Marcos 1

Charles Spurgeon · Citado em PreceptAustin

Marcos 1

Spurgeon - This is a wonderful expression: “moved with compassion.” The face of Jesus and his whole person showed that his very soul was stirred by an intense fellow-feeling for this poor leper. If you or I were to touch a leper, his uncleanliness would at once be communicated to us, but when Christ touches a leper, His cleanliness is communicated to the leper. Oh, how high our blessed Lord stands above us! When we have to deal with certain peculiarly sad cases, we ought to go to the work with much earnest prayer that we ourselves may not be contaminated by contact with gross sinners, but Christ has such virtue in himself that he can even touch the fevered and the leprous, and yet sustain no injury. Jesus stretched out His hand and touched him - Jesus touched an untouchable, a man who probably had not felt the touch of another human being for years! Jesus the pure and holy One, touched the unclean one. What a picture of compassion and grace (undeserved favor). What a reminder to all of us "lepers" who have been cleansed by His touch. Should we not be the most grateful of people ALL THE TIME, in light of the fact that He has touched our heart and given us new life, new purpose, new hope, not only in this life but the one to come when our hope becomes sight? "He loves, He looks, He touches us, WE LIVE." (Spurgeon) Stretched (1614)(ekteino from ek = out + teino = to stretch) means stretch out literally, as a gesture with one's hand stretched out. Jesus' stretched His hands out "toward His disciples" (Mt 12:49), to Peter drowning (Mt 14:31), to the leper (Mk 1:41, Mt 8:3, Lk 5:13, cf healing in Acts 4:30). Ekteino is used of the stretching out of Paul's hand as he prepared to offer his verbal defense (Acts 26:1). Ekteino refers to Jesus telling the lame man to stretch out his hand (Mt 12:13, Mk 3:5, Lk 6:10). Ekteino can mean stretching out one's hands with a hostile intent to lay hands on or arrest (Lk 22.53). As a euphemistic figure of speech referring to one's hands stretched out in crucifixion (Jn 21.18). In Mt 26:51 when they came to arrest Jesus Peter "extending his hand, drew out his sword, and struck." In Acts 27:30 ekteino refers to the sailors pretending to "to lay out (stretch out the) anchors from the bow, (Act 27:30). In the Septuagint in Exodus 7:5 ekteino is used of God stretching out His hand over Egypt and deliver Israel (cf Ps 138:7) frequently of Moses telling Aaron to stretch out his hand and staff (Ex. 7:19; 8:5-6,16-17), and of Moses stretching out his hand to bring plagues (Ex 9:22-23; 10:12,21-22) Paul alludes to the Lord stretching out His hand to the nation of Israel - But as for Israel He says, "ALL THE DAY LONG I HAVE STRETCHED OUT MY HANDS TO A DISOBEDIENT AND OBSTINATE PEOPLE." (Ro 10:21-note) Touched (681)(hapto/haptomai where haptomai is the middle voice which constitutes the majority of uses) means to grasp, to lay hold of with the basic meaning of touching for the purpose of manipulating. Hapto conveys the sense handling of an object as to exert a modifying influence upon it or upon oneself. The majority of the 39 uses are in the Gospels and are associated with Jesus touching someone (or someone touching Him) usually with a beneficial effect. THOUGHT - Jesus did not have to touch the leper. He could have healed any way He wanted. But Jesus delighted in touching the downcast, distressed and diseased. We should imitate His patter. THOUGHT - "When Jesus touched the leper, He contracted the leper's defilement; but He also conveyed His health! Is this not what He did for us on the cross when He was made sin for us? (2 Cor. 5:21+) (Wiersbe) Kent

Marcos 1

Spurgeon reminds us that "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" I (GOD THE FATHER) send My messenger ahead of You (GOD THE SON) - "Some thought that God stopped sending prophets because He had nothing more to say, but John shows this wasn’t the case at all." (Guzik) "I" is God the Father speaking to His Son (YOU) through His prophet Malachi. The verb send is in the present tense which speaks of the imminence of the messenger's coming. The NLT and CSB accurately reflect the sense of the Greek by rendering it "I am sending." Over 400 years had passed since Malachi had recorded his prophecy (and over 700 years for Isaiah's portion), but the coming of this messenger was imminent (always "overhanging," always on the verge of happening) and it had now come to fruition with the arrival of John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Messiah. THOUGHT - Note the possessive pronoun "MY messenger" which indicates that John belonged to God to be used for His holy purpose (cf what may have been John's "life verse" = Jn 3:30+). The same "TITLE" could be written across every believer's forehead - MY MESSENGER! Paul asked "Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom you have from God, and that you are not your own? For (EXPLAINS WHY WE ARE NOT OUR OWN) you have been bought with a price (1 Pe 1:18-19+): therefore glorify (aorist imperative = only possible as we are enabled by the Spirit) God in your body (WHICH WE DO IF WE CARRY OUT HIS GOOD WORKS - Mt 5:16+)." (1 Cor 6:19-20+) Peter adds we are "A PEOPLE FOR God’s OWN POSSESSION, so that (HERE IS OUR PURPOSE) you may proclaim (exaggello) the excellencies of Him Who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light! (1 Peter 2:9+) Again Paul writes that Jesus "gave Himself for (AS THE "SUBSTITUTE" FOR) us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous (derived from zeo - to be hot and so we are to be "ON FIRE") for good deeds." (Titus 2:14+) (MY Messenger reminds me of the biography of Oswald Chambers I read years ago aptly entitled "Abandoned to God!" I would recommend reading it at your leisure and at your own "risk" [it is so convicting as Chambers models for us total abandonment to God!]. See reviews). Send (649)(apostello from apo = from, away from + stello = to withdraw from, avoid) means to send off, to send forth, to send out. To send out; to commission as a representative, an ambassador, an envoy. The idea is to send forth from one place to another. But the meaning of apostello is more than just to send because it means "to send off on a commission to do something as one’s personal representative, with credentials furnished" (Wuest) Apostello conveys the basic idea of one on mission, one sent to do a job and associates the necessary authority to accomplish the assignment and in John the Baptist's case he was clearly empowered by the Holy Spirit (even from birth! Lk 1:15, 41+) THOUGHT - Dearly beloved of God, follower of His Son, you are also a "sent one" and you also have the power of the same Holy Spirit (Acts 1:8+) to accomplish the good works God has prepared for you to walk in from eternity past (Eph 2:10+). Are you walking in them? Are you fulfilling His calling on your life? Or are you entangled by the wiles and wooings of the wanton, wanderlust filled world? Repent and turn "about face" as they say in the military and began the incredible journey of a lifetime. You will have only one chance to fulfill your purpose. You may have largely "blown it," but God is the God of the second (and third, etc) chance. Take 5 minutes and ponder your existence in eternity. Now is the day for you to begin to fulfill your purpose, a privilege that is even associated with a prize (cf Mt 6:20-21+). Only one life, twill soon be past, only what's done for (and in) Christ will last!!! Redeem the time for the days are evil! Messenger (32)(aggelos/angelos) literally means a messenger, an envoy, one sent, and was used of messengers who were divine (Lk 1:26+), human (Lk 7:24+), demonic (Mt 25:41) and figurative (2 Cor 12:7). In Lk 7:24+ aggelos describes human messengers sent from John to Jesus and in Lk 7:27+ (cp Mt 11:10, Mk 1:2) Jesus uses aggelos to describe John the Baptist who was sent to prepare the way for Messiah. Jesus sent human messengers (aggelos) in Lk 9:52+. James 2:25+ uses aggelos to describe the human messengers sent from Israel to Rahab. Most of the NT uses of aggelos refer to heavenly angels (messengers) who are supernatural, transcendent beings with power to carry out various tasks. All uses of aggelos that refer to angels are masculine gender (the feminine form of aggelos does not occur.) Here is the Malachi passage... Malachi 3:1+ “Behold (Lxx - idou), I am going to send (Lxx - exapostello) My messenger (Lxx - aggelos), and he will clear (Lxx = epiblepo - look at, to help) the way before Me. And the Lord, Whom you seek, will suddenly come to His temple; and the Messenger of the covenant, in Whom you delight, behold, He is coming,” says the LORD of hosts (of Sabaoth). Grassmick thinks Mark blends Malachi 3:1 with Ex 23:20 and comparing the Greek text of each passage below would support his contention. Note that the verb for "send" in the Septuagint of Malachi 3:1 is exapostello not apostello as in Mark's quotation of Malachi, so that this first portion is in fact closer to Exodus 23:20. In any event Mark also quoting from Malachi 3:1 as that passage fits the context of the prediction of a "messenger" much better than the passage in Exodus. Ex 23:20 Greek Septuagint = "ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ (Exo 23:20 BGT) Mark 1:2 Nestle-Aland Greek = "ἰδοὺ ἀποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου πρὸ (Mark 1:2 BGT) Malachi 3:1 Greek Septuagint = "ἰδοὺ ἐγὼ ἐξαποστέλλω τὸν ἄγγελόν μου" (Mal 3:1 BGT) Ahead of You (MESSIAH) - Note that in the original quote in Malachi 3:1 it reads "before Me," which Mark records literally as "before thy face." Thus Mark's quotation is "interpretative." Hiebert comments that "The New Testament rephrasing makes prominent the truth that the coming Lord, “the messenger of the covenant” (Mal. 3:1), was the historical person Jesus Christ. It interprets the divine promise made to the people of Israel as addressed to the Messiah Himself. It is another instance of the New Testament practice of applying to Jesus what in the Old Testament related to Jehovah." J C

Marcos 1

Spurgeon wrote "As fades the morning star when the sun himself arises, so was it the joy of the herald of Christ to lose himself in the supreme radiance of his Lord’s appearing." O, to be able to imitate John's maxim in our lives! As Tozer said "John condensed into that one final sentence (Jn 3:30) the secret of his own spiritual greatness." And I am not fit to stoop down and untie the thong of His sandals - To untie the thong was a task for a slave, so John emphasizes his inferiority compared to the Messiah. This is the first direct mention of Jesus by John. John's baptism was minor compared to what was coming from Jesus.

