Gospel of Mark - Chapter 1:32- 45

Gospel of Mark        Chapter 1:32- 45            February 4, 2017 

Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God.  Read the verses, 32 - 45. 

Let’s look at the Man, Jesus and put ourselves into His place and what He went through.  This is what Mark does, explaining what Jesus felt and done (another name for works).  He was a man, same as us. 

Jesus was a young man, what around 31 at this time, we are over twice His age and been through many things.  What the so called leaders said and did to Him.   

Let’s say I am going to give you 1 million dollars to hand out to individuals to explain how they can do something and give each one 1 hundred dollars each.  You have to do this in downtown Dallas at lunch time.  At first, no problem and people are organized.   

But, once you start doing this, then you will have so many people around you and riots could start after everyone calls their friends what you are doing.  You know the police and government officials will try to stop you to keep the mob of people from rioting. 

Think about it, this is what Jesus was doing, explaining about the Kingdom of God and healing individuals, all our friends and our family members.  What is the different?  We have our prayer list and we would like to see them healed. This is why we pray for them. 

People normally do not come for the message, but for the healing of their friends and later we will find, also for the food.  This is the setting we are at. 

(32)  At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 

The Sabbath had ended, and then they could bring the sick and possessed.  They waited until the Sabbath was over; not realizing Jesus will heal on the Sabbath. 

Sick and Demon-possessed: Two afflicted groups that are mention. 

2 different groups:  The Scripture shows the diseased as one group and the possessed as another group.  These demons are very dangerous.  

They brought unto him all that were diseased; with any sort of disease whatever, even all that were in their city; 

Them that were possessed with devils. were troubled with the falling sickness, as many of those were, whose bodies the devils possessed. 

The healing and casting out of demons must have continued into the night. Jesus was constantly about His Father's business, realizing that He had only about three and one-half years to accomplish His mission. 

The news about the casting out of the demon and the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law had spread all over Capernaum. They brought them in a steady stream  

(33)  And the whole city was gathered together at the door.  

At the door of Peter’s house. The whole city (a great part of the city) was gathered together there, Mark alone mentions this detail. 

This wording, whole city, makes the suggestion that this made an impression on Peter looking out from the house.  What would it be like that they were at our door looking for 100 dollar bills. 

A good example of word-painting so frequent in this Gospel by Mark. 

(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.   

The healing and casting out of demons must have continued into the night

Jesus healed all that came, or were brought to him, which were many, of every sort of disease with which they were afflicted: 

These demons understood who He was and Jesus would not want or receive testimony from the hosts of the Evil One. 

Did not allow the demons to speak; either for him, or against him; which shows his great power over them: 

Jesus Preaches in Galilee 

(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. 

The morning: is to be understood the whole space of three hours, which finished the fourth watch of the night. 

Is this an example for us to follow?  Pray always in the morning. 

The tense of the verb prayed indicates a continued action, not just a brief moment. Jesus' prayer life was successful because it was planned, private, and prolonged. He got up early enough, got far enough away, and stayed at it long enough. 

The late hours and sometimes, all night, before did not defer His appointed meeting with His Father in the early morning hours. Jesus was always praying.  

Not praying is like planning a long trip but not taking the time to put oil in the engine. 

(36)  And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.  

Peter and the other disciples. 

‘Simon,’ mentioned first as head of the house from which Jesus had withdrawn; the others were: James and John and Andrew, though perhaps more may have been with them 

Interesting, Jesus left without telling anyone and how long after Jesus left before someone missed Him.  They did not know where he went, when He went and why He went.   

They set out, in search for him, and eager pursuit after him, until they found him. 

Were the disciples asleep or how could Jesus get out without them seeing Him. 

Think about it, did Jesus just take off to pray by Himself. 

(37)  When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You."   

And when they had found him: Peter and those with him kept up the search till they found him, In the desert and solitary place, where he had been praying. 

Search and uncertainty is implied, since He had went to an private spot. 

Jesus' fame spread quickly, and the disciples' concern is evident in the statement “Everyone is looking for you.” 

Everyone is looking for You: The crowd soon followed Simon and his friends.  

Luke 4:42-44 Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place. And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;  (43)  but He said to them, "I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent."  (44)  And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee. 

Peter wanted Jesus to return, and the crowd wanted Him to stay. The will of the multitude did not govern Him, as they supposed, hence the reply in the next verse. 

(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." 

Jesus spoke to the disciples and invited them to go with Him. “Let us” 

This purpose I have come forth: Not to work miracles, but to preach; but the next verse shows Jesus did perform miracles. 

