THJE GOSPEL OF MARK "Behold My Servant!"

             In the house and at the door.......curing diseases

Jesus confirms His miraculous power over bodily sickness          Mark 1vv29-34.

After church (synagogue) they went to the home of Andrew and Peter, with James and John.   An insight into the home is given in that there lived there Andrew, Peter,   Peter's wife and his wife's mother.   The mother- in- law lay sick of a fever, the tense suggests she had been in that state for some time.   The first thing to notice is the use of the home in the Lord's service and the illustration by the Lord that God's work was not only in connection with the church but also in the home.   The other thing is that God is not only interested in our souls but in our bodies and what the disciples did ("They tell Him of her") is a pattern for us today.   As we go through the book, we will see that Jesus performed many miracles  and His miracles appeared to be grouped as follows:  casting out demons (exorcisms)... miracles of the spirit;    healings; miracles of the body, because sin has adversely affected the human body;    spectacular miracles, namely resurrection from the dead;   and miracles of nature affecting heaven and earth.   Such miracles today are rare and largely unseen until after the event, nevertheless it is the purpose of God not only to deal with sin, but with the consequences of sin which includes everything which sin has brought to this sad world of ours.

There are many fake miracles today with spiritual charlatans claiming to have a divine gift, the reality of which falls far short of the truth, and, what is recorded here sets the standard for anything that claims to be a miracles of healing.   First of all this aged woman was sick of a burning fever ( as if on fire). so her condition was serious.   In curing her Jesus did nothing but take her by the hand and lift her up.   Two things must be noticed about this healing that it was instantaneous, and also that the recovery was complete because it says "she ministered unto them."   There were at least seven people in the house that we know of and the sick woman rose up and served them, which possibly meant she made them a meal.   It is worth repeating that the healing was immediate and it was complete and it enabled this sick woman to serve her visitors as if nothing had happened.   Any claims today of divine healing must be of this standard.

"And at even when the sun did set......"   the attention to detail in scripture is amazing.   This was a Sabbath day and Jews were forbidden to travel on the Sabbath but the significance of "even" is by that time the Sabbath was over and they were free to move about as normal.   The extra detail "when the sun did set" further enhances the view that the Sabbath was now over; word had travelled fast and that not only had Jesus had controlled the demon spirit but He had healed the fever and the comment is " that they brought unto Him all that were diseased and them that were possessed with devils."   There were so many that is seems that the whole city was gathered together at the door of the house where Jesus was.   The willingness of the homeowner to allow the work to go on at the door demonstrates that God expects us to use our homes for His work.  No one was turned away and He healed many that were sick of different diseases and cast out many demons.   The closing comment is that He suffered not the devils to speak because He did not want the testimony of demons on His behalf.   He wanted people to see for themselves just who He was.   Many people are interested in the spectacular; Jesus did not come to satisfy that desire, but to deal with the solemn issue of sin and it's dread consequences.