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Spurgeon wrote that "Repentance and faith must go together to complete each other. I compare them to a door and its post. Repentance is the door which shuts out sin, but faith is the post on which its hinges are fixed. A door without a doorpost to hang on is not a door at all, while a doorpost without the door hanging on it is of no value whatever. What God hath joined together let no man put asunder, and these two he has made inseparable—repentance and faith) J C

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Spurgeon - When one servant of God is laid aside, it is a call to the rest to be the more earnest. So after John the Baptist was put into prison, “Jesus came into Galilee.” Sometimes a loss may be a gain, and if the loss of John was the means of bringing out Jesus, certainly both the Church and the world were the gainers Lowell Johnson on Jesus waiting for John to step aside - John 4:1-3 tells us why Jesus left Judea and went to Galilee. Why now? Why not fully begin his public ministry earlier? Jesus could not and would not give the appearance of competing with John. If Jesus had begun His ministry in full force before John's ministry had been completed, the loyalty of the people would have been divided. John was sent to prepare the way and the way was not fully prepared until John was removed from the scene. Believers are not rivals. They are joint servants of the Lord who work together in their respective ministries. They are not to compete against each other. And when the time comes, when a servant's ministry is completed, he is to willingly step aside for the new ministry. I know I will not always be your pastor, if Jesus tarries His coming. Part of my responsibility as your pastor is to prepare you for the next man of God that will lead you. In Joshua 1:2 God speaks to Joshua and says, “Moses my servant is dead, now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land I am giving them.” In other words, “Moses is dead, but the work must go on. When the workman dies, none of the work of God dies.” Moses had been preparing Joshua to take over when he was gone. Take Moses from the people of God and He will give them Joshua. Elijah is caught up to heaven, so Elisha will do the work. Take John the Baptist away and the Voice of Jesus will be heard. It has been that way throughout the history of the Church. Notice: “Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came preaching in Galilee.” John would remain in prison for a year before he was beheaded by Herod because he preached against his sin of taking his brother Philip's wife. “When John was put in prison and Jesus came forth preaching” serve as a date to fix the approximate time that Jesus began to minister in Galilee. (Sermon) Preaching the gospel of God - So just as John the Baptist "appeared in the wilderness preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins" (Mk 1:4+), now Jesus appears preaching repent and believe. As

Marcos 1

Spurgeon adds that "You are not living to God as you ought unless you repent daily." Before the Iron Curtain fell the believers in these Communist countries were known as "Repenters." They were men and women who had counted the cost! Matthew records a similar call by John the Baptist to "Repent (present imperative), for the Kingdom of heaven is at hand (eggizo in perfect tense)." (Mt 3:2+) Matthew's version parallels that of Mark but he does not have the verb believe "From that time (WHAT TIME? Mt 4:12, 13+) Jesus began to preach (kerusso in the present tense) and say, “Repent (present imperative), for the kingdom of heaven is at hand (eggizo as in Mk 1:15 also in perfect tense).” (Mt 4:17+) Paul links repent and believe in Acts 19:4+ "Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in Him who was coming after him, that is, in Jesus.” Spurgeon writes "OUR Lord Jesus Christ commences His ministry by announcing its leading commands. He comes up from the wilderness newly anointed, like the bridegroom from his chamber, His love notes are repentance and faith. He comes forth fully prepared for His office, having been in the desert, “tempted in all points like as we are, yet without sin,” His loins are girded like a strong man to run a race. He preaches with all the earnestness of a new zeal, combined with all the wisdom of a long preparation, in the beauty of holiness from the womb of the morning He glitters with the dew of His youth. Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth, for Messiah speaks in the greatness of His strength. He cries unto the sons of men, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.”....Think not, O men, that the Gospel is a thing left to your option to choose or not! Dream not, O sinners, that you may despise the Word from heaven and incur no guilt! Think not that you may neglect it and no ill consequences shall follow! It is just this neglect and despising of yours which shall fill up the measure of your iniquity. (Faith and Repentance Inseparable) J C

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Spurgeon - It is clear, from this passage, that our Lord exhorted men to repent, and to believe the gospel. There are some, who profess to be his followers, who will not suffer us to do this. We may teach men, and warn them, they say, but we must not exhort them to repent and believe. Well, as the contention of these people is not in accordance with the Scriptures, we are content to follow the Scriptures, and to do as Jesus did, so we shall say to sinners, “Repent ye, and believe the gospel.” God uses at least four factors to prompt repentance = The knowledge of God's Truth should prompt repentance (Mt 11:21-24 - where Chorazin, et al refused to repent at the Truth; cp Lk 16:30-31 which also illustrates the sufficiency of the Truth to prompt repentance.) Note the deadly deception - one can have Truth (as well as #2 sorrow) without true repentance! Beware! Sorrow for sin can lead to repentance (2Cor 7:9-10), but the sorrow per se should NOT be confused with true repentance. E.g., Judas felt sorrow for betraying Jesus but did not repent. God's kindness prompts (leads to) repentance (Ro 2:4+). In short, repentance is an individual's response to God's supernatural enabling. Fear of final judgment (as discussed in Acts 17:30-31+) can motivate one to true repentance. Indeed, realization that there is no other way of escape but through Jesus, should cause any "rational" person to repent. Repentance is not an act separate from faith, but saving faith includes and implies the true change of mind which is called repentance. As noted in the use of the present imperative (see uses below), to repent is not just an event at the time of conversion, but represents an ongoing lifestyle -- we sin daily, and sometimes we get caught in a "rut" (habit) of sin, and so we are daily in desperate need of God's gracious gift of repentance. In the parable of the two sons, our Lord Jesus Christ gives a beautiful illustration of what true repentance looks like (Read Mt 21:28-31 = notice second son changed his mind and his behavior!). As Albert Barnes wisely said "False repentance dreads the consequences of sin; true repentance dreads sin itself." Repentance says, "I'm sorry," but also shows, "I'm through." Remorse is being sorry. Repentance is being sorry enough to stop. Repentance means hating sin enough to turn from it. Believe (4100)(pisteuo from pistis; pistos; related studies the faith, the obedience of faith) means to consider something to be true and therefore worthy of one’s trust. To accept as true, genuine, or real. To have a firm conviction as to the goodness, efficacy, or ability of something or someone. To consider to be true. To accept the word or evidence of. It is intellectual reception of truth, but it does not stop there (Demons believe intellectually - James 2:19+) but by the grace of God it is internal reception, that is reception of the truth of the Gospel and the truth about Jesus in our heart (Ro 10:9-10+) which enables (by the Spirit) the obedience of faith, which is clear evidence that the faith is genuine saving faith. Faith alone saves but the faith that saves is never alone! If there's a real fire in the fireplace (genuine belief), there will be visible smoke coming from the chimney on the rooftop (obedience/good works)! As John the Baptist said "Therefore bring forth fruit in keeping with repentance." (Mt 3:2) If repentance and belief are true, they will bring forth spiritual fruit. G Campbell