The crowd gathered because of the works He performed, but His great object was to teach every place in which there were a synagogue. 

Jesus personal feeling on Purpose:   I have come forth:  from God his Father, from whom he came forth, and by whom he was sent to preach the Gospel 

Refusing a comfortable existence, Jesus took seriously his mission to reach the next towns. He came to preach and to proclaim God's message. for this purpose, and would not let anything distract Him—not even the temptations of Satan. 

It was a surprising decision for Jesus to leave the eager, excited people for the country town or village cities without walls or much importance, more than one town or village. 

Jesus preaching journey through Galilee at this town is the first one recorded in the Gospels.

Jesus now moves on to the next town. 

Jesus did not alter His priorities because He became popular in any one area. 

(39)  And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. 

Galilee was a province of Palestine was divided into Lower and Upper Galilee; - Drawing is location today that is used. 

Upper Galilee, so called from its being mountainous, was termed Galilee of the Gentiles  

Matthew 4:15 "THE LAND OF ZEBULUN AND THE LAND OF NAPHTALI, BY THE WAY OF THE SEA, BEYOND THE JORDAN, GALILEE OF THE GENTILES:  (quoted from Isaiah 9:1) 

Lower Galilee was sometimes termed the Great Field. It was, says Josephus, very populous and rich, densely peopled, containing 204 villages and towns.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper 

(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."   

Leprosy is an infectious disease that is characterized by disfiguring skin sores, nerve damage.  

Leprosy (from the Greek lepi, meaning scales on a fish), or Hansen’s disease. 

It is not very contagious and has a long incubation period, which makes it difficult to determine where or when the disease was contracted.

All forms of the disease eventually cause damage which causes sensory loss in the skin and muscle weakness.

People with long-term leprosy may lose the use of their hands or feet due to repeated injury resulting from lack of sensation. 

A leper was an outcast from society.

You can make me clean: Evidence of the man's faith in Jesus. 

If you are willing: to cure him of his leprosy: 

Kneeling down to him, face to the ground; in token of submission, respect, and reverence, and to worship him: 

Luke 5:12 And it happened when He was in a certain city, that behold, a man who was full of leprosy saw Jesus; and he fell on his face and implored Him, saying, "Lord, 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."   

Moved with compassion. Important, Only Mark mention this, it suggest the report of an eye witness (Peter). 

Jesus was moved with compassion (being a merciful high priest,). He not only healed but touched the leper.  Remember, Jesus likes to touch people. 

God has made it abundantly clear that He is not willing that sinners should perish  

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. 

and that He is willing that all men be saved  

1 Timothy 2:4 who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 

(42)  As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed.   

He was cleansed and So are we.  Our leprosy is our sin nature.  

he was cleansed; from it, and which seems to be done not by touching him, but by the words spoken, which were accompanied with such power, as to effect the cure in an instant;  

(43)  And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once,  

The command to report to the priests was in accord with the Old Testament law and the warning about talking about it was to avoid needless opposition to Jesus. 

These were very Strong words that Jesus said. 

(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."  

Jesus did not want him to run around and tell everyone. 

Only as required by the Law in Lev 14, a thanksgiving offering.  

Why was this important for him and the people, without the formal testimony and approval of the priests the people would not receive the leper as officially clean. 

It seems this man needed the warning, priest must judge of the cleansing of a leper,  

(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. 

We know from experience, one of the best ways to spread a thing is to tell people not to tell. It was certainly so in this case. Soon Jesus had to avoid cities and betake himself to desert places to avoid the crowds and even then people kept coming to Jesus 

Came to him from every quarter. Not only to see and hear, but to be healed. 

The cleansed leper did not obey Jesus' warning to keep quiet. As a result, Jesus had to remain in deserted places because the crowds swarmed to Him. Christ was working on a time line, and His time had not yet come. 

That is, he made known his own cure. He was so deeply affected with it, and so much rejoiced, that he followed the natural dictates of his own feelings rather than the command of the Savior. 

Lessons from this chapter 1: The Son of God came as a servant, to serve others, with authority and with compassion. 

If we cannot believe what Jesus is saying, but we need to believe what Jesus is doing, His deeds, and Mark put very little of Jesus words on paper, but showed Jesus deeds or works. 

John 14:11-12 Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves.  (12)  "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. 

Remember Philip: His work for Jesus  

Read the verses, 32 - 45, think what we just covered. 

End of Chapter 1