Jesus Delivers: Mark 1:29-34

Introduction

When JoJo encounters a problem she can’t solve she ask Lauren and I to fix it in her own adorable way. When Lauren encounters a problem either mechanical, vertical (she’s not very tall), or technological, I’m asked to fix it. Many times I can. Other times I have to call on someone with greater expertise. However their is going to come a day when something will happen I’m sure like heart break or the death of a loved one when my daughter will ask me to fix it and I won’t be able to. We encounter sin, weakness, illness, and death on daily basis. Wether it is in the news, our family, or our own lives we are faced with the fact that many of the problems in our lives and in the world are too big for us. We have learned already in our time in Mark that Jesus is the good news of the gospel and that He has authority. In our text this morning we learn that Jesus delivers. When I say Jesus delivers, I mean that Jesus saves.

Narrative

To begin with, observe how Jesus delivers Simon’s mother-in-law (29-31). Jesus, apparently had busy days during his ministry. The events of this mornings text happen in the same day as those we looked at last week. Immediately after teaching in the synagogue, dominating the demon, and amazing droves of people, Jesus went to the house of Simon and Andrew. The mother-in-law of Simon was very sick. She was bed ridden. So what do those in the household do? Look at the last part over verse 30, “and immediately they told him about her.” Could this man who cast out the the demon in the synagogue, also command illnesses and they obey? Yes, for look at verse 31, “And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.” Jesus didn’t only free her of her illness but restored her strength.

In addition to observing how Jesus deliver’s Simon’s mother-in-law, observe how Jesus delivers the diseased and demon-possessed (32-34). That same evening people began to bring the demon-possessed and the sick to the house of Simon and Andrew. This was not a small group of people. It was enormous. How would Jesus respond to the crowd? Well look at the first part of verse 34, “And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons.” Whether sick or demon-possessed, those brought to Him were rid of their infirmity. The second Adam and Messiah, would come to destroy the devil and his works and to undo the curse of the fall which included illnesses and death. Jesus is the second Adam, the Messiah, who reverses what the first Adam caused.

The demons knew this about Him. But we read something that may seem odd in the last part of verse 34. Look there, “And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.” Jesus silenced the demons because (1) He didn’t want any misconceptions of who He was or His messianic mission. Though Jesus is the conquering king with authority prophesied in the Old Testament, the conquering king is also the suffering servant. In fact, He will deliver His people by undergoing judgement on their behalf on the cross. It was God’s plan that He should suffer humiliation to ransom His people and then be exalted to lead them to glory. However, to avoid any confusion He didn’t permit people to speak of Him and His identity until His death. (2) The demons were not worthy witnesses to Christ identity and there identifying Him may cause some to believe He was actually in league with them, which happened later in His ministry.

We have the privilege of knowing the identity of Jesus. He is the promised suffering servant, conquering king, and God the Son incarnate. In driving out demons, He shows that the kingdom of God and is advancing and the hordes of the evil one cannot stop it. In healing diseases which were a sign of God’s judgement, He shows that the Lord has come to redeem a people under condemnation. The physical healings teach us more than that Jesus is the great physician of the body who came to meet our physical needs. John Calvin observes that Jesus gave sight to the blind to show that He is the light of the world and raised the dead to show that He is the resurrection and the life. In healing the sick and delivering the demon-possessed we learn, according to Calvin, “that he was sent by the Father, to relieve us from all evils and miseries.”Put differently we learn from this passage that Jesus delivers. Since Jesus delivers, come to Him for salvation. That is call of this passage. Come to Jesus for salvation. Salvation from what? Let me give yo three suggestions.

Big Idea/Main Points

Jesus delivers, so come to Him for salvation from sin. Sin is the primary cause for all things awful. Adam’s first sin resulted in the curse which includes things like illness, death, and the dominion of devils in this world. Our particular sins stem from that first rebellion of Adam and show our own disdain for God and His law. We learn in Scripture that we are spiritually dead, rebels, with deceitful hearts. We are no more able to change from our sinful state than a leopard can change its spots. Who can deliver us from such a state? Jesus of course. He is the second Adam, who defeats the devil and redeems His people from their sins. In His death, He bore the penalty of sin as a substitute for HIs people, to the effect that whoever trust in Him may know that there sins are forgiven.

