Mark 1:29-39
If we take a look at the church in general today, we will see that we still have the debate between preaching what is called a social gospel and preaching what is called a spiritual gospel. “Save the souls” say some and “take care of the body” say the others. These two ways of interpreting the bible can make the church either go out just for the sake of going out or stay at close door and become an island surrounded by a sea of need. And, while church is debating which way to go, there is a big gap waiting to be filled. This is not an exclusive problem of today’s church; it has been around since the beginning of the church. In the book of Revelation 3:20 we find a very well-known verse, this verse is used to present the gospel, to evangelize. “Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come into him and dine with him, and he with me.”
This verse from Revelation tells a lot about the church of the first century. First, let us notice that Jesus is talking to Laodicea church and Jesus is outside while his church is having a worship service inside. This church is either too spiritual or too exclusive that even Jesus his Lord, his owner has been left out. “You are warm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth”, Jesus said. Jesus does not agree, does not participate with any church with spiritual levels so high that can make them believe that they can live isolated from this world, that make them believe that God belongs to them only. Revelation 3 is describing a church practicing a spiritual gospel, a church isolated from her reality.
Matthew 14:15 and 16 presents a verse with a different view: The Social gospel. “As evening approached, the disciples came to him and said, “This is a remote place, and it is already getting late. Send the crowds away, so they can go to the villages and buy themselves some food.” Jesus replied, “They do not need to go away. You give them something to eat.” This verse and others similar propel the church to get involve in social issues and help those in need. However, You should practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.
Today’s gospel presents a combination of both points of view, it says that after Jesus freed the man with the evil spirit, he went to Peter’s house and healed Peter’s mother-in-law and after sunset he healed a lot of sick and demon-possessed people. In verse 28 Mark has already told us that Jesus’ fame has begun to spread throughout the surrounding regions of Galilee and because of this, I believe that people came by hundreds to Capernaum. Capernaum was the place to be, Capernaum was the place to be to see the miracle worker called Jesus. The power of God was present in Capernaum through Jesus of Nazareth.
Early in the morning Jesus left the house and went to a deserted place to pray. In these verses we can see serving others in Peter’s mother-in-law. We can see spirituality when Jesus went to pray and we can also see the need to go out to reach others with the gospel when Jesus invites His disciples to travel throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. Just in the beginning of his Gospel, Mark is making clear that for Jesus there is only one gospel and this gospel takes care of the human being as a whole.
When Jesus disciples woke up and did not find Jesus, they got worried and did not know what to do. Many people were already waiting for Jesus; they were already seated to see the next miracle or waiting to be healed.
There are three points I would like to emphasize from this scripture: One: Jesus doing his Father’s work among the needy. Second: Jesus taking time to pray and third: Jesus leaving behind Capernaum with all the people waiting for him.
Point one: The gospel on several occasions presents us a day in Jesus’ life and we find in it teaching, preaching, healing, and walking. Sometimes these healing and teaching took place around a table and Jesus had to put aside his lunch or dinner to take care of others. Jesus always had time for whoever came to him in need. As the good shepherd, he looked for the lost sheep; as a good father, he provided food for thousands of hungry men, women, and children. Jesus practiced what we call today, a complete gospel.
Second point: Jesus took care of His spiritual life. He got up early to pray. He was spending time with his Father; perhaps that morning he was thanking him for the wonders, for all the miracles, for all the display of his love and power of the day before, and maybe he was asking his Father, where do you want me to go; what do want me to do today.? After all the work he did the day before, Jesus was resting at his Father’s presence, he had a resting moment of praying; he was I believe claiming the promise we find in Isaiah 40:31 “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.”
What a great example Jesus is giving us: Our Emmanuel, God among us, the Word made flesh needed a moment alone with his father; the Creator of all we see, needed to take care of his spiritual life; the shepherd of Israel, the one who neither slumber nor sleep needed a moment to strength his relationship with God. Paul in Colossians 2:9 says, “For in Christ all the fullness of the Deity lives in bodily form” and even thou my brothers and sisters Jesus the Christ needed to pray and cultivate his spiritual life. All the more reason, we, simple creatures need to cultivate our spiritual life and seek God’s presence personally and in community.
Third Point: When Jesus’ disciples found him, since a lot of people came from other towns to listen, to learn and to be healed, they were expecting Him to come back with them. But no, Jesus told them “let’s go somewhere else –to the nearby villages-so I can preach there too, that is why I have come.” Jesus left them waiting. Maybe, just maybe that is what God the Father asked him to do during the talking they had early that morning.
Jesus looked farther; Jesus went and reach out for those who could not come. That is another important part today’s church cannot ignore: to reach out for others. Jesus’ church cannot stay within a city or within a building. People in Capernaum were comfortable waiting for Jesus to come and do his ministry among them. Jesus said no, my ministry is not exclusive for Capernaum, it is for everyone and everywhere.
Jesus practiced service to those in need, Jesus practiced praying, and he went out to reach those who were far. Harvest is ready: Let us share with others all the blessings God has given us. Harvest is ready: Let us pray for strength and wisdom; let us search in God’s word for his will. Harvest is ready: Let us go out we are workers of his vineyard.