Freed to Serve

Free

Mark 1:29–39 ESV

29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 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. 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 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. 35 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. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 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.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

[I]llness bore a heavy social cost: not only would a person be unable to earn a living or contribute to the well-being of a household, but their ability to take their proper role in the community, to be honored as a valuable member of a household, town, or village, would be taken from them. Peter’s mother-in-law is an excellent case in point. It was her calling and her honor to show hospitality to guests in her home. Cut off from that role by an illness cut her off from doing that which integrated her into her world. Who was she when no longer able to engage in her calling? Jesus restored her to her social world and brought her back to a life of value by freeing her from that fever. It is very important to see that healing is about restoration to community and restoration of a calling, a role as well as restoration to life. For life without community and calling is bleak indeed.

Intro

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Jesus is in the business of setting people free.

Mark 1:31,34,39

That’s what healing is, it is setting people free to be who God has meant them to be.

This can be physical

This can be mental

This can certainly be spiritual

Once we are free we are compelled to action.

Mark 1:31

Jesus doesn’t free us for our own good but for the good of the whole.

When Jesus heals these people it is a benefit to the community because they are restored to the community.

Restored for action/for service

Service to God is what we were created for.

Healing/freedom resets us back to our first state.

“When I got religion I found some work to do to benefit somebody.” - Sojourner Truth

Our acts of service consume us and move us forward.

Mark 1:35,38

Even Jesus felt it when he served.

Service will push us to new places (literally and figuratively)