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Spurgeon - The gospel minister is like the fisherman with a net. I have sometimes heard the comparison drawn as though the gospel fisherman had a hook and a line, which he has not. His business is not to entice a fish to swallow his bait but to cast the net all round him, and lift him, by his grace, out of the element in which he lies in sin, into the boat where Christ still sits, as he sat, in the olden days, in the boat on the sea of Galilee. To shut the sinner up to faith in Jesus Christ, — that is the main work of the true gospel fisherman. Spurgeon - His favorite word is ‘Come.’ (Mt 4:19YLT+) Not, go to Moses – ‘Come unto me.’ To Jesus Himself we must come, (How?) by a personal trust. Not to doctrine, ordinance, nor ministry are we to come first; but to the personal Saviour. Spurgeon - Fishers Follow Him - Only by coming after Jesus can we obtain our heart's desire and be really useful to our fellow men. Oh, how we long to be successful fishers for Jesus! We would sacrifice our lives to win souls. But we are tempted to try methods which Jesus would never have tried. Shall we yield to this suggestion of the enemy? If so, we may splash the water, but we shall never take the fish. We must follow after Jesus if we would succeed. Sensational methods, entertainment, and so forth -- are these coming after Jesus? Can we imagine the LORD Jesus drawing a congregation by such means as are now commonly used? What is the result of such expedients? The result is nothing which Jesus will count up at the last great day. We must keep to our preaching as our Master did, for by this means souls are saved. We must preach our LORD's doctrine and proclaim a full and free gospel, for this is the net in which souls are taken, We must preach with His gentleness, boldness, and love, for this is the secret of success with human hearts. We must work under divine anointing, depending upon the sacred Spirit. Thus, coming after Jesus, and not running before Him, not aside from Him, we shall be fishers of men. Follow (1205)(deute serves as plural of deuro) is an adverb which means come here, come on, come hither. It means to accept and follow the leadership, command or guidance of another and usually involves literal walking and following as well. Louw-Nida says it is used with a plural subject and is an "extension toward a goal at or near the speaker and implying movement." in the sense of a command or an exhortation In the most famous use Jesus issues the invitation to "“Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest." (Mt 11:28) Deute is used 12x in NT - Matt. 4:19; Matt. 11:28; Matt. 21:38; Matt. 22:4; Matt. 25:34; Matt. 28:6; Mk. 1:17; Mk. 6:31; Mk. 12:7; Jn. 4:29; Jn. 21:12; Rev. 19:17 Matthew 25:34 “Then the King will say to those on His right, ‘Come, you who are blessed of My Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. Jesus does not say "do this" or "don't do that" but simply "Come". Note also that Jesus does not say come to the church, to a creed, to a clergyman, to a "denomination" or to anything but to Jesus Himself, to a vital, dynamic, radical relationship with the Living Lord. As Oswald Chambers says "Personal contact with Jesus alters everything." Do nothing else but come to Him, for He alone is the way, the truth, the life (Jn 14:6). Inherent in Jesus' call to come is that the hearer come now and not wait nor procrastinate - when you hear His invitation, you need to respond like Simon and Andrew did and come immediately! ILLUSTRATION - S. I. McMillen, in his book None of These Diseases, tells a story of a young woman who wanted to go to college, but her heart sank when she read the question on the application blank that asked, “Are you a leader?” Being both honest and conscientious, she wrote, “No,” and returned the application, expecting the worst. To her surprise, she received this letter from the college: “Dear Applicant: A study of the application forms reveals that this year our college will have 1,452 new leaders. We are accepting you because we feel it is imperative that they have at least one follower.” THOUGHT - Follow means just that - FOLLOW. The English dictionary says it means "to travel behind, go after, come after" What's the point? Following Jesus means we don't blaze our own trail! How is this possible? I like the NIV translation of Galatians 5:25 "Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit." (Gal 5:25NIV+) The Spirit is the Spirit of Jesus, so we need to learn to let the Spirit lead us, for as Paul says "if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the Law." (Gal 5:18+). Paul says "all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God." (Ro 8:14+). There is your answer dear followe r of Christ! Be filled with the Spirit (Eph 5:18+) just as Jesus was filled (Lk 4:1+). Walk by the Spirit, in the power of the Spirit, (Gal 5:16+) just as Jesus walked (Lk 4:14+). When we walk like this, we can be sure that the Spirit will lead us to follow in His steps (1 Peter 2:21+)! Are you following or blazing your own trail? The former is the path of freedom and fruitfulness (Jn 15:5) but the latter is the path of frustration, futility, failure and fruitlessness! For more on this very important topic see the in depth discussion of The Holy Spirit-Walking Like Jesus Walked! After (3694)(opiso from opis = a looking back) can refer to a position behind another (Lk 7:38), as a marker of one who is followed as a leader (Mt 16:24, in a negative sense 1 Ti 5:15, Rev 13:3). It can describe time - "after me One is coming" (Mk 1:7), "He who comes after me" (Jn 1:15, 27, 30). It means to fall back (Jn 18:6); look backward (Luke 9:62); turn back (Mt. 24:18; Mk 13:16; Lk 17:31; Jn 6:66; Jn 20:14; Ge 19:17, 26; 2 Sa 1:22; 1 Ki 18:37) It is used metaphorically in Php 3:13 "forgetting what lies behind" Paul alluding to his former human accomplishments. Friberg on opiso - adverb; (1) of place, with a verb of motion behind, back (Mt 24.18); neuter as a substantive what is behind (Php 3.13); idiomatically literally go back to what lies behind, i.e. no longer follow (Jn 6.66); (2) as an improper preposition with the genitive; (a) of place behind ( Mt 16.23); (b) of following in close relation after (Mt 4.19+); idiomatically literally go after strange flesh, i.e. practice homosexuality (Jude 1:7); (c) of time after (Mt 3.11) (Analytical Lexicon) Opiso - 34x in 34 verses - after(18), around(1), back(2), back*(3), behind(5), follow(2), follow*(2), withdrew*(1). Matt. 3:11; Matt. 4:19; Matt. 10:38; Matt. 16:23; Matt. 16:24; Matt. 24:18; Mk. 1:7; Mk. 1:17; Mk. 1:20; Mk. 8:33; Mk. 8:34; Mk. 13:16; Lk. 7:38; Lk. 9:23; Lk. 9:62; Lk. 14:27; Lk. 17:31; Lk. 19:14; Lk. 21:8; Jn. 1:15; Jn. 1:27; Jn. 1:30; Jn. 6:66; Jn. 12:19; Jn. 18:6; Jn. 20:14; Acts 5:37; Acts 20:30; Phil. 3:13; 1 Tim. 5:15; Jude 1:7; Rev. 1:10; Rev. 12:15; Rev. 13:3 Gilbrant - Among classical writers opisō (also spelled opissō) was an adverb of time (“hereafter, following, after”) or of place (“behind, backwards”) (Liddell-Scott). Even when used in connection with other Greek words to make particular expressions, opisō almost always is associated with the Hebrew word ’achar, “behind, after” (in a variety of forms). It functions as a temporal adverb: e.g., 1 Kings 1:6 (LXX 3 Kings 1:6); Ecclesiastes 10:14, and as an adverb of place: e.g., Joel 2:20. But by far its most common use is as an improper preposition (with the genitive case). In this last use it can depict someone going or pursuing after someone. Thus the pursuit of the Egyptians “after” the Israelites is frequently described by opisō (Exodus 14:4,8,9; cf. Joshua 2:5,7). “After” in the sense of “follow after, adhere to” is also common in the Septuagint. This sense holds theological significance in that the phrase “to go after other gods” denotes apostasy (Deuteronomy 8:19; 28:14; Judges 2:12,17,19), while “to follow after God” is equal to faithfulness (Joshua 14:9). Both of these concepts influenced later Judaism and the New Testament writers (cf. Seeseman, “opizō,” Kittel, 5:289-292; Bauder, “Disciple,” Colin Brown, 1:492). In the New Testament opisō functions as an adverb or a preposition. Adverbially, in answer to the question “Where?” or “Whither?” it means “behind” or “back.” In Luke 7:38 the sinful woman was standing “behind” Jesus at His feet. In Philippians 3:13 opisō, with the neuter article, functions as a substantive meaning “those things which are behind,” as that which a runner leaves in his wake. As a preposition opisō may relate either to time or place. Locally, it means “behind,” as in Revelation 1:10, “...and heard behind me a great voice”; or Matthew 16:23, “Get thee behind me, Satan.” As a preposition of time, opisō is translated “after” as in Matthew 3:11, “He that cometh after me....” Like the Septuagint, where the New Testament uses opisō as a preposition to express the relation between two persons, a close personal intimacy is usually implied. Jesus’ summons, “Follow (after) me,” demands a severing of ties with one’s former life and a rendering of an unconditional commitment to Him (Matthew 4:19; cf. 16:24). The disciple must renounce his own will (Matthew 10:38) and studiously avoid the temptation to return to the things that he renounced to follow Christ (Luke 17:31). False christs will attempt to gain their allegiance; believers must not be misled into following after them (Luke 21:8). Only by this level of self-renunciation and commitment to Christ can one hope to share in His kingdom (Mark 8:34-38). Having understood this aspect of commitment implied in opisō, other similar constructions are easily understood, such as Acts 5:37; 20:30; 1 Timothy 5:15. (Complete Biblical Library Greek-English Dictionary) And I will make you become fishers of men - Note that as literal fishermen, they caught fish and killed them, but as Jesus' fishermen, they caught men and saved them! Joseph Alexander - The last clause is a beautiful allusion to their former occupation as a figure of the one which they were now to undertake. The comparison, like others, is not to be pressed too far, the main points of resemblance being the value of the objects to be caught, the necessity of skill as well as strength in catching them, and the implied promise of abundance and success. As the business of their lives had hitherto been only to provide for the subsistence of the body, by securing the bodies of inferior animals for food; so now they were to seek the souls of men, not to destroy but to save them, in the way of God’s appointment, and as a necessary means for the promotion of His glory. (Commentary on the Gospel of Mark)

