Bible Study on Mark 1:29-39

February 7, 2021 Sermon Notes The Rev. Mark B. Pendleton Bible Study on Mark 1:29-39 A quick snapshot of Mark's Gospel: The word gospel translates as "good news." Mark is shortest of the gospels and by the first to be written. Matthew and Luke used Mark to write their gospels. Written before the year 70 A.D. - some 35 years after the life of Jesus. Who wrote it? Traditionally it has been ascribed to John Mark, companion of Peter. Whoever the author was, he was determined to answer some of the problems which beset early Christians. A gospel is not a biography in the modern sense of a chronological account of a person. There is no infancy narrative in Mark - no shepherds, baby Jesus and Bethlehem. Immediately or at once, occurs 40 times in Mark. It can seem that Jesus is in a hurry... The many healing accounts of Jesus are meant to demonstrate that Jesus is a Lord who cares - who came not to be served but to serve, and as such the model to be imitated by his disciple (1: 17). (from Oxford Bible Studies) To let's look at the text again. Mark 1:29-39 As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured 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. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. First: What words or phrases caught your attention? This is what our group highlighted.. As soon as they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sunset, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured 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. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, "Everyone is searching for you." He answered, "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. Then we look at context: After performing an exorcism in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus walks a short distance to Peter's house to attend to Peter's mother-in-law. It is a reminder that Peter, the first disciple and the by tradition the first Bishop and Pope in Rome, was married -- as were many of the early disciples. Quite a happening. We don't know how long she was sick His mother in law gets out of her sick bed. We note the Peter's mother in law had no time to recover from her illness: she got up the serve them. The town is abuzz. The "the whole city was at the door." The need was great. Jesus spends the entire day healing and casting out demons. The next day he rises early, while it is still very dark, and goes out to a deserted place where he starts praying. The word translated here as "deserted place" -- the same root word as "wilderness". We can imagine that Jesus often felt tired and even overwhelmed by his mission. Despite this, it was difficult for Jesus to get away. The people came looking for him, while his own burgeoning disciples "hunted" him. Now, try to put yourself in the passage by asking: Why do you imagine Jesus goes to a place that is isolated? To place of "wilderness"? Why might he go alone? Why so early? What might he be feeling? What might he be needing? Next: Make it about you.. Give yourself permission to make this passage about you. When have you found the need around you so great, so unrelenting, that you must need to get away for a time from everyone and everything? What is your "deserted place" where you escape the crowds, re-charge, and/or communicate with God? When was a time God gave you strength to carry on? Finally, in the gospel passage, when he was found by the disciples, Jesus was ready to continue this work: He said: "Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do." And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons. I hope that taking a deeper dive into the passage this morning can remind us that even Jesus got tired from the demands and pressure of daily life. Even if you feel that you are safe and well cared for - and many of us have been during this Pandemic - out inner life is not something to be ignored. Find places where you can calm down your inner thoughts of worry. Find rest. Recharge. Because, soon, very soon, the world is going to open up again and there will be plenty to do. Relationships to revisit and heal. Communities to rebuild. And a still hurting and broken world in need of the message that God saves in and through his son Jesus. Keep watch, dear Lord, with those who work, or watch, or weep this night, and give your angels charge over those who sleep. Tend the sick, Lord Christ; give rest to the weary, bless the dying, soothe the suffering, pity the afflicted, shield the joyous; and all for your love's sake. Amen.