Mark 1:29-34 Study

Context

Last week continued Mark’s endeavor to establish that Jesus Christ is not just some man. This endeavor begins at the began at the very beginning of the book when Mark calls Jesus the Son of God and then, in just 9 verses from opening his book, tells of the baptism of Jesus Christ, where the Father affirms the Son as His.

Since then, Mark has over and over been showing us, not only Jesus’s divine nature, but His perfect holiness, and His gracious immanence.

Jesus withstands temptation from Satan himself

Jesus preaches to repent and believe

Jesus calls His disciples

Jesus teaches with astonishing authority

Jesus drives out the unclean spirit in the synagogue

At this point, Jesus is established as the Son of God whom God the Father affirms, who desires the salvation of humanity from sin, who trains up sinful men to do as He does, and who has authority to teach the Word, as well as the authority to rebuke demons and they obey.

Verses 29-31

Now today’s passage continues to display His authority, but this time over sickness. It is very matter of fact: Peter’s mother-in-law is in bed with a fever, Jesus is informed about it, Jesus takes her by the hand and raises her up, and the fever leaves her.

Do you believe these type of miraculous healings still occur today? Explain.

It does seem that miraculous healings still occur like this, but not the same. Jesus Himself does have such authority to rebuke the fever and it leave. But we do not have that authority. Jesus has the position of perfectly praying within God’s Will, because He is God; we do not.

Now, that being said, Paul, in 1 Corinthians 12 affirms that some believers have the “gift of healing” and James says

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 5

14 Is anyone among you sick? He should call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 The prayer of faith will save the sick person, and the Lord will raise him up; if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is very powerful in its effect.

But what does this look like today? Some believe that these gifts have ceased after the Apostles died. These are called secessionists. Others believe they continue on today and we all have them, these are called charismatics. I am somewhere in the middle. I believe some have this gift of healing though we may not even know it, and that God works through those prayers.

Ultimately, it is only in Jesus’s name that these healings could occur. It is not dependent on faith or the amount you give to the church; rather, it is dependent on:

God’s Will

God’s Power

If it isn’t God’s will or isn’t sought to be done in God’s power, it can’t happen.

Verses 32-34

Now that the crowds have seen Jesus Christ is a man who can heal the sick and save the demon-possessed, everyone is seeking Him out for help.

What is the deal with verse 34? Why won’t He let demons speak about who He is?

Jesus’s time to be revealed as God has not come yet, and so He needs to keep it low for now. If He is too quick, things wouldn’t happen at the proper time. Our God is very coordinated and thoughtful in His plans. He has set a proper time for everything.

Verses 35-38

Why do you think Jesus rose “very early in the morning” to pray? What can we learn from Him in this practice?

Jesus was not trying to get maximum sleep/rest, in a physical sense. Rather, Jesus was on mission everyday and was willing to set aside His personal comforts for the sake of the kingdom of God.