Marcos 1

Spurgeon - "Straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him."- Mark 1:18 When they heard the call of Jesus, Simon and Andrew obeyed at once without demur. If we would always, punctually and with resolute zeal, put in practice what we hear upon the spot, or at the first fit occasion, our attendance at the means of grace, and our reading of good books, could not fail to enrich us spiritually. He will not lose his loaf who has taken care at once to eat it, neither can he be deprived of the benefit of the doctrine who has already acted upon it. Most readers and hearers become moved so far as to purpose to amend; but, alas! the proposal is a blossom which has not been knit, and therefore no fruit comes of it; they wait, they waver, and then they forget, till, like the ponds in nights of frost, when the sun shines by day, they are only thawed in time to be frozen again. That fatal to-morrow is blood-red with the murder of fair resolutions; it is the slaughter-house of the innocents. We are very concerned that our little book of "Evening Readings" should not be fruitless, and therefore we pray that readers may not be readers only, but doers, of the word. The practice of truth is the most profitable reading of it. Should the reader be impressed with any duty while perusing these pages, let him hasten to fulfil it before the holy glow has departed from his soul, and let him leave his nets, and all that he has, sooner than be found rebellious to the Master's call. Do not give place to the devil by delay! Haste while opportunity and quickening are in happy conjunction. Do not be caught in your own nets, but break the meshes of worldliness, and away where glory calls you. Happy is the writer who shall meet with readers resolved to carry out his teachings: his harvest shall be a hundredfold, and his Master shall have great honour. Would to God that such might be our reward upon these brief meditations and hurried hints. Grant it, O Lord, unto thy servant! AMEN. "Follow Me" Jesus said to them, "Follow Me . . . . " They immediately left their nets and followed Him. —Mark 1:17-18 Today's Scripture: Mark 3:13-19 When the United States launched its space program in 1958, seven men were chosen to become the first astronauts. Imagine the excitement of Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, John Glenn, Gus Grissom, Walter Schirra, Alan Shepard, and Deke Slayton. They were selected to go where no one had ever gone before. Yet, as astronauts they knew they would face unforeseen dangers, challenges, and trials. Each of them realized that the thrill of being chosen was tempered with the fear of the unknown future. Imagine another set of men who were chosen for an important mission: the 12 apostles Jesus chose one day on a mountainside near the Sea of Galilee. These men left behind their occupations and families to dedicate themselves to this radical new teacher. They didn’t know what kind of political, religious, or financial challenges they would face. Yet they followed Jesus. Jesus asks the same of His people today. He asks each of us to follow Him, to love Him, to obey Him, and to tell others about Him. Like the apostles, we don’t know what our commitment to Jesus might bring. Reflect & Pray I am resolved to follow the Savior, Faithful and true each day; Heed what He sayeth, do what He willeth— He is the living Way. —Hartsough Following Jesus is always right—but not always easy. Obey The Call They immediately left their nets and followed Him. —Mark 1:18 Today's Scripture: Mark 1:16-20 I read about Captain Ray Baker who flew for the Strategic Air Command during the Vietnam War. The Air Force trained him, along with the other pilots, to run out of their barracks to their planes at the sound of a buzzer. Many times during dinner he had to drop his utensils and bolt to his bomber. He had been trained to respond to the call with immediate obedience. He was so well-trained that one day while on furlough, he ran out of a restaurant when he heard a buzzer. When Jesus called His first followers, they had an immediacy in their response to His call. The call of these fishermen was abrupt. Yet “they immediately left their nets and followed Him” (Mark 1:18). The author of this account, Mark, may have wanted to impress upon his readers the authority of Jesus. When He extended the call, these men jumped to obey because helping people enter the kingdom of God was a more compelling adventure and a grander vision than catching fish. Reflect & Pray Go to the lost, in the home, in the mart, Delay no longer, today make a start; Tell them of Jesus who bled for their sin— From byways of darkness bring others to Him. —Houghton Wanted: Messengers to deliver the good news. Mark 1:19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. NET Mark 1:19 Going on a little farther, he saw James, the son of Zebedee, and John his brother in their boat mending nets. GNT Mark 1:19 Καὶ προβὰς ὀλίγον εἶδεν Ἰάκωβον τὸν τοῦ Ζεβεδαίου καὶ Ἰωάννην τὸν ἀδελφὸν αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτοὺς ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ καταρτίζοντας τὰ δίκτυα, NLT Mark 1:19 A little farther up the shore Jesus saw Zebedee's sons, James and John, in a boat repairing their nets. KJV Mark 1:19 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. ESV Mark 1:19 And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. ASV Mark 1:19 And going on a little further, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending the nets. CSB Mark 1:19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets. NIV Mark 1:19 When he had gone a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John in a boat, preparing their nets. NKJ Mark 1:19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. NRS Mark 1:19 As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. YLT Mark 1:19 And having gone on thence a little, he saw James of Zebedee, and John his brother, and they were in the boat refitting the nets, NAB Mark 1:19 He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. NJB Mark 1:19 Going on a little further, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John; they too were in their boat, mending the nets. James the son of Zebedee: Mk 3:17 5:37 9:2 10:35 14:33 Mt 4:21 Ac 1:13 12:2 Mark 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries "The Jesus Boat" JESUS CALLS SECOND SET OF BROTHERS Going on a little farther - NLT paraphrases it "A little farther up the shore." This detail is found only in Mark's version of the call of the first disciples. He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother - Luke tells us that "James and John, sons of Zebedee...were partners with Simon." (Lk 5:10+) Who were also in the boat mending the nets - Nets is plural so they were working on different kinds of fishing nets getting them ready for their next expedition. Mending is in the present tense picturing them as continually busy at their task. Boat (4143)(ploion from pleo = to sail) can refer to a rather large seagoing craft (Acts 20:13, 38; Acts 21:2f, 6; 27 Jas 3:4; Rev 8:9; Rev 18:19) or a small fishing craft boat as used on the Sea of Galilee (Mt 4:21f; Mt 9:1; Mk 1:19f; Mk 6:51, 54; Jn 6:19, 21f; Jn 21:3). See Wikipedia description of the "Jesus Boat" discovered in 1986. Ploion - 66x in 61 verses in NT - boat (40), boats (4), ship (18), ship's (1), ships (3). Matt. 4:21; Matt. 4:22; Matt. 8:23; Matt. 8:24; Matt. 9:1; Matt. 13:2; Matt. 14:13; Matt. 14:22; Matt. 14:24; Matt. 14:29; Matt. 14:32; Matt. 14:33; Matt. 15:39; Mk. 1:19; Mk. 1:20; Mk. 4:1; Mk. 4:36; Mk. 4:37; Mk. 5:2; Mk. 5:18; Mk. 5:21; Mk. 6:32; Mk. 6:45; Mk. 6:47; Mk. 6:51; Mk. 6:54; Mk. 8:10; Mk. 8:14; Lk. 5:3; Lk. 5:7; Lk. 5:11; Lk. 8:22; Lk. 8:37; Jn. 6:17; Jn. 6:19; Jn. 6:21; Jn. 6:22; Jn. 21:3; Jn. 21:6; Acts 20:13; Acts 20:38; Acts 21:2; Acts 21:3; Acts 21:6; Acts 27:2; Acts 27:6; Acts 27:10; Acts 27:15; Acts 27:17; Acts 27:19; Acts 27:22; Acts 27:30; Acts 27:31; Acts 27:37; Acts 27:38; Acts 27:39; Acts 27:44; Acts 28:11; Jas. 3:4; Rev. 8:9; Rev. 18:19 Ploion in Septuagint - Gen. 49:13; Deut. 28:68; Jdg. 5:17; 2 Chr. 8:18; 2 Chr. 9:21; 2 Chr. 20:36; 2 Chr. 20:37; Job 41:7; Ps. 48:7; Ps. 104:26; Ps. 107:23; Isa. 2:16; Isa. 11:14; Isa. 18:1; Isa. 23:1; Isa. 23:10; Isa. 23:14; Isa. 33:21; Isa. 43:14; Isa. 60:9; Ezek. 27:9; Ezek. 27:25; Ezek. 27:29; Dan. 11:40; Jon. 1:3; Jon. 1:4; Jon. 1:5 Mending (same verb Mt 4:21+)(2675)(katartizo from katá = with + artízō = to adjust, fit, finish, in turn from ártios = fit, complete) means to put in order (like the creation of the world in Heb 11:3+ = prepared), to make ready, to fit or join together, to mend or repair. It refers to parts working precisely together – fulfilling their intended purpose (potential) because properly adapted (adjusted). Katartízō conveys the fundamental idea of putting something into its appropriate condition so it will function well. It conveys the idea of making whole by fitting together, to order and arrange properly. When applied to that which is weak and defective, it denotes setting right what has gone wrong, to restore to a former condition, whether mending broken nets or setting broken bones. Peter promises that after we suffer for a little while "the God of all grace, who called (us) to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect" (THINK "MEND" PERFECTLY! THAT WILL BE GLORY!)(1 Peter 5:10+). This verb is used in a great prayer (excellent one to pray for one another) Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, 21 equip (katartizo) you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Heb 13:20-21+) Hiebert adds that katartízō can also mean "to bring to completion a process of making whole already begun" as in Jesus statement that "A pupil is not above his teacher; but everyone, after he has been fully trained (katartízō), will be like his teacher. (Luke 6:40+) When the pupil's training is complete, he will be just like his master. Our standard of excellence is the perfection of Christ Himself. (Hiebert, D. E. 1 Peter. page 319. Moody) Ray Stedman on mending their nets - But James and John were doing something else -- they were mending their nets. The Greek word for "mending" is the same word which appears in Ephesians 4, where Paul says of pastor/teachers that they are to "equip" (or mend) the saints to do the work of the ministry (Ephesians 4:12+ - ED: USES RELATED NOUN - katartismos = Make someone completely adequate and in context describes complete "furnishing" of a believer so that he or she might be made ready to fulfill their purpose - cf Eph 2:10+). Just as James and John were equipping their nets, getting them ready, when Jesus called them, so this would be the work they would be doing as fishers of men. They would do it as teachers, equipping the saints. Again, this is what you see in the lives of these men throughout Scriptures. This is beautiful thought, because it indicates that when our Lord calls us he not only equips us, taking full responsibility to teach us everything we need to learn in order to fulfill that calling, but he does it in such a way as to retain those nuances of personality that mark us as us. While I was at Wheaton College this past week a young student came up to me at the close of a chapel service and, with a very earnest look on his face, said, "Look, all week long you've been talking to us about Christ's working through us, saying that he will do the work. I have a question: How can Jesus work through us without destroying our personality?" I cast about for an answer, and all of a sudden an illustration came flashing into my mind: "When you prepare breakfast, if you plug an electric toaster and an electric mixer into the same outlet, would they both do the same thing?" He said, "I see what you mean." Of course they would not. They both use the same power, but they do not do the same thing. So it is with Jesus. He is the power in the Christian life, the One who is able to live in us and manifest himself through us -- whatever the demand of life may be -- but the result always retains something of our individuality. The glory of the call of Christianity is that we are all empowered by the same mighty One, but that we lose nothing of the distinct flavor of our particular personality. (Sermon) Mark 1:20 Immediately He called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went away to follow Him. GNT Mark 1:20 καὶ εὐθὺς ἐκάλεσεν αὐτούς. καὶ ἀφέντες τὸν πατέρα αὐτῶν Ζεβεδαῖον ἐν τῷ πλοίῳ μετὰ τῶν μισθωτῶν ἀπῆλθον ὀπίσω αὐτοῦ. NLT Mark 1:20 He called them at once, and they also followed him, leaving their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired men. KJV Mark 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. ESV Mark 1:20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him. ASV Mark 1:20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him. CSB Mark 1:20 Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him. NIV Mark 1:20 Without delay he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed him. NKJ Mark 1:20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. NRS Mark 1:20 Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him. YLT Mark 1:20 and immediately he called them, and, having left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, they went away after him. NAB Mark 1:20 Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him. NJB Mark 1:20 At once he called them and, leaving their father Zebedee in the boat with the men he employed, they went after him. they left their father Zebedee in the boat: Mk 10:29 De 33:9 1Ki 19:20 Mt 4:21,22 8:21,22 10:37 Lu 14:26 2Co 5:16 Mark 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries THE EFFECTUAL CALL COME WALK IN MY DUST! In early Jewish writings the description of a follower of a rabbi was that he was to “cover himself in the dust of [the rabbi’s] feet.” In other words he was to follow so closely behind the rabbi that he would walk in the dust stirred up by the rabbi's sandals! The picture was of the disciple walking so closely that he might be able to watch and imitate his every word and action. If you have ever been to the Wailing wall in Jerusalem you may have seen this played out as you watched an old white haired rabbi limping along, bent over, being followed by young men who are also limping bent over despite being young and vigorous! They are imitating their rabbi even to the point of limping like he did! And this is a literal picture of what Jesus was calling Simon, Andrew, James, and John to do in an ethical sense for the next three years so that they might become more and more like Him! THOUGHT - This should be the picture of every disciple for we too are called to walk closely and spend quality time with Jesus. How? Of course by spending uninterrupted time in His living and active Word (Hebrews 4:12+) and speaking with Him in prayer. So let me ask you dearly beloved --- are your sandals covered with the dust of Jesus' sandals or are your Bibles simply covered with dust? And you can mark it down that dusty Bibles usually belong to people with dirty lives! Immediately He called them - Called is kaleo meaning “to call aloud, to utter in a loud voice” and together with the fact that James and John were in the large boat which had to be moored some distance from shore unless there was a wharf there, indicates that our Lord called across a stretch of water in order to reach them. In either event His call was an effectual call. The immediate call brought immediate obedience even as did Andrew and Simon in Mk 1:18. Related Resource: What is the effectual calling/call? Immediately (2117) see preceding discussion on euthus used 11x in chapter 1 - Mk. 1:10; Mk. 1:12; Mk. 1:18; Mk. 1:20; Mk. 1:21; Mk. 1:23; Mk. 1:28; Mk. 1:29; Mk. 1:30; Mk. 1:42; Mk. 1:43 (One other use in Mk 1:3 means "straight"). These 2 sets of brothers present a striking contrast with others who hesitated. For example in Luke 9 we read of of others who did not drop everything and immediately follow Jesus... As they were going along the road, someone said to Him, “I will follow (akoloutheo) You wherever You go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “The foxes have holes and the birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” (JESUS IS CALLING HIM TO COUNT THE COST) 59 And He said to another, “Follow (akoloutheo in present imperative) Me.” But he said, “Lord, permit me first to go and bury my father.” 