Touched, Healed, Valued

Corporate Time & Prayer

Psalm 139:13–16 “13 For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. 14 I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.”

This morning, as we recognize Sanctity of Life Sunday, we do so from the truth of God’s Word. Scripture tells us in Psalm 139 that God forms life with purpose and care, and that every life is known by Him before it is ever seen by us. Life is sacred because it belongs to God.

Jesus affirmed this truth throughout His ministry. He welcomed children, touched the hurting, and showed compassion to the overlooked as we will see in our text this morning.

.He demonstrated that every life has value—not based on circumstance or ability, but because each person is deeply loved by God.

And for those who carry heavy stories, the gospel reminds us that grace is greater. In Christ there is forgiveness, healing, and hope. Today, we honor life by honoring the Lord who gives it and sustains it.

Big Idea

Because Jesus values, heals, and redeems people in their weakness, every human life has sacred worth—from the womb to the tomb.

Sermon Beginning

Introduction

Today across our nation, churches are observing Sanctity of Life Sunday. For some, that phrase immediately brings to mind political debates or cultural arguments. But before sanctity of life is ever a political issue, it is first a biblical truth.

From a Biblical view, what is the Sanctity of Life?

Sanctity of Life is the biblical conviction that human life is sacred, valuable, and worthy of protection because it is created by God in His image—not because of ability, age, health, productivity, or social usefulness.

At its core, Sanctity of Life means:

Human life has inherent worth because God is its Creator, Sustainer, and Redeemer

When Was Sanctity of Life Sunday Established?

Sanctity of Human Life Sunday was officially established in the United States in:

1984

On January 13, 1984, President Ronald Reagan issued a presidential proclamation designating January 22 as Sanctity of Human Life Day.

January 22 was chosen because it marks the anniversary of the 1973 Supreme Court decision in Roe v. Wade, which legalized abortion nationwide.

What Happened to Roe v. Wade?

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in the case Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, ending the federal constitutional right to abortion that had existed for nearly 50 years.

Since that ruling, abortion law is determined by each state rather than by a federal right. And...to God be the glory.

Reagan’s proclamation stated in part:

“I call upon all citizens to reaffirm our commitment to the dignity of every human being and the sanctity of each human life.”

Since then:

Many churches observe Sanctity of Life Sunday on the Sunday closest to January 22

Evangelical, Catholic, and Orthodox traditions have embraced the emphasis

It has expanded beyond abortion alone to include:

The unborn

The elderly

The disabled

The poor

The vulnerable

The sanctity of life does not begin with legislation. It begins with Jesus.

We will see today in our continued study in Mark that Jesus valued life then and He values life today. Jesus values your life. Let’s discover today how Jesus values life.

Turn in your bibles this morning to Mark 1:29-39.

Scripture Reading

Mark 1:29–39 NKJV

29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. 32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. 35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Prayer

Message

In Mark 1, we do not find Jesus giving a lecture on ethics. We find Him walking into homes, touching the sick, restoring dignity, and proclaiming hope. And everywhere Jesus goes, life is treated as sacred.

As theologian Carl F. H. Henry once wrote:

“Human life is sacred because God is its source and its destiny.”

If we want to understand why life matters, we must look at how Jesus treats people.

So let’s walk with Him through this passage.

I. Jesus Sees the Value of Life in Ordinary People VV. 29-31

Up to this point in our study we have learned three important truths from Mark:

Jesus is the Son of God

Jesus has authority over everything and everyone, but in His great love for us, He allows us free will-to make our own choices.

Lastly, and importantly the vibe or theme of Mark is by which Jesus worked with an urgency. We talked about the 108 times the word “immediately” is used in the Gospel of Mark.

Last week you will remember that Jesus attended church, the synagogue and found a man that was demon possessed. The congregation was astonished at His teaching and He is described as teaching as One who had authority.

Mark 1:24–25 “24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!””

Read:

Mark 1:29–31 “29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.”

“As soon as”-again urgency. I want to implant that thought in our time together. He said “immediately” again in vs. 31. Jesus had three years to accomplish His mission. As even now the Holy Spirit is speaking to you about a decision we learn there is a time to respond and then Jesus leaves to another town to preach in the synagogue. Our times of reponse are not indefinite.

