father,

We come before You with grateful hearts, reflecting on the profound balance of Your miraculous works and sacred silence. We thank You for the power and peace that Jesus offers, showing us the importance of both action and stillness.

Lord, help us to embrace moments of quiet before You, recognizing that in stillness, we find strength and guidance. Strengthen us to resist the distractions and excuses that keep us from drawing closer to You and from our spiritual community.

Guide us as we seek to follow Jesus’ example, balancing our busy lives with dedicated time for prayer and reflection. May Your presence transform us, granting us the power and peace we need to face each day with faith and courage.

In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Benediction

As you go forth from this place, may you carry with you the profound peace that comes from stillness before God. May His strength and guidance empower you in every moment of your day. Let the balance of action and solitude, as demonstrated by Jesus, inspire your journey. May you find renewal in quiet times and courage in the call to act, always rooted in the love and grace of our Lord.

Go in peace, strengthened by His presence, and guided by His everlasting light. In Jesus Name’, Amen.