A Day in the Life of Jesus
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14 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:
18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to set the oppressed free,
19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”[f]20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”
22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked.
23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’”
24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[g] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.”
28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way.
Introduction
You’ve seen in the Weekend Colour Supplements ‘a day in the life of …someone famous…’ and we get a very ordinary account of a celebrity waking up, brush teeth, fetch the paper, having breakfast doing some media work, lunch with friends, learning a script ect… Today our gospel passage Mark 1:29-39 gives a ‘day in the life of Jesus.’
It’s far from ordinary (to us). But it was an ordinary day in the life of Jesus.
[1] Mark 1:29 says that after leaving the synagogue, they went to the house of Simon Peter, where Simon’s mother-in-law was very ill.
Mark 1:31 In this day in the life of Jesus says - he took her by the hand, rebuked the fever and lifted her up. Luke 4v39 ‘ he rebuked the fever.’ Today we may think it’s strange to rebuke a fever (or any illness), strange to talk to a sickness but Jesus addressed the fever because he knew who was behind it. (He rebuked it and in doing so rebuked our spiritual enemy) and she got up (no fuss) and began to serve them. Notice the combination of ‘word’ & touch of Jesus - released the grip of the fever had on Simon’s mother-in-law (Jesus word attacks the forces of evil and disorder).
Good news travels fast and Mark 1:v32, in this ‘day in the life of Jesus’ records, as the sun set, people came out looking for Jesus v34 says he cured many who were sick with various illnesses. May I suggest to you, Christians here today, if you know someone who has a need, be bold; ask them if they would like prayer (or refer to chaplain).
May I stress the importance of the power in the word of Jesus and the power in the healing touch of Jesus. Our faith is not that Jesus will heal in a certain way nor is our faith in a formula or a style of prayer. Our faith is in the risen Jesus Christ, that Easter Sunday is true, Christ healer, defeated sin and sickness and death and our faith is in his touch, his timing and his word.
[2] Notice Jesus cast out demons – in 21st Century we may think we are better informed medically about mental disorders and epilepsy but it would be foolish to deny that there is demonic activity today.
It is known that there is Occult activity in Chale or at the Longstone at Mottistone. When I was a vicar in Wakefield I had Voodu symbols and writing sprayed on my garage walls. I had my house circled by an audio tape with a curse recorded on it. Many people are interested in horoscopes, people are experimenting with Ouija boards and the paranormal, thinking that dabbling in these things is fun and exciting – but it’s dangerous, people are opening themselves to demons. Then there are modern-day unclean spirits, e.g., drink, drugs, porn, greed (these things can get into you and possess you). We should not be afraid to pray bold prayers for healing, prayers for deliverance for people who have drug/drink or porn or relationship problems. Paranormal activity is real and it can affect one’s health both mental and physical [e.g. one of our neighbours Kat. had ME and admitted to having experimented with Ouija in the past].
1 John 3v8 says Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil and that is still true today.
[3] The next thing to notice in this ‘day in the life of Jesus’ is Mark 1:35 ‘In the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went to a deserted place and there he prayed.’ Perhaps it was in obedience to Psalm 5:3 ‘Lord, in the morning I will lay my requests to you.’
When our lives are busy and full, we need to seek out a quiet place.’ What a lesson it is to us from this ‘day in the life of Jesus’ – even the son of God knew it would be futile to try and minister without first being still before God to pray (at the start of the day). If that was the pattern of Jesus, how much more should it be our pattern, to set aside time to be 1:1 with our heavenly Father. His Word could rebuke the sickness in Simon’s mother-in-law, His Word could heal the sick and oppressed who came to him ‘at sundown.’ But the next morning ‘while it was still dark’... Jesus knew where his batteries would be recharged. Remember there are two types of batteries, rechargable and non-rechargeable. Jesus knew how to ensure the power he had would not drain away like rechargeable batteries, so that He would be distracted from the mission.
There are times when we all feel we haven’t got a minute or too ill to pray, Droming, noisy wards, phone calls to make! Jesus didn’t even allow his friends to pressurise him. When they found him he said ‘let’s move on’ (when he was in such demand)!
Finding the time & the place to pray isn’t just about recharging, it’s about growing in faith/ ministry, praying for others [Anthony Robbins ‘hour of power.’] Take the time, find the place and make the space in your every day life to be with your Lord Jesus (it will make a difference in this day of every member ministry).
