Mark 1: 32 – 45

Our pastor, Kurt Gebhards, of Harvest Bible Chapel, gave another inspiring sermon from the book of Mark that I wanted to share.

Mark 1:32-45 32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
35Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
38Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." 39So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
40A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41Filled with compassion, Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured. 43Jesus sent him away at once with a strong warning: 44"See that you don't tell this to anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the sacrifices that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them." 45Instead he went out and began to talk freely, spreading the news. As a result, Jesus could no longer enter a town openly but stayed outside in lonely places. Yet the people still came to him from everywhere.

Ministry is for everyone who has been saved by Christ. These verses tell us how to be a minister like Jesus.

In verses 32 – 34 the crowd was mobbing Jesus for what He could do for them, not for Who He was or to know Him better. But it’s important to see that some of the people couldn’t come to Jesus on their own. The passage says “they” brought them. What we can learn from this is to be a “they”. We need to bring people close to Christ. One thing we can do is memorize scripture so we are ready to share with them in their need. We must bring the truth to others and to do this we need to stop thinking about ourselves and our own needs.

From verses 35 – 39 we learn the importance of setting aside time for prayer. The core of prayer isn’t our wish list; it’s just being with God. Jesus had been up late the night before, but He got up while it was still dark so He could talk to His Father. Prayer brings us into fellowship with God. This probably also strengthened Him to go on to the next town to preach the gospel. If He had just wanted to be popular with the people He would have stayed and healed more, but His mission was to preach the gospel.

From verses 40 – 45 we learn about His compassion. Leprosy was especially bad back in those days because the Jews believed it was the evil within coming out. So not only was it a physical disease and highly contagious, it was thought to be a spiritual disease too. The leper was desperate. He beseeched Jesus. He had no other hope. But he wasn’t doubtful that Jesus could heal him if He wanted to. And Jesus did.

As a minister, Jesus gave and served and cared, even though He had no time for Himself. People were asking Him to do things constantly and He was always gracious. We can learn a lot from Him.