Mark 1:32-34 “That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and 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.”
Talk about a full day! Jesus Sabbath day begins with a time of teaching in the synagogue. He transitions into a time of deliverance ministry when a demonized man interrupts his teaching. After the message and deliverance session are finished he goes to do home visitation ministry at Peter’s house and heals Peter’s sick mother-in-law. Words of life, deliverance ministry and a miracle of healing all before dinner time! And the work is not yet done for the day. How do you spend your Sunday!?
This passage and the preceding verses depict the reality that the work of the kingdom of God is not just found inside the walls of the church. Jesus brought the kingdom of God to the people. He went out where the need was and ministered life everywhere he went. His ministry and the freedom that he brought to people as he demonstrated the power of God brought hope to many, many people. He was in people’s homes, He ministered on the streets, and in the public markets. Wherever the Holy Spirit led Him He responded to the needs in the lives of people and met them where they were.
The home was one of the primary avenues of the ministry of Christ. Every neighborhood represents a network of relationships and as the Spirit of God begins to be demonstrated within a particular community word of divine happenings spreads and people’s lives are changed. The healing that Jesus ministered to Peter’s mother-in-law during the day and the deliverance that he ministered to the demonized man at the temple were enough of a display of the power of God that by evening time a crowd had gathered at the house that was so big that they had to stand at the door to hear, see and receive from Jesus. The works that He had done previously filled the town with such an atmosphere of faith that the people brought their sick and demonized family and friends with a hope that the power of God would reach their place of need.
Faith was in the air and the power of God was moving in response to faith! For the rest of the evening the word says that Jesus healed many of a variety of diseases and that He cast out many demons! Not one or two but many! When people come with faith the work of God is accelerated. When the ministers have a servant’s heart the way Jesus welcomed all and ministered to many great things can happen for God. Jesus made himself very approachable. He did not distance himself from the people but allowed them to draw near and interact with Him. He did not present himself as a superstar that smiled and waved but kept a safe distance from the people behind a crowd of barriers. In fact he was so welcoming that a number of times he rebuked his disciples for keeping certain people away. In particular he called the children to himself and blessed them. He was not inconvenienced by their childish ways. Oh that the people of God would come to this place where we have both the power of God and the love of God! This is the need of the body of Christ. Let your life be marked by God’s power and motivated by God’s love and great things will happen to you and through you!
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