A Faithful Response

Choosing between 2 lives to save. How do you do it without giving up one and the other.

Summary: In Mark 1:29-39, Jesus begins His ministry by healing Peter's mother-in-law, showcasing His deep compassion and authority. This act sets the tone for Jesus’ mission, illustrating how He addresses personal needs while also demonstrating the urgency of His broader purpose—proclaiming the good news to all people in every town.

Mark 1:29–39 ESV

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

1. Healing Starts with Compassion

Mark 1:29–31 ESV

And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

Simon, who we also call Peter, was married. And his wife’s mom was ill. Each of the four Gospels, record this scene. So God must have wanted us to know it. James and John were also there. And immediately they tley told Jesus about her. I believe this is super interesting. Remember when Jesus was at the wedding in Cana. Mary asked Jesus to help the family who was about to run out of wine. And Jesus did it. It wasn’t eternally significant to make sure a wedding party had wine, but he still did it. He had compassion on the family, couple, and so on. Compassion for their embarassment.

So Jesus hears their request and he goes in, takes her by the hand. And the fever leaves her. And she began to serve them.

We talked last week about the absolute, awesome, amazing, astonishing, authority of God. God speaks and the darkness fleas. God speaks and there is light. God speaks and there is earth. God speaks and things happen. God speaks and the waters part. God wants to show up in a burning bush, plagues from heaven, manna from heaven, driving out nations. And and in this moment through the touch of a hand fever leaves Simon Peters mother in law.

Do you want to know something about this passage that also rings true about God. He takes her by the hand and lifts her up.

Jesus has compassion. Not just power, but power paired with compassion.

In healing one can concentrate on either of two attributes; the power of God or the love of God. In every healing there is a manifestation of both.

Francis MacNutt

In the OT, he would come down hard with power and might, but then give grace, mercy, and compassion to the people.

With the woman caught in adultery, the the sick, healing wasn’t from a distance, but often began with a touch.

Healing physical, social, economical, spiritual starts with compassion.

When power and love are not both present in healing it is similar to when James teaches on prayer…

James 2:14–17 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.

It is vital for you to use your position and power for compssionate ends. IT is vitally important for faith to be lived. Otherwise, it is not be living faith. Your faith might be dead.

EXAMPLES: WAY TO BE LIKE JESUS: Use your position to not just be something from a distance, but to get up close and personal with the people who need you!

2000. NY eve. Mom dropped me off at a youth lock in. I didn’t want to be there. Came and lifted me up. Not from a distance. But my answering the call when I called. By calling me.

If you have ever been having a rough week, month, or year…you have no idea how much it will mean to someone when you text them letting them know you are there for them, praying for them, and supporting them.

Or just getting a group of friends together and going and praying over the person who you know is having a rough time.

Application:

Without compassion people don’t stop, care for, and nurse back to health someone who is sick.

Without compassion people don’t take into consideration the best way to care for people individually, they just blindly create policies and follow them to the letter without consideering the best individualized care needed.

Without compassion people don’t care for the elderly in nursing homes, they put them there because they are an inconvenience.

Without compassion teachers don’t really help students, they just download information, caring not about their character.

When we only operate out of position and power, and without HEART, we are not offering the kind of healing God offers to the world BUT…WITH COMPASSSION they listen, hold a hand, and lift someone up.

I asked a fellow pastor in WACO the other day, if our church has a reputation in the community, good or bad, what is it? I asked because I wanted to know if we have any blindspots about how we are perceived. And I was incredibly encouraged by the answer. They said, your church is known for being the warmest and the welcomingest.” Let’s never loose the personal touch. As our church will continue to grow making it impossible for me.

Transition:

The kind of healing Jesus models for us is not just power and position. It is lived out with a personal touch.

2. Healing Extends to Many

Mark 1:32–34 ESV

That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Emphasis 1: They bringing to him all who were sick.

Who is the they? Is it the disciples? Is it the people who have already been healed? Is it the crowd? Maybe all! It doesn’t really matter…who the they is.