60 But He said to him, “Allow the dead to bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim everywhere the kingdom of God.” 61 Another also said, “I will follow (akoloutheo) You, Lord; but first permit me to say good-bye to those at home.” 62 But Jesus said to him, “No one, after putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.” (Lk 9:57-61+) THOUGHT - “Follow me” was the call of Jesus to those who would be His disciples. It still is. Jesus is still calling men and women, boys and girls to be disciples. And the call is the same, “Follow me.” Are you willing to follow or do you have a set of well crafted excuses? And they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants - How quickly did they respond? Matthew 4:22 says "Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed Him." Clearly Zebedee and his two sons evidently had a very successful fishing business in co-operation with Andrew and Simon (Lk 5:7, 10+). Mark alone has this detail of the hired servants who remained with their father Zebedee. This added fact indicates Zebedee’s fishing business was prosperous and that he was a man of importance (cf. description of John in Jn 18:15). The point is that James and John "counted the cost" to follow Jesus! One is reminded of one of Jesus' "hard sayings" - “So then, none of you can be My disciple who does not give up (apotasso means to "say good-bye") all his own possessions." (Lk 14:33+) THOUGHT - James and John were willing! Are you? Am I? If you are like me this is not just a one time choice, but daily involves many choices of giving up things that might be gratifying (some morally/ethically positive, some neutral, some negative), daily dying to self, daily taking up Jesus' cross for as "He was saying to them all (AND ALL OF US), “If anyone wishes (THE KEY THAT UNLOCKS THE DOOR - energized by the Spirit - same verb thelo in Php 2:13NLT+ for "desire") to come after (opiso as in Mk 1:17, 20) Me, he must deny (arneomai in aorist imperative - requires energization by the Holy Spirit to obey) himself, and take up (another aorist imperative) his cross daily and follow (akoloutheo in present imperative - Jesus commands a lifestyle of following Him only possible by relying wholly on the Holy Spirit - this same verb used in Mk 1:18+, Lk 5:11+) Me (Lk 9:23+) Notice the key verb "wishes" in Lk 9:23 is thelo which speaks of our desire that comes from our emotions producing an active decision of our will, which implies both volition and purpose, as well as a conscious willing, all of this of course not our natural inclination but enabled by the Spirit Who is in us "at work in (us), both to will and to work for His good pleasure." (Php 2:13+) Sermon (76 minutes) by Steven Lawson on Luke 14:25-35 "It Will Cost You Everything!" Hired servants (3411)(misthotos from misthoo = to let out for hire, from misthos = wages) means hired worker, hireling, day-laborer. Only 3 verses - Mk 1:20. Then there are two uses in John, Jn 10:12, 13, where the true Shepherd stands in contrast to the “hireling” or the “hired hand” who is employed to tend the sheep and Zodhiates suggests in John it describes "one who is not showing real interest in his duty and who is unfaithful." In secular Greek it was used of of soldiers, in pl., and mercenaries (Lxx of Jer 46:21), Hdt., Thuc. In the papyri the term refers to the lessee or tenant (Moulton-Milligan). Misthotos in the Septuagint - Exod. 12:45; Exod. 22:15; Lev. 19:13; Lev. 22:10; Lev. 25:6; Lev. 25:40; Lev. 25:53; Deut. 15:18; Job 7:2; Job 14:6; Isa. 16:14; Isa. 21:16; Isa. 28:1; Isa. 28:3; Jer. 46:21; Mal. 3:5 Left (863) see discussion above of the interesting verb aphiemi. Luke's version says "When they had brought their boats to land, they left (same verb Mark uses - see aphiemi) everything and followed Him." (Lk 5:11+, cf Levi/Matthew in Lk 5:27-28+) And went away to follow Him - Again, no hesitation but immediate obedience, for Matthew records that "Immediately they left the boat and their father." (Mt 4:22) Notice that Andrew and Simon left their nets but James and John left their father so that both fulfilled Jesus' condition in Lk 14:33. To follow (3694)(opiso from opis = a looking back) meant they went behind Jesus, in close proximity and relationship (see more detailed discussion of use in similar context in Mark 1:17). Spurgeon - They never had cause to regret that they did so. Whatever they left, they were abundantly rewarded. They had a rich reward here on earth; and they have a far richer reward in heaven. Whatever a man gives up for Christ is a blessed investment, which will, sooner or later, bring him good interest. THOUGHT FROM DAVID THOMPSON - Now I agree with H.A. Ironside in that not all who believe in the Lord today and purpose to obey the Word will become a great soul winner or fisher of men. There are different gifts that God gives to different people. Some people are evangelists. Some people are Pastor/Teachers. Some have a gift of mercy or helps or giving. What we do know is that if any will purpose to obey the Word, God will use that person to accomplish His purposes, just like he did with these four fishermen. (Sermon) Steve Andrews - In 1 Kings 19 there is a great illustration of discipleship. Elijah, the national prophet, was coming to the end of his ministry. God told him to choose a man named Elisha to be his disciple and his replacement as the prophet. Elijah goes and finds Elisha hard at work on the family farm, plowing with twelve yoke of oxen. Now, Elisha probably came from a wealthy family with a large farm because we see him supervising eleven other men as he plowed with the last pair of oxen (for you farmers, it’s like having a tractor that with a 12 bottom plow—that’s no small tractor!). The prophet Elijah walked up to this farmer and threw his prophet’s mantle over him (I’m not sure what exactly a mantle looked like, probably some kind of outer garment, but if the prophet threw his mantle on you it meant you were being called to be a prophet too). We can see that Elisha knew this because he ran after the prophet and said, “I will follow you,” (1 Kings 19:20). But before he left his father’s farm to be Elijah’s disciple he first did something very important. He had a barbeque for his family. Now, why would that be so very important? Elisha slaughtered his oxen and used the wooden yoke and plow as fuel to cook the beef. Do you see what Elisha was doing? When you burn your plow and eat your ox you don’t ever intend to go back to farming. He was cutting ties with his past so he wouldn’t be tempted to go back to that life. It was his way of showing he was totally committed to following his new master. That’s what Jesus’ disciples did. They left all to follow Jesus. That’s discipleship—forsaking all to follow Jesus. THOUGHT - Do you have some things in your life that are keeping you from following Jesus? Keeping you from walking the way Jesus walked? Some of you guys may need to burn your pornography; you may need to delete the phone number or email address of that person who could take your love away from your mate; you may need to leave behind whatever it is that is keeping you from following Jesus. (Sermon) Walking In His Dust [Jesus] called them, and they left their father . . . and went after Him. —Mark 1:20 Today's Scripture:Mark 1:16-20 In the first century, a Jewish man who wanted to become a disciple of a rabbi (teacher) was expected to leave family and job to join his rabbi. They would live together 24 hours a day—walking from place to place, teaching and learning, studying and working. They discussed and memorized the Scriptures and applied them to life. The disciple’s calling, as described in early Jewish writings about basic ethics, was to “cover himself in the dust of [the rabbi’s] feet,” drinking in his every word. He followed his rabbi so closely that he would “walk in his dust.” In doing so, he became like the rabbi, his master. Simon, Andrew, James, and John knew that this was the type of relationship to which Jesus was calling them (Mark 1:16-20). So immediately they walked away from their work and “went after Him” (v.20). For 3 years they stayed close to Him—listening to His teaching, watching His miracles, learning His principles, and walking in His dust. Reflect & Pray What holds me back? Some earthly tie? A thirst for gain? A strange entanglement with life? A pleasure vain? Dear Lord, I cast it all aside so willingly; The path of true discipleship I'll walk with Thee. —Adams Faith in Christ is not just a single step— it's a lifelong walk with Him. The Honor Of Following Read: Matthew 4:18-22 Then [Jesus] said to them, “Follow Me.” —Matthew 4:19 When they had brought their boats to land, they left everything and followed Him. Luke 5:11 While visiting Jerusalem, a friend of mine saw an old rabbi walking past the Wailing Wall. The interesting thing about the aged rabbi was the five young men walking behind him. They too were walking bent over, limping—just like their rabbi. An Orthodox Jew watching them would know exactly why they were imitating their teacher. They were “followers.” Throughout the history of Judaism, one of the most honored positions for a Jewish man was the privilege of becoming a “follower” of the local rabbi. Followers sat at the rabbi’s feet as he taught. They would study his words and watch how he acted and reacted to life and others. A follower would count it the highest honor to serve his rabbi in even the most menial tasks. And, because they admired their rabbi, they were determined to become like him. Thank You, Lord, for the high honor of being called to follow You. May my life so imitate You that others will know that You are the pursuit of my life and the rabbi of my soul. Follow Jesus and let the world know He is your rabbi. (Ed: And YOUR LORD!) INSIGHT: In the region surrounding the Sea of Galilee in the first century, fishing was one of the primary industries. This fishing normally took place at night, with the laborious task of casting weighted fishing nets and then hauling them back in. Fishing was not an easy occupation, but it did provide a decent living and, as seen in today’s text, was often operated as a family business. Here, two brothers, Peter and Andrew, worked together (Mt 4:18), as did James, John, and their father (Mt 4:21). In this case, however, these two families also had a partnership in their fishing business, as recorded in Luke 5:10. Jesus used this partnership to His advantage in calling these four men as disciples. Quest For Stolen Treasure Read: Matthew 4:18-22 Luke 5:1-11 [Jesus] said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” —Matthew 4:19 In J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit, the dwarfs gathered to go up against Smaug, the fierce dragon, to retrieve their stolen treasure. In spite of the dangerously frightening quest, Balin, the dwarfs’ second-in-command, expressed confidence in Thorin: “There is one I could follow. There is one I could call King.” His commitment to the mission, as dangerous as it was, was empowered by his confidence in his leader. At the beginning of Jesus’ earthly ministry, He gathered a group around Him that would join Him in the kingdom task of rescuing the treasure of lost souls from our enemy, Satan. When He called them, He said, “Follow Me” (Matt. 4:19). For them, following Jesus would mean a radical transition from catching fish to the enterprise of being fishers of men and women who were lost in the grip of sin. But the task would not always be easy; Jesus referred to the quest as taking up our cross to follow Him (see Matt. 16:24; Mark 8:34; Luke 9:23). Lord, in the face of intimidation and fear when seeking to engage others with the gospel, remind me that they are Your lost treasures. I count it a privilege to follow You into others’ lives. Follow your Leader into the lives of those around you. INSIGHT: These two pairs of brothers (Peter and Andrew, James and John) were the earliest disciples to respond to Jesus’ call. Most likely, Peter, Andrew, and John had an earlier encounter with Jesus (John 1:35-42). In today’s passage, the Lord is calling them to abandon their fishing trade and to follow Him fully and permanently (Matt. 4:20,22). Later, Peter declared that they had left all to follow Jesus (19:27). These four had been partners in the fishing business (Luke 5:10). Peter, James, and John were also privileged to become the inner circle among Jesus’ 12 disciples (Mark 5:37; 9:2; 14:33). Learning To Fish Read: Matthew 4:18-22 | Luke 5:1-11 He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." —Matthew 4:19 Thomas Boston, a young minister and fly fisherman from Scotland, wrote this in his diary in 1699: “Reading in secret, my heart was touched with Matthew 4:19, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.’ My soul cried out for the accomplishing of that to me, and I was very desirous to know how I might follow Christ, so as to be a fisher of men.” Boston later wrote a booklet titled, A Soliloquy on the Art of Man Fishing, in which he spelled out what he learned about soul-winning by following the Master Angler. He pointed out that the habits of fish and the habits of sinners are often quite similar. I am an avid fisherman, and I have worked our Idaho trout streams many times. I agree with Boston that catching fish and winning souls are very much alike. But analogy can only take us so far. The best way to become an effective “fisher of men” is simply to follow Jesus. Keeping in step with the Savior, Living a life that is true, Clearly let's sound out a witness, Proving what God's grace can do. —Bosch If you're not fishing for souls, you are not following the Savior. Close On His Heels - Luke 5:11 Read: Matthew 4:18-25, Luke 5:1-11 Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. —Matthew 4:19 Stan and Jennifer were speaking at a mission conference in Marion, North Carolina, after their first term of service on the field. Jennifer told of a Bible study she had held with one woman. The two were discussing Matthew 4:19, and the woman told Jennifer about a word in her native language, which means follow. She said, “It is the word for following closely, not at a distance.” To illustrate, Jennifer held up slippers used by the native women, showing one far behind the other. Then she moved one slipper right up against the back of the other one, and said that the word means “to follow right on one’s heels.” It suggests that we are to follow Jesus as closely as possible. Later, when Jennifer was reading over the journal she had been keeping, she was surprised to see that she had often questioned, “Is Jesus enough?” She had been working her way through culture shock, loneliness, illness, and childlessness. At times she had felt far from Christ. But when through prayer and faith she had drawn as close to Him as she could, walking “right on His heels,” He had calmed her soul, restored her strength, and given her peace. God, give me the faith of a little child! A faith that will look to Thee— That never will falter and never fail, But follow Thee trustingly. —Showerman The closer we walk with God, the clearer we see His guidance. Who Are You? - Read: Matthew 4:18-25 | Luke 5:1-11 Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men. —Matthew 4:19 If someone were to ask, “Who are you?” my guess is that you would tell a little about yourself and what you do—“I’m an electrician” or “I’m a nurse.” But that’s not really who you are—it’s what you do. Which leads to the question, If what you do is who you are, who will you be when you stop doing what you’re doing?! Who you are is found in your relationship to Jesus. And this sense of identity will drive