On leaving the synagogue
Jesus entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
Simon’s mother-in-law lay sick with a fever.
They immediately told him about her.
He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up.
Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
When it was evening, after sunset,
they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
The whole town was gathered at the door.
He cured many who were sick with various diseases,
and he drove out many demons,
not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
Rising very early before dawn, he left
and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
Simon and those who were with him pursued him
and on finding him said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
He told them, “Let us go on to the nearby villages
that I may preach there also.
For this purpose have I come.”
So he went into their synagogues,
preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
Mark 1:29-39, the Gospel from this Sunday
Commentary is taken from “Not the pastor’s note” in Sunday’s email. Two new comments are added below that.
In his brief way, Mark gives us ‘a day in the life’ of Jesus as Jesus begins to live out the Good News he brings. We see that Jesus acts in four places and sets a pattern for all his followers.
First, “the synagogue.” Jesus joins the worshipping community of his forefathers, listening to the reading of the Scriptures, praying with the assembly, singing the psalms, praying the traditional prayers, etc. It is a support for him in his humanity and provides a field within which he can make his own particular contribution. (To sing, read, teach, etc.) The parallel for us is clear: followers of our Lord gain and give by worshipping collectively within the tradition.
Second, “the house”—family and close friends. Jesus, plus James and John are invited into a particular home—Simon and Andrew’s. He interacts with and helps these men and women he is familiar with. They offer him their hospitality—he supports them in a particular trial and enables the mother-in-law’s service to the rest of them. (The Greek for “wait on” here is the word for “service” from which we get the title “deacon/deaconess” in the Christian tradition.) Again, the parallel is clear: we have small groups of fellow Christians we are especially close to. They provide real-time opportunities for service, support, challenge, and discernment for one another in their everyday lives.
Third, “the whole town.” This is the wider community (city, state, country) we are all part of. They include the faithful and the unfaithful, a wide mix of good and bad motives, varieties of problems, seekers and sightseers—in short, the vast field of the world around us to evangelize and serve. This requires discernment of which gifts we have, what training and learning we may need, and what would be fruitful uses of them at different times and situations in our lives.
Fourth, “a deserted place, where he prayed.” Time alone, alone with God. Time for personal prayer. More than once Mark underlines Jesus praying alone. Listening. Receiving quiet guidance, quiet challenge. Everything else, even the other places, can be misused as ways of avoiding engaging with the Father who loves us. Without personal prayer the activity in the other three “places” will eventually wither.
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New comments:
The use of “many” in English may imply “a lot” or “most but not all” which might leave the impression that Jesus did not heal all those afflicted by demons or illnesses who approached him. The use of the word by Mark simply means Jesus cured a large number, with no implication that anyone present was left out.
Note that Mark says Jesus enters Peter’s house after leaving the synagogue, that is, on the Sabbath day. That means that in this original case of Jesus casting out a demon and curing another person, he has done both things during the Sabbath day, when no normal work was to be done. He will continue this practice, making the point that both healing and casting out evil are perfectly consonant with the concept of the Sabbath. Notice, too, the townspeople bring more sufferers to Peter’s house “after sunset.” That is, after the Sabbath was over, for the Jews counted “after sunset” as the time a new day began. It would have likely been forbidden work for them to walk to Peter’s house and carry the sick during the Sabbath, but on the next day such work was permitted. The townspeople both keep the Law and find healing in Jesus “on the first day of the week” (Sunday).
To me, the “many”, is because we often need to be reminded many times of God’s love and providence to keep from “going off the rails” with our faith…..some might say that this is because humans are bad but I think that Jesus also knew how much this old raggedy world can beat people down sometimes….I have always loved that the Beatitudes begin with “Blessed are the poor in spirit”…I have found that some are so beaten down by this world that I need to remind them often that God does truly love him in spite of his, at times, his “distressing disguises” in those around us (Mother Teresa)