Jesus truly ministered to people “as He went.” You will remember that when He instructed the disciples in Matthew 28:19–20 “19 Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.”

“Go therefore” means as you go. Jesus simply practiced what He preached and He calls us as well to execute what we learn from Him in day in day out everyday life.

In Luke’s account as He read in the synagogue from Isaiah 61:1, Luke 4:18-19 says these words:

Luke 4:18–19 “18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed; 19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.””

Luke 4:21 “21 And He began to say to them, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.””

This scripture was being fulfilled the moment Jesus began His public ministry. Jesus came to heal and set people free from their past, their sins and release those that are captive and struggle with decisions of yesteryear.

Notice that it is still the Sabbath. The sun has not set yet and that will be apparent in verse 32 that we will study shortly.

Jesus left the synagogue to a simple home. Jesus was not about the fanfare, Jesus was about faith walking where His Father pointed Him.

Jesus performed Monday morning ministry. He left the scene of public service to private suffering as He entered the home of Simon and Andrew and discovered that Paul’s mother in law was ill. “lay sick with a fever” meant in that day a certain disease. We do not know what that disease was but we do know it was critical because she had a fever.

I’m just curious. I wonder if Peter’s mother in law’s health circumstance would have been presented to Jesus had Jesus not entered the home of Peter and Andrew.

I think there is a message in that for us today. You think many times you must go to Haiti or Guatemala or some remote area of the world or that you have to be evangelistic and knock on doors of people you do not know to be used of the Lord for His good. That reality is just not true.

We are studying discipleship on Sunday nights and discipleship can happen and ministry can be offered in the confines of the group of this room and their extended surroundings.

Jesus saw need with the very men that were in His inner circle of ministry.

Do you want to find more opportunities for God to use you for His kingdom? Invite some friends over or go out to eat or just stop by and say “hi” and see what the Lord puts before you.

The Lord did not guide Mark’s words to include Peter’s mother in law’s name. Nothing was stated about any particular status she carried, her educational level, her appearance, her socioeconomic status—none of those details are mentioned. All the Holy Spirit thought in guiding the pen of Mark was that she was sick.

Notice the wording: “She lay sick with a fever.” We can envision a downcast spirit, one who is prostrate and flat of her back.

Mark 1:31 “31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.”

Now, we know Jesus is God and someone can touch the hem of His garment and they are healed. Amen!

Mark tells us that Jesus “took her by the hand.” That detail matters. In a culture where sickness often meant isolation, Jesus did not keep His distance. He drew near. A simple touch in Jesus’ name can do wonders.

Is there someone in your life that regardless of prior issues and not knowing what to say, a simple touch may be what is called for today.

This moment reminds us that worth is not determined by usefulness.

Her value did not come from:

What she could contribute

What role she played

What productivity she offered

Her value came from the fact that she was a person made in God’s image.

Oh listen dearly beloved, I know there are several in our congregation that work in the medical field and have more healing abilities than most of us. But whether you and I know how to heal someone physically, when we intervene and attempt to value life and minister, like Jesus, it will lift others up.

Has the Lord placed someone on your heart today that you need to go see and “lift them up?”

Scripture affirms this again and again that we are made in the image of God:

“So God created man in His own image…” (Genesis 1:27)

“You knit me together in my mother’s womb.” (Psalm 139:13)

Sanctity of Life Connection

Sanctity of life begins with this truth: Every life matters—especially when it seems ordinary, weak, or unseen.

That includes our elderly. Have you see the infomercials of the day we live in where there is the need to address elderly abuse?

Oh dearly beloved, God values the homebound, the sick, the disabled, and the unborn.

Life is sacred not because it is strong—but because it is God-given.

Illustration: I once heard a chaplain say that hospitals and nursing homes are the places where our culture struggles the most—because we are uncomfortable with weakness. But Jesus never avoided weakness. He moved toward it.

Application

Church may I ask you a question as I ask myself the same question. Is there someone we are overlooking today? Is there or are there people in our circles, in our midst we unconsciously devalue, not on purpose, but because they are out of sight, out of mind?