your behavior. Take Matthew, for example. As a tax collector during the reign of the Roman Empire, his life was driven by greed. But everything changed the day Jesus showed up and invited Matthew to follow Him (Matt. 9:9). Suddenly Matthew had a whole new identity as a follower of Christ! And he wasn’t the only one. We also read about four fishermen in Matthew 4:18-25, Peter, Andrew, James, and John, who left their nets to follow Him. Jesus is a compelling Person, and He is still looking for followers. He wants to make something of your life by giving you the identity of a follower of Jesus. It doesn’t mean giving up your career, but it does mean that you will do your work—and all of life—according to His will and ways. So next time someone asks, “Who are you?” I hope you’ll answer, “I’m a follower of Jesus”! By Joe Stowell For Further Study Read about 10 perspectives that should form our attitudes and actions as followers of Jesus in Kingdom Living at What We Believe? - A summary of 10 important doctrines 10 Reasons To Believe In The Christian Faith 10 Reasons To Believe In A God Who Allows Suffering 10 Reasons To Believe Christ Rose From The Dead 10 Reasons God Offers the Perfect Gift 10 Reasons To Believe In The Bible 10 Reasons To Believe In The Existence of God 10 Reasons To Believe God Became A Man 10 Reasons To Believe In Christ Rather Than Religion 10 Reasons To Believe In Life After Death If you are a follower of Jesus, that’s all the identity you need. Fishing - Luke 5:1-11 Read: Matthew 4:18-22 He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men." —Matthew 4:19 A skilled fly fisherman whips his line back and forth over his head. Then he releases the line and sets the fly-like lure down on the water’s surface exactly where he wants it. If he’s successful, a big rainbow trout will rise, strike the lure, and the fisherman will set the hook. The battle is on! That’s one way to catch fish. Halibut fishermen use another method. They go out on the ocean and drop big baited hooks, sometimes as far down as 125 or 150 feet. When one of those big, flat fish goes for the bait and is hooked, he begins a long ride to the surface. Jesus told Peter and Andrew to follow Him and He would make them “fishers of men” (Matthew 4:18-19). As followers of Christ today, we too are to be “fishing” for people in our world, using different methods to spread the good news. We are to be telling men and women, family and friends, young and old, about their sin, the love of God, and His offer of salvation through faith in Jesus. THINKING IT OVER Think of a way you can share Christ with people in your neighborhood, workplace, or school. Talk it over with others, then go out and try it. If you follow the Savior, He'll teach you how to fish. Making The Cut Read: Matthew 4:18-22 | Luke 5:1-11 [Jesus] said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” —Matthew 4:19 Every year, high-school seniors apply to their favorite universities and then watch the mailbox for the letter announcing their acceptance. It was different for teens in New Testament times. Jewish boys would often attend rabbinical schools until age 13. Then only the best and brightest would be chosen to “follow” the local rabbi. This small, select group of disciples would go where he went and eat what he ate—modeling their lives after the rabbi. Those who didn’t make the cut would pick up a trade like carpentry, sheep-herding, or fishing. Guys like Simon, Andrew, James, and John hadn’t made the cut. So instead of following the local rabbi, they were down by the docks, knee-deep in the family business. It’s interesting that Jesus sought out the men the local rabbi had rejected. Instead of targeting the best and brightest, Jesus offered His invitation, “Follow Me,” to ordinary run-of-the-mill fishermen. What an honor! They would become followers of the ultimate Rabbi. As followers of Jesus Who love Him from the heart, We may be ordinary, But we’ve been set apart. —Sper Even the ordinary and the outcast can make the cut to follow Jesus. Follow Me Read: Mark 2:13-17 | Luke 5:11 It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. Mark 2:17 Health clubs offer many different programs for those who want to lose weight and stay healthy. One fitness center caters only to those who want to lose at least 50 pounds and develop a healthy lifestyle. One member says that she quit her previous fitness club because she felt the slim and fit people were staring at her and judging her out-of-shape body. She now works out 5 days a week and is achieving healthy weight loss in a positive and welcoming environment. Two thousand years ago, Jesus came to call the spiritually unfit to follow Him. Levi was one such person. Jesus saw him sitting in his tax collector’s booth and said, “Follow me” (Mark 2:14). His words captured Levi’s heart, and he followed Jesus. Tax collectors were often greedy and dishonest in their dealings and were considered religiously unclean. When the religious leaders saw Jesus having dinner at Levi’s house with other tax collectors, they asked, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” (Mk 2:16). Jesus replied, “I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners” (Mk 2:17). Jesus came to save sinners, which includes all of us. Jesus came to save sinners, which includes all of us. He loves us, welcomes us into His presence, and calls us to follow Him. As we walk with Him, we grow more and more spiritually fit. Jesus’ arms of welcome are always open. INSIGHT: Mark 2:13–17 and Luke 5:27–32 both tell the story of Jesus calling a man named Levi to be His disciple. It appears that Levi was employed by Herod Antipas to collect tolls (travel taxes) from those outside of his territory who passed through Capernaum. There is almost universal agreement that the Levi in Mark 2 and Luke 5 is the apostle Matthew, since Matthew is identified as a tax collector and his own calling mirrors the calling of Levi (Matt. 9:9-12). After Levi started his new life as an apostle, he was called by his Greek name—Matthew—which means “gift of God.” Mark 1:21 They went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. they went: Mk 2:1 Mt 4:13 Lu 4:31 Lk 10:15 Capernaum - Mt 4:13. Lk 4:31-37 (parallel passage) He entered - Mk 1:39. Mt 6:2. Mt 4:23. Lk 4:16. Lk 13:10. Ac 13:14, etc. Acts 17:2. Acts 18:4 The synagogue - Jn 6:59 A Sabbath in Capernaum - Alred Edersheim (Mt 8:14-17; Mark 1:21-34; Luke 4:33-41) Mark 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries Source: Ryrie Study Bible (Quick Verse 4.0 Edition) Click another depiction of the Jewish Synagogue IMMEDIATELY JESUS BEGINS TO TEACH Luke 4:31-37+ parallels Mark 1:21-28 And He came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and He was teaching them on the Sabbath; 32 and they were amazed at His teaching, for His message was with authority. 33 In the synagogue there was a man possessed by the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, 34 “Let us alone! What business do we have with each other, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!” 35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in the midst of the people, he came out of him without doing him any harm. 36 And amazement came upon them all, and they began talking with one another saying, “What is this message? For with authority and power He commands the unclean spirits and they come out.” 37 And the report about Him was spreading into every locality in the surrounding district.(Lk 4:31-37+) ORDER OF EVENTS 1. Jesus leaves his home town of Nazareth in Galilee. (Mk 1:9) 2. At the Jordan he is baptized by John. (Mk 1:10) 3. He is led into the desert for 40 days where he is tempted. (Mk 1:12) 4. After the arrest of John, Jesus goes north to Galilee. (Mk 1:14) 5. Inset: Near Bethsaida, Jesus calls Simon and Andrew, James, and John to follow him. (Mk 1:16-20) 6. They arrive at Capernaum, where Simon and Andrew live. Jesus preaches and does many works of healing—including healing Simon’s mother-in-law. (Mk 1:21-31) 7. From here Jesus first goes out into Galilee, preaching and casting out demons. (Mk 1:32-39). Source: Nelson's 3D Bible Mapbook Lowell Johnson helps us get the perspective noting that "Between Mark 1:20 and 21 another span of time is passed over without comment. During the several weeks that are not mentioned by Mark, Jesus was carrying out His ministry in Nazareth, His hometown (with supernatural power - see Lk 4:14-15+). It was during this time that He preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and called the rest of the twelve disciples (ED: Wuest agees but some passages suggest all members of the 12 were not actually called until later - see Mt 10:1, Mk 3:14, Lk 6:13). It was also during this period that Jesus suffered rejection at the hands of the people in His hometown of Nazareth. According to Luke 4:16-20+, Jesus preached in the synagogue at Nazareth and proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah Israel had long anticipated (cf Lk 4:21+). The people rejected His claims and even tried to kill Him (Lk 4:28-29+). As a result, Jesus and His men left Nazareth and moved their ministry to Capernaum, which would become His base for ministry. It is there that Mark picks up the narrative once again. (Sermon) Wuest agrees - The entrance into Capernaum was not immediately after the call of these four men. The calling of the other apostles, the Sermon on the Mount (Mt 5:1-7:28), the healing of the leper (Mt 8:2-4) and of the centurion’s servant, preceded this miracle in the Capernaum synagogue. Comment - Comparing Matthew's account, we read in Mt 8:1-4 Jesus healed a leper and then "When He had entered Capernaum..." (Mt 8:5) the first event Matthew records is that He healed the centurion's paralyzed servant (Mt 8:5-13). These accounts are omitted by both Mark and Luke. Matthew then follows this account of Jesus entering Peter's home and healing his mother-in-law (Mt 8:14-15, which parallels Mk 1:29-31 and Lk 4:38-39+), so he omits the account of Jesus teaching in the Synagogue and casting out a demon described here by Mark and by Luke 4:31-37+. Chronology of the events of a Day in the Life of Jesus in Capernaum - based on the Synoptic Gospels: Healing a leper (Only in Mt 8:1-4) Healing centurion's son (Only in Mt 8:5-13) Preaching the Word with Authority in Synagogue (Mk 1:21-22, Lk 4:31-32, not in Matthew) Casting out unclean spirit/demon (Mk 1:23-27, Lk 4:33-36, not in Matthew) Spread of the report/news about Jesus (Mk 1:28, Lk 4:37, not in Matthew) Entering Peter's Home and Healing his Mother-in-Law (Mk 1:29-31, Lk 4:38-39, Mt 8:14-15) Healings and casting out demons in evening (Mk 1:32-34, Lk 4:40-42, Mt 8:16-17-adds quote from Isa 53:4) They went into Capernaum - From the chronology above note that Matthew records two events (Mt 8:1-4, Mt 8:5-13) not recorded by Mark or Luke. They refers to Jesus and all 12 of His disciples. Capernaum (Kfar = village + Nahum = "Nahum's Village) was a city of Galilee (Lk 4:31+), in the tetrarchy of Herod Antipas on the border of his brother Philip’s domain. (map of Jesus' Ministry in Galilee) and was 680 feet below sea level (cf Nazareth at 1200 ft above sea level so Nazareth to Capernaum is "straight downhill" so to speak - which explains Luke's verb that they "came down to Capernaum" Lk 4:31+), located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee and began Jesus' "headquarters" during His Galilean ministry. It was the largest city on the lake because it was a crossroads of a major trade routes. It had a customs tax office and a Roman garrison because it was a potential area of crime because there was so much action, so much trade, so much travel traffic. Collins Dictionary note is interesting referring to Capernaum as "a ruined town in northern Israel (Ed: cf Jesus' words to this city - Mt 11:23, 24), on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee." Mt 4:13 tells us after "leaving Nazareth, He came and settled in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the region of Zebulun and Naphtali." (see map of Zebulun and Napthali) As an aside Capernaum is no longer a city and in Lk 10:15+ Jesus warned the city that because it had rejected the Light (Jesus actually lived there), "you, Capernaum, will not be exalted to heaven, will you? You will be brought down to Hades!" Dear reader, if you have not received Jesus as Savior, then you too will be like Capernaum for you have rejected the Light, just as most of that ancient city did! (read 2 Cor 6:2, Acts 16:31+, Ro 10:9-10+). Jesus' CUSTOM was to go to the Jewish synagogue (as was Paul's custom in Acts). Luke records an episode (not found in Mark) that occurred probably shortly prior to the present event "And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was HIS CUSTOM (ethos; NLT = "as usual"), He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read." (Luke 4:16+) And immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue - Mark is in a hurry and is constantly moving the action along. This reminds us of Saul's reaction after He had met Jesus on the Damascus Road and he "immediately began to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” (Acts 9:20+) And where did Paul's power for such bold preaching come from? In Acts 9:17-18+ Jesus sent Ananias to Saul and when he arrived he declared “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus, Who appeared to you on the road by which you were coming, has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” 18 And immediately there fell from his eyes something like scales, and he regained his sight, and he got up and was baptized." So the Spirit filled Saul immediately begins to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues. Is this not the pattern for every minister today, to first be filled with the power of the Spirit and then proclaim the Lord Jesus Christ? The centurion in Capernaum was built by a Gentile, a centurion who " loves our nation and it was he who built us our synagogue.” (Luke 7:5+) Immediately (2117) see preceding discussion on euthus which is used 11x in chapter 1 - Mk. 1:10; Mk. 1:12; Mk. 1:18; Mk. 1:20; Mk. 1:21; Mk. 1:23; Mk. 1:28; Mk. 1:29; Mk. 1:30; Mk. 1:42; Mk. 1:43 (One other use in Mk 1:3 means "straight"). Related Resources: The Synagogue and Jewish Worship What is a synagogue? | GotQuestions.org Spurgeon - He did not do as the scribes did, who made a great parade of learning by quoting this Rabbi and the other, but Jesus said, “Verily, verily, I say unto you.” He spoke as one who felt that he had authority to speak in his own name, and in the name of God his Father. This method of teaching quite astonished the Jews. I wish that those who now hear the gospel, might be astonished at it, and be astonished into the belief of it by the power with which it comes home to their consciences and hearts. Synagogue (4864)(sunagoge from sunágo = lead or bring together) refers to a group of people “going with one another” (sunago) literally describes a bringing together or congregating in one place. Eventually, sunagoge came to mean the place where they congregated together. The word was used to designate the buildings other than the central Jewish Temple where the Jews congregated for worship. Mark uses of sunagogue - at least 4 times Jesus enters a Jewish Synagogue in Mark's Gospel - Mk. 1:21; Mk. 1:23; Mk. 1:29; Mk. 1:39; Mk. 3:1; Mk. 6:2; Mk. 12:39; Mk. 13:9; Historically, Synagogues originated in the Babylonian captivity after the 586 BC destruction of the temple by Nebuchadnezzar and served as places of worship and instruction. Synagogues frequently were a place of teaching and proclamation of the Gospel (Mt 4:23, 9:35, 12:9, 13:54, Mk 6:2, Lk 4:15, 16, Lk 4:44, 6:6, 13:10, Jn 6:59, 18:20, Acts 9:20 Acts 13:5 Acts 14:1 Acts 17:17, 18:4, 18:19, 19:8). In James 2:3 the synagogue seems to describe an assembly-place for Judeo-Christians. Sadly many synagogues became hotbeds of hypocrisy (Mt 6:2) and assemblies for arrogant display (form of hypocrisy) (Mt 6:5, Mk 12:39, Lk 11:43, 20:46).