This is what it means to be a healthy church. Be the they in this scene. That we bring all of our friends, family, neighbors, co-workers. Begin with Prayer, Listen. Eat. Serve. Share. Bring them all. All of them.

BE the THEY that brings the ALL OF THEM who were sick and in need to the ONE who can help. (They don’t know Jesus, they walked away with Jesus, they live lives of mediocrity away fromn Jesus. Bring all to HIM!)

This is what you see when people are having victory in their life. They invite others. When people are stagnant…people are not living as if they believe others can be wholly saved and healed by Jesus.

Emphasis 2. The whole city was gathered together at the door.

We measure all kinds of things to find out if a church is successful. We measure attendance. We measure discipleship. We measure giving. These are all good stat lines. We have started measuring when people take next steps toward God (baptisms, membership,

This is also a question I have a lot of times. Is the whole city gathered together at the door? Maybe that is the measurement we shoiuld look for?

Application:

Are you bringing people to Jesus?

Are you bringing yourself to Jesus? You might say well I am at the church ain’t I. You could be here to appease someone or not truly have brought your whole self to Jesus today.

Healing is extended to many…and that includes us and those we know.

3. Healing Fuels Our Mission

Mark 1:35–39 ESV

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Emphasis #1: Healing and Immediate Service from mother in law. There is something about when our lives are truly changed by God, that we want to serve Him.

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

10 For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Emphasis #2: Jesus had to pray and retreat to desolate places. It was vitally important for Jesus to have communinon with the Father in order to sustain His mission.

Quickly after…he goes to the next town. Because his mission is now to go to the next town to preach there also. It does not just stay in one place. It multiplies. It spreads.

Application:

Serving the God who lived, suffered, and died for you is something you NEED to be doing. You ever wonder why you feel distant from God? Maybe it is because the only time you think about God is when you want something from Him. You aren’t thinking how you can serve Him. You aren’t thinking what is the thing I was created for. We should do the good work God prepared for us. It isn’t always some big platform or influencer. Sometimes it is support, care, and quiet. But all are important.

Prayer is essential for effective ministry. I wonder sometimes if many of us feel weak in our service to God? Maybe one of the reasons is because you are spending little to no time in prayer. Prayer is before meals aroudn the table. Prayer is for friends going through tough times. Prayer is around tables. Prayer is for the leaders.

Conclusion:

We are “Healed to be carriers of His hope.” You are “Healed to be carriers of His hope.”I am “Healed to be carriers of His hope.”

Which means that we should remember all of the compassion God has showed to us! And let that lead and help and remind us to show compassion to others.

You know how to remember. Read the bible and pray.

You know how how to remember. Talk about it.

You know how remember the compassion. Give somone food when they need food. Give someone money if they need money. Give someone a kind word when they need a kind word. Give someone your ear when they need you to listen. Give someone your skill when they need your skill. We are healed by Jesus to be carriers of his hope wherever we go.

Which means that we should remember when the THEY came to YOU and brought you and Jesus together. And let that lead and help and remind you to do the same for otheres. Resulting in all kinds folks crowding around where Jesus is active.

Have you brought anyone to Jesus recently? Have you brought Jesus to anyone recently? Have you tried? Are you in the process? Sometimes it takes more than 10 invitations, more than 10 converstaions, more than 10 encouragements.

Are you living in such a way that people can’t help but tell…and want to come to the JEsus you know!

Which means that we remember the ministry we are called to. And remember that is was designed on purpose, with intentionality, with the same kind of purpose as God made the body and ecosystem. Ad lt that lead and remind you to do the work God created for us to do with passion.

If you are called to lead, but it is inconvenient, maybe you need to revisit who God has made you to be!

If you are called to do something and it means sacrifice, but you want comfort, maybe you need to revisit who God is, and His promise to help you get through the difficult times.

If you are called to serve, and it means you don’t get any credit or appreciation, maybe you need to revisit who is the one who knows and sees all.

Altar Call:

Salvation…

Does anybody know they need to be bringing people to Jesus? But aren’t!

Does anybody know they need to be serving in a way they aren’t because of whatever reason?

Does anybody know they need to spend more time in prayer?