May I be a little more pointed this morning? What home does the Lord want us to step into this next week and see a need and offer a touch in Jesus’ name?

II. Jesus Heals and Protects Life in All Its Fragility VV. 32-34

Mark 1:32–34 “32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.”

In short fashion, Jesus’ plate was full. Notice it was at night, “the sun had already set” “and they brought all who were sick and demon possessed.” The Sabbath is over. Dark or not there was great need. We can somewhat rank the severity of these needs by the prioritization to go to Jesus regardless of the hour.

All of us have been infirmed and we somehow will self-diagnose the severity of our need. If its bearable we will wait until the next day or the next morning after some rest to see after the matter. But, if the situation is severe enough we go to the ER because the matter is dire.

Now the private compassion of Jesus becomes public ministry. People heard of Jesus’ care for those that are sick and demon possessed and His popularity precedes Him. Oh dearly beloved, when we are physically, emotionally, mentally, or spiritually sick and our situation is dire enough we will reach out to anyone that may bring relief. The reality was that Jesus was bringing relief and the testimonies of the hurting told to others made the people at large reach out to Jesus.

I know this to be true. Mt Zion is a praying church. We communicate our prayers over the sick and infirmed in many ways. We place them in our bulletin each week. They are discussed in our time in Life Groups. I will highlight the names brought on Sunday with greatest need by name on Sunday mornings. I will send out texts through the week of prayer needs and what is so interesting is that when I send out a text and name a few names, invariably someone will reach out to me to add some other names. Did you note that I sent out what I think was three different texts as people received a text and they would follow up, “pray for me, pray for our need, we need your prayers.”

I have the responsibility of deciding if I’m burning up the phones of the congregation over the many needs of the church and somewhat determining which ones are hot buttons and which one’s can be told on the next text.

Why is that?

Hurting People hope for Healing

“the whole city was gathered at the door”

This is hyperbole. We know that the entire city was probably not at the door, but we know that the number of people at the door for us average people would have been overwhelming. It would have been more than the average physician could see in a day.

The whole town showed up—bringing the broken, the hurting, the troubled. Jesus did not triage the worth of the hurting and prioritize who was going to be healed and who would have to wait. He did not decide who was “too far gone.” He did not ask if the healing was convenient.

in Luke 4:40-44 of this account listen to what Luke 4:40 states:

Luke 4:40 “40 When the sun was setting, all those who had any that were sick with various diseases brought them to Him; and He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them.”

He laid His hand on every one of them.

Mark simply says:

“He healed many.”

One by one.

Jesus reveals to us that life is worth defending, restoring, and protecting—even when it is fragile.

This directly informs our understanding of sanctity of life.

Life does not lose its value because it is:

Dependent

Disabled

Unplanned

Costly

Broken

Dietrich Bonhoeffer warned:

“The test of the morality of a society is what it does for its children.”

Jesus passes that test here—not with words, but with compassion.

Sanctity of life is not merely about birth—it is about how we treat vulnerable life at every stage.

Scripture commands:

Exodus 20:13 “13 “You shall not murder.”

Proverbs 31:8 “8 Open your mouth for the speechless, In the cause of all who are appointed to die.”

Matthew 25:40 “40 And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’”

On Sanctity of Life Sunday, we must always remember that there are people carrying silent burdens—regret, grief, guilt, or loss. Some of those burdens may go back decades. And I want you to hear this clearly today: Jesus does not meet broken people with condemnation. He meets them with compassion.

If you have ever been part of a decision that still weighs on your heart—even one you’ve never spoken aloud—please know this: Jesus does not stand over you in judgment today. He stands before you offering healing, forgiveness, and grace.

Romans 8:1 “1 There is therefore now no condemnation to those who are in Christ Jesus, who do not walk according to the flesh, but according to the Spirit.”

Isaiah 1:18 “18 “Come now, and let us reason together,” Says the Lord, “Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.”

As we reflect on this subject today, the Sanctity of Life:

Are we known more for our arguments—or our compassion?

Do our convictions lead us to care, serve, and support?

Does our church reflect the heart of Christ for the vulnerable?