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Spurgeon - How often that is still the cry of sinners, “Let us alone. Why do not you hold your own views, and let us alone? “Yes the devils, and those whom they control, still say, “Let us alone.” But it is a part of the gospel to attack that which is not the gospel, and it is as much the duty of the minister of the gospel to denounce error as to proclaim truth. If we do so, the old cry will still be heard, “Let us alone. Let us alone.” Mark 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"

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Spurgeon - He did not want any testimony from the devil. When a man of ill character once praised Plato, the philosopher said, “What can I have done wrong that such a fellow as that speaks well of me?” So when the devil bore testimony to the divinity of Christ, “Jesus rebuked him Mark 1:26 Throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him.

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Spurgeon - For, if Satan must come out of a man, he will do him as much mischief as ever he can before he departs. His wrath is all the greater because his time is so short. (Rev 12:12+ - this casting down [in my opinion] will not occur until the midpoint of the Tribulation - but in any event his time is short relative to his time in eternal torment!) Ray Ortlund - Power Encounters (in his comments on Lk 4:31-37) - It has long struck me as odd that a demon-possessed man was right there in the synagogue. It’s surprising, because a synagogue was where the Bible was studied. It was a place of devotion to God. It was where Jesus wanted to go. What on earth was a demon-possessed man doing there, of all places? Moreover, the people weren’t alarmed by his presence. (ED: I THINK THEY WERE NOT EVEN AWARE OF HIS PRESENT - HE WAS "IN COGNITO!") What amazed them was the teaching of Jesus. I suppose they had gotten used to this poor man. Their reading of the Bible was so covered over with layers of tradition, the power was suppressed. Their thinking had become unclear, their alertness dulled. Over time, they probably made allowances for this man and his weirdness. They had to. They had no power to help him. But the presence and teaching of Jesus aroused the intensity of this man’s true condition. He flew into a rage. It became a dramatic power encounter. The visit of Jesus to that synagogue made the crisis inevitable, and the power of Jesus made the outcome beautifully redemptive: “. . . having done him no harm.” Three take-aways for church leaders: One, let’s guard the spiritual integrity of our membership. Unregenerate church members will import not just their problems but actual opposition to Jesus. There is a difference. Two, let’s call sin sin. We need wisdom here, so that we don’t inadvertently create an environment of ungracious accusation. But it is spiritually costly to build allowances around blatant sin among our members. Unresisted sin will resist the presence of Jesus. It will even presume to define the character of the church. The demoniac did not say to Jesus, “What have you to do with me?” He shouted, “What have you to do with us?” Three, the remedy for spiritual mixture is the undiluted authority of the teaching of Jesus. He did not lean on previous rabbis for validation but declared his own authority as “the Holy One of God.” For us, that translates into reverent preaching and hearing of the biblical gospel with complete openness to whatever challenges it brings and changes it demands. We do not need Calvin, Edwards and Spurgeon for validation. Illustration, yes. Validation, no. They bring no power. The Bible, with the Holy Spirit, brings all the power we need. Let it speak. And let nothing get in the way. Jesus is among us Mark 1:27 They were all amazed, so that they debated among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him."

