21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of spirit cried out, 24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
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. (Mark 1:21-34)
The Gospel of Mark has much to say about the way we live our lives. Mark, at the outset, writes of "the way of the Lord," which is the way of Jesus. In one sense, the way of the Lord is literal: Mark depicts Jesus' journey from Galilee in the north to Jerusalem in the south. Far more significant are why Jesus takes the journey, how he goes about it and what he accomplishes. By depicting a literal journey as the setting for the way of Jesus, Mark invites us to join Jesus on the road to Jerusalem. We learn the way of the Lord by walking with Jesus. The Gospel of Mark, then, will inspire us, as individuals and as a church, to follow Jesus wherever he leads.
Jesus crammed as much into the day as possible for the glory of God and the good of God's children. He taught in the synagogue at Capernaum, cast out devils, and healed Peter’s mother-in-law and many in the city who were sick.
Every event in Jesus' life upon the earth, every word which fell from his lips, every act he performed, ought to be regarded by us as matters of immense importance and deep interest.
In all that he said, in all that he did, in all that he refused to do, Jesus is both our example and our teacher, showing us both what we are to believe and how we are to live in this world for the glory and love of God.
Martin Luther once wrote, "Christianity consists of personal pronouns." It is one thing to say, "Christ alone is Savior." It is another thing altogether to lift your heart to heaven and say, "Christ alone is my Savior." The demons of hell acknowledge the first. Only a child of God can truthfully state the last.
Being a follower of Jesus is not to simply reform your life or to follow a creed To be a follower of Jesus is to have the personal knowledge of Jesus Christ revealed in your heart by the Holy Spirit. It is not information in you, but Christ in you, which is the hope of glory. It is from this personal knowledge of Jesus that we gain an understanding of how we should live and how we are to love. Simply to know of Jesus is not enough. To be a true follower of Jesus is to carry Jesus within us; it is to have a personal knowledge and relationship with Jesus; it is to allow the Jesus within us to love and care for those we encounter on our journey through life.
Peace and love,
Sue
"Then Jesus said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me". (Luke 9:23)
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