III. Jesus Anchors the Value of Life in God’s Redemptive Mission VV. 35-39

Mark 1:35–39 “35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.”

After a long night of healing—after Jesus has poured Himself out for hurting people—Mark tells us something that might surprise us.

“Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”

We read that on numerous occasions Jesus retreated to pray in private settings.

8 X specifically. 3 Times in Mark.

Mark 1:35 “35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed.”

Luke 4:42 “42 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;”

Luke 5:16 “16 So He Himself often withdrew into the wilderness and prayed.”

Private praying was a defining rhythm to His life and ministry.

If we were to trace every occasion that Jesus retreated to pray we would learn:

Jesus prayed before expanding ministry, He prayed before He selected leaders, He prayed after intense compassion, and lastly, He prayed before suffering. Do you imagine that Christ in His humanity would have experienced burn out had He not communed with the Father?

If Jesus who was God and man needed to pray, how much more should we pray that we can keep our eyes on Him and His mission for our lives?

After compassion… comes communion.

Jesus withdraws to pray.

Why?

Because compassion without communion will eventually burn out. Even the Son of God paused to draw from the Father’s presence and power. Prayer was not an interruption to ministry—it was the fuel for ministry.

And prayer does something else here. Prayer doesn’t just renew strength—it clarifies mission.

Prayer is the fuel to put feet to our Faith.

In prayer, Jesus aligns His heart with the Father’s will. In prayer, He gains clarity about where to go next and what matters most.

So when the disciples finally find Him and say,

Mark 1:36–37 “36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.””

“Everyone is looking for You…”

—almost as if to say, “This is working. Stay here. Keep doing what you’re doing. Jesus, you are on a role. Do not let up.”

Notice an important truth here. We work in Jesus’ window of time, not ours.

Jesus responds with purpose and resolve:

“Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.”

In other words: “I didn’t come just to relieve pain—I came to redeem people.”

But time is of the essence. Remember urgency. Remember “immediately.”

Mark 1:14–15 “14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.””

2 Corinthians 6:2 “2 For He says: “In an acceptable time I have heard you, And in the day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.”

Oh dear church Jesus does not merely preserve life—He redeems it.

Life is sacred not only because it exists… but because God desires to save it.

Jesus Himself said:

“The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10)

And again:

“For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10)

That is why sanctity of life is ultimately a gospel issue.

Every life matters because:

Every soul is eternal

Every person needs Christ

Every life is redeemable

Charles Spurgeon captured it well when he said:

“The gospel is God’s rescue mission for a world that cannot rescue itself.”

And that includes every one of us.

All through this passage, people are moving toward Jesus.

Some are sick. Some are burdened. Some are desperate. Some are carrying pain no one else can see.

And today, nothing has changed.

On Sanctity of Life Sunday, we affirm that life is sacred—but we also proclaim something just as important: grace is sufficient. Jesus values your life and He wants to have a relationship with you for eternity.

Some of us are carrying things that go back years… maybe decades. Some decisions were made in moments of fear, confusion, pressure, or loneliness. Some wounds have never been spoken aloud.

And I want to say this clearly and carefully:

Jesus does not meet broken people with condemnation. He meets them with compassion.

The same hands that healed the sick in Capernaum are the same hands that were pierced on a cross.

Why?

So that grace could reach every heart.

So let me ask this in the most pastoral way I know how:

Do we see people first as problems—or as souls?

Does our commitment to life include sharing the hope of eternal life?

Are we willing to go where Jesus sends us… and love as Jesus loves?

And personally:

What burden are you still carrying that Jesus has already paid for?

What part of your story have you believed is beyond grace?

Scripture promises:

“The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” (Psalm 34:18)

“There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” (Romans 8:1)

Invitation

Today, you may find yourself in one of several places:

Needing forgiveness

Needing healing

Needing hope

Needing to recommit to compassion and truth

And the good news is this: The same Jesus who stepped into that home in Capernaum still steps into lives today.

He gives us this promise:

“All that the Father gives Me will come to Me, and the one who comes to Me I will by no means cast out.” (John 6:37)

You don’t have to clean yourself up. You don’t have to explain everything. You simply have to come.