Christian, rejoice in the forgiveness of sins Jesus secured on your behalf and continue to rest in the person and work of your redeemer.

Unbeliever, you have sinned against a holy God, who will judge you for your sin. That same God has provided and accomplished salvation in Christ Jesus who is God the Son incarnate. If you want salvation from sin, then trust in Christ.

Jesus delivers, so come to Him for salvation from death. Death is the wages of sin. Death is the ultimate end of the curses of the fall. Physical death precedes what is called the second death in the final judgement, where the wicked will spend eternity in continuous rebellion and judgement for their sins. One thing that each of us is guaranteed in this is death. We live and then we die. This reality is ignored and can be prolonged, but it cannot ignored or avoided forever. It is foolish to live as if death is escapable by human means like medicine or technology. There is only one who can overcome this great enemy of ours. God. Jesus, God the Son incarnate, raised the dead during His earthly ministry, but these were shadows of the resurrection that He would have and eventually share with His people when He returns.

Christian, though you may die, you like Christ will raise again to live forever in His Kingdom on the New Earth where there will be no more death or suffering. You may be sick or injured. You certainly are aging. Death if it already hasn’t will become a more apparent reality that you will face by seeing it and reckoning with your own. However, in death you will be in paradise until Jesus returns then you will rise like He did. Therefore, don’t stake to much in this life and instead live boldly for Jesus.

Jesus delivers, so come to Him for hope

Unbeliever, you will die and you don’t know the day or the hour. After death will come judgement. I know your verdict and you do too. You are guilty. When you die you will not be in paradise and when Jesus returns you will not rise to reign with Christ. No, you will rise to only be cast into the lake of fire, the second death of eternal judgement. Only Christ can deliver you from death. Therefore, come to Him and live forever.

Jesus delivers, so come to Him for salvation from hopelessness. As the defeater of sin and death, Jesus alone is hope in life and death. Life can be hard and can often feel like what John Bunyan calls the slough of despond. Depression, anxiety, and loneliness are all too common among our feelings. No other but Jesus can provide you with true and lasting hope in these circumstances. Even when we don’t feel it, the truth is that those of us who are in Christ have hope that is secure.

Christian, whatever you are faced with go to Jesus for comfort and hope. You will not be disappointed.

Unbeliever, without Christ you have no hope in life or death. All that you find meaning in a part from Him is vain and vapor. It will all fade away. Money, possessions, family, and friends, though not bad in themselves, cannot provide hope. Only Jesus can give you hope in the present and eternity. So, trust in Him.

Conclusion

In our time this morning we have observed how Jesus delivered Simon’s in-law, the diseased, and the demon-possessed. From this encouraged you with the truth that Jesus delivers and called you to come to him for salvation from sin, death, and hoplessness.

Christian, keep coming to Jesus, who is your only hope in life and death. He was born, lived in righteousness, died a sinners death as your substitute, rose from the grave as the firstborn of the ressurection, and ascended to God’s right hand. His sacrifice was sufficient to cover your sins. His righteousness is sufficient to give you right standing before God. His ressurection is the sign of what will happen to you upon His return. Like Him you to will rise from the grave to never die again and reign on a new earth with no sin, illness, or death.

Church, Jesus is the deliverer, not me as the pastor, not the deacons, not the committees, not the building, and not the budget. Jesus is our hope and Jesus is our message to our community. People don’t need entertained, they need Jesus. Let us seek to in all our doings to make Jesus name famous and His salvation known.

Unbeliever, who can deliver you from your sins and the just wrath that is coming your way in the final judgement? Who can deliver you from death and the devil? Who can make you from a sinner into a saint? Jesus can. Jesus is the only one who can deliver us from our most fundamental problems. Yes, medicine and science may prolong your life, but it will never defeat sin or death. You need Jesus for everlasting hope now and in the future. So, come to Jesus.

Though I can fix many problems that happen in my house, I want my family to know that Jesus alone is our hope in life and in death. As your pastor, I want you to know that Jesus delivers, so come to Him now and always.