The Servant’s Sympathy (Mark 1:29–45)

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. 40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

Two miracles of healing are described in this section, both of which reveal the compassion of the Saviour for those in need. In fact, so great was His love for the needy that the Saviour ministered to great crowds of people after the Sabbath had ended, when it was lawful for them to come for help. It would appear that God’s Servant was at the beck and call of all kinds of people, including demoniacs and lepers; and He lovingly ministered to them all.

I. Jesus Heals on the Sabbath and Afterward (1:29–34)

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.

Jesus and the four disciples left the synagogue and went to Peter and Andrew’s house for their Sabbath meal. Perhaps Peter was a bit apologetic because his wife had to care for her sick mother and was unable to entertain them in the usual manner.

A. By faith, the men told Jesus about the sick woman, no doubt expecting Him to heal her.

That is exactly what He did! The fever left her immediately, and she was able to go to the kitchen and serve the Sabbath meal. If you have ever had a bad fever, then you know how uncomfortable it is.

You also know that after the fever leaves you, it takes time for you to regain your strength. But not so in this case! She was able to serve the Lord immediately. And isn’t service to our Lord one of the best ways to thank Him for all He has done for us?

B. What was the result of this miracle?

When the Sabbath ended at sundown, the whole city showed up at Peter’s door! They brought their sick and afflicted, and the Lord (who was no doubt weary) healed them all. The Greek verb indicates that they “kept on bringing” people to Him.

The people waited until that evening after sunset because Jewish law did not allow the carrying of any burden through a town on the Sabbath. That would have been considered work, so it was forbidden on that day. A new day began after 6:00 P.M. The people probably knew it was safe to come out and not break the law when the sun had set and the stars were out.

C. The whole town gathered at the door.

Jesus healed many people of their diseases and cast out demons. Everyone in Capernaum knew Jesus was in town. The exorcism of verse 26 and the healings of verse 31 were not isolated cases.

Jesus also continued to not let the demons speak because they knew who he was. Jesus wanted to show by word and deed what kind of Messiah he was before he declared himself openly as the Messiah. He would declare who he was—not the demons.

II. Jesus’ Agenda (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.

A. The events up to this point had been rapid, coming one after the other.

They also would have been emotionally and spiritually exhausting. The humanity of Jesus is evident in these words: Jesus got up and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Even Jesus needed to recharge his batteries by withdrawing from the crowds and talking with his Father.

This was a time of renewal and preparation for Jesus. In our world prayer is often neglected by active people who are simply too busy. It sometimes seems that the people who get things done and the people who pray belong in two different groups. Here, however, the busiest person—the one who has already accomplished incredible things—got up and prayed first.

B. While Jesus was concerned about focusing on God’s mission for him, the disciples seemed to be caught up in the increasing popularity of Jesus.

Perhaps they felt they should seize the day: Simon and his companions went to look for him; and when they found him, they exclaimed, “Everyone is looking for you!” Jesus’ desire to go to the nearby villages showed his desire not to be seen as just a popular miracle worker. He reiterated his purpose by saying, so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.

Jesus’ primary mission was to preach the good news. The miracles of healing and casting out of demons was secondary—a means to the end of presenting the gospel and getting people to respond to that good news. Jesus continued a pattern of presenting the gospel by going into their synagogues and driving out demons.

The synagogue was the primary place where the Scriptures were interpreted. What better place to proclaim the good news to the people and their leaders? The preaching of the word preceded the demonstration of miracles, showing that the miracles backed up the authority of the Messiah’s proclamations.

III. Jesus and the Leper (1:40–45)

40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.” 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.

A. The leper came directly to Jesus, fell on his knees, and cried out for Jesus to make him clean.

This man was full of faith. He did not doubt Jesus’ ability to heal him, but he was not sure of Jesus’ desire to heal him. But he was willing to take the risk. The phrase “moved with compassion” is probably better translated as “being angered.” Jesus was probably angry because he recognized this foul disease as the work of Satan. Jesus’ anger was not focused on the man and his desire for healing but on Satan, whose work he came to destroy.

Jesus expressed his compassion for the leper by touching him. Most people would have healed the man first and then touched him. But not Jesus. He knew this man had not felt human touch in a long time, so he reached out to touch him first. By touching the man, Jesus revealed his attitude toward ceremonial law. By touching the leper, he himself would be made ceremonially unclean. Jesus placed love and compassion above ritual and regulation.

B. Jesus then sent him away.

This phrase is also used of driving out demons. Jesus also gave the man a strong warning. Jesus did not want to gain the reputation of being just a miracle worker. This would hinder his ability to spread the good news and fulfill his mission. Instead, he instructed the cleansed leper to show himself to the priest to be pronounced ceremonially clean.

The phrase as a testimony to them means a testimony to the priest and the people of the reality of the man’s cure. If leprosy was like being a walking corpse, then the cleansing of leprosy would be the equivalent of raising a person from the dead. The religious authorities would ascribe such healing to God, thus admitting that Jesus was truly God.