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Spurgeon says "It was the authority of his preaching which first astonished them; and then the authority with which he wrought his miracle, and subdued the world of demons. Blessed be God. Christ has not abdicated his authority. He is still the great Messenger of God, full of divine authority to save men, and to deliver them from the power of Satan." He commands even the unclean (see akathartos) spirits, and they obey Him - Here was the final proof of Jesus' authority for the unclean spirit had come out in their very midst. Can you imagine the man who is now no longer possessed by a demon. He surely must have been a walking "advertisement" in Capernaum of the power and authority of this Man named Jesus! THOUGHT - YOUR CHANGED/TRANSFORMED LIFE is one of the most irrefutable evidences of the transformative power of the Gospel. This begs a simple question -- are you letting your light shine so others can see the transformation that God's Spirit and God's Word has wrought in you? (Mt 5:16+) Commands (orders)(2004)(epitasso from epí = upon, over + tasso = arrange, appoint or place appropriately) is "a military term; the noun form used in the military sense of an “orderly array.” The single verb tassō was used in classical Greek, “to draw up in order of battle, array, marshal.” Our Lord has the hosts of Satan under His absolute power at all times. Unwilling and incorrigible as they are, He can command them at will, and they obey Him. Satan always operates on a limited tether. To the synagogue crowd, the most astonishing thing was that the demons obeyed Him." (Wuest) Obey (present tense = demons continually obey Jesus!)(5219)(hupakouo from hupó = under + akoúo = hearing and apprehension ) literally means "under the hearing" or listening with attentiveness and then responding to what is heard -- to obey what is heard. The sense is that one understands and responds accordingly. The demon understood and responded to Jesus' authoritative command. Related Resource: James Edwards - The Authority of Jesus in the Gospel of Mark," J of Evang Theo Soc 37:2 - 1994 EXCERPT - In Mark and Matthew exousia is reserved specifically for Jesus or the apostles.17 The term is found nine times in Mark—six with reference to Jesus (Mk 1:22, 27; 2:10; 11:28, 29, 33), twice of the apostles (Mk 3:15, 6:7), and once in the simile of the man who "gave authority over his house to his servants" (Mk 13:34), which doubtless is an allusion to the disciples of Jesus. In the three instances where Jesus is not the subject, exousia connotes the conferring of his authority on the disciples. Thus every occurrence of exousia in Mark reflects either directly or indirectly the authority of Jesus. Impressed With Jesus Read: Mark 1:14-28 They were all amazed. —Mark 1:27 No matter where Jesus went during His ministry in the region of the Sea of Galilee, He caused a stir. But most important, He led people to action. Those who observed Him firsthand were moved to do something. Notice how the people responded: Obedience. The fishermen followed Jesus (Mk. 1:18). Amazement. The people marveled at His power over demons (Mk 1:27). Service. Peter’s mother-in-law served the Lord (Mk 1:31). Proclamation. Those who saw Jesus in action told others what He had done (Mk 1:45). We have heard about Jesus so often that we sometimes fail to sense the excitement that the Galilean folks showed. They were genuinely touched by Jesus’ presence, so much so that no matter where He went, there was a crowd. Jesus has done some remarkable things in our lives. He has transformed us from death to life. He has given us the Holy Spirit. He is at God’s right hand praying for us. He is getting our eternal home ready. Praise the Savior, ye who know Him! Who can tell how much we owe Him? Gladly let us render to Him All we are and have. —Kelly When you think of all that Christ has done for you, you'll want to do your best for Him. Mark 1:28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee.

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Spurgeon says "as soon as Jesus had healed the man with an unclean spirit, his fame spread like wildfire. The miracle was reported from mouth to mouth till everybody in that region knew of it. It was said that the words and writings of Martin Luther were carried as by the wings of angels, so speedily was everything that he said and wrote made known far and wide. On this occasion, it was so with our Lord’s wondrous deed of mercy and power: “Immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.” The news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding district of Galilee - "And that was just the start. Go down to verse 39, “He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.” He put on a power display that was shocking. Tragedy was, again, people were always amazed and went to the same hell the terrified demons will occupy forever.The demons knew who He was and couldn’t be saved. The people didn’t believe He was who He claimed to be and wouldn’t be saved. What is necessary is a combination of both. You need to be amazed and terrified. Amazed at such a Savior and terrified at such a judge." (

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Spurgeon - “Forthwith,” or, again, “immediately.” Simon and Andrew and James and John were intimately connected, we are told that they were “partners” in their fishing business. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, seem to have been in a good position in life; we read that their father had “hired servants” employed in the boats. So James and John went with Simon and Andrew into their partners’ house when Christ went there after performing that notable miracle in the synagogue. Christ was a house-to-house missionary, as well as an open-air preacher. There is much good to be done by those who know how to visit, and to look after individual cases; there is great good to be done in that way, as well as by dealing with mankind in the bulk. After they came out of the synagogue - Mark again has Jesus on the move! If you have visited Capernaum, you have probably visited the wonderful ruins of the synagogue and then noticed nearby was a structure called "Peter's House." (Watch a video - the speaker is standing in the ruins of the synagogue) See picture above of the ruins at Capernaum that many think represent Peter's house.

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Spurgeon reminds us "There were at least four of Christ’s followers in the house, yet the mother of the wife of one of them lay sick of a fever. Grace does not prevent suffering in the body; there will still be physical diseases even though in the soul there is spiritual health." As noted below in the word study on fever, this word derives from pur which means fire and would suggest not just a minor elevation above 98.6 F but that her body was "on fire" with elevated temperature. To speculate on the etiology would be futile (although I am tempted with my background as a physician with specialty in infectious diseases!) Mother-in-law (3994)(penthera) means a wife's mother, the mother of one's spouse. 5x in NT - Matt. 8:14; Matt. 10:35; Mk. 1:30; Lk. 4:38; Lk. 12:53 12x in Septuagint (Lxx) most often of Ruth's mother-in-law Naomi - Deut. 27:23; Ruth 1:14; Ruth 2:11; Ruth 2:18; Ruth 2:19; Ruth 2:21; Ruth 2:23; Ruth 3:1; Ruth 3:6; Ruth 3:16; Ruth 3:17; Mic. 7:6; Lying sick (2621)(katakeimai from katá = down + keímai = lie outstretched) means to lie down, lie prostrate, often with the implication of some degree of incapacity (Mk 1:30; cf Mk 2:4; Lk 5:25; Acts 9:33; Acts 28:8). Of a sick person like Peter's mother-in-law who was “down sick.” It was used colloquially of the sick, “down sick.” The papyri give us, “the blows caused me to be laid up with sickness,” and “she is laid up.” Used 12x in NT (Mk. 1:30; Mk. 2:4; Mk. 2:15; Mk. 14:3; Lk. 5:25; Lk. 5:29; Lk. 7:37; Jn. 5:3; Jn. 5:6; Acts 9:33; Acts 28:8; 1 Co. 8:10) Bob

Marcos 1

Spurgeon - Very interesting is this little peek into the house of the Apostolic Fisherman. We see at once that household joys and cares are no hindrance to the full exercise of ministry, nay, that since they furnish an opportunity for personally witnessing the Lord's gracious work upon one's own flesh and blood, they may even instruct the teacher better than any other earthly discipline. Papists may decry marriage, but true Christianity and household life agree well together. Peter's house was probably a poor fisherman's hut (ED: ACTUALLY IT MAY HAVE BEEN SUBSTANTIAL AS THEY HAD A PROFITABLE BUSINESS PRIOR TO BEING CALLED INTO TO FOLLOW JESUS), but the Lord of Glory entered it, lodged in it, and wrought a miracle in it. Should our little book be read this morning in some very humble cottage, let this fact encourage the inmates to seek the company of King Jesus. God is oftener in little huts than in rich palaces. Jesus is looking round your room now, and is waiting to be gracious to you. Into Simon's house sickness had entered, fever in a deadly form had prostrated his mother-in-law, and as soon as Jesus came they told him of the sad affliction, and he hastened to the patient's bed. Have you any sickness in the house this morning? You will find Jesus by far the best physician, go to him at once and tell him all about the matter. Immediately lay the case before him. It concerns one of his people, and therefore will not be trivial to him. Observe, that at once the Saviour restored the sick woman; none can heal as he does. We may not make sure that the Lord will at once remove all disease from those we love, but we may know that believing prayer for the sick is far more likely to be followed by restoration than anything else in the world; and where this avails not, we must meekly bow to his will by whom life and death are determined. The tender heart of Jesus waits to hear our griefs, let us pour them into his patient ear. Mark 1:31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them. taking her by the hand: Mk 5:41 Ac 9:41 she waited on them: Mk 15:41 Ps 103:1-3 116:12 Mt 27:55 Lu 8:2,3 Mark 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries HEALED ONE SERVES THE ONE WHO SERVED HER! We could subtitle this verse "Jesus Loves Mother-In-Laws." And He came to (proserchomai - approached with prefix pros = faced) her and raised her up taking her by the hand, and the fever left her - The Greek order is, “He lifted her up, having taken hold of her hand.” Parallel Passages have slight variation in details - Matthew 8:15 says "He touched her hand, and the fever left her; and she got up and waited on Him." A tender scene! Luke gives the doctor's version of Jesus "standing over her, He rebuked (epitimao = same verb for rebuking the demon Mk 1:25, Lk 4:39, 41; same verb used by Matthew to describe Jesus rebuking "the winds and the sea" in Mt 8:26, 27) the fever, and it left her; and she immediately got up and waited on them." (Luke 4:39+) Notice Jesus uses no "holy water," no spells, no incantations. There are two aspects to His healing - His touch and His rebuke, and with both the fever left which would indicate that He most likely did both actions simultaneously - a touch and a word from Jesus was all she needed to be restored to full health! It was immediate and she needed no time to recuperate! This was a healing miracle and it shows us Jesus' compassion and His power/authority over natural forces (fever/illness). There is an old popular song entitled "Just One Touch" and that is applicable to Jesus in the past in Capernaum, Jesus exerting His power and authority over our lives in our present day and then forever and ever, for He is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow (Heb 13:8+). It is worth noting that often Jesus' miracles were as much for the disciples as for the recipient, for remember He is training them to be fishers of men. THOUGHT - If there is a principle here, it is that before you seek to minister to the world, minister first to your mother-in-law. You see, if your Christianity doesn’t work in your home, then it doesn’t work - don’t export it. (John Stevenson) Notice that Jesus had to minister to her before she could minister to Him and to others. That is always true. THOUGHT - He came. Don’t you love that Christ comes close to us in our time of need? Luke tells us that he came and “stood over her.” He didn’t stay at a distance but came near. Our greatest need when we’re hurting is to experience His presence. I love Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and is attentive to their cry.” He touched. Jesus could have snapped his fingers or just said a word but instead He took her by the hand. Jesus did the same with the blind man in Mark 8:23: “He took the blind man by the hand.” There’s power in touch, isn’t there? It was a big deal for Jesus to touch her because according to the Talmud (a Jewish commentary on the Old Testament), touching anyone with a fever would have rendered one unclean. But with Jesus, the touch did not defile the healer, but healed the defiled! When Jesus touches someone, everything changes! He lifted. I love that Jesus lifted her up. He came down so He could lift her up. She couldn’t get up on her own. Listen to 1 Samuel 2:8: “He raises up the poor from the dust; he lifts the needy from the ash heap.” (Brian Bill) Jesus had just performed a miracle in His Father's House; now He would perform a miracle in a Friend's House. David Thompson comments that "Jesus could have healed her any way He wanted. He had just commanded an unclean spirit to leave a man and it did, so He did not have to take her by the hand; but that is what He did. This shows us the tenderness of Christ’s healing touch. This is the actual hand of God touching the hand of a sinful, sick woman. As soon as Christ touched her life, she served them. That is what Christ’s touch on our lives should do; cause us to serve Him." (Sermon) Raised (1453)(egeiro) is used figuratively here meaning to "raise up" from illness, and restoring to health. Same verb used of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead (Jn 12:1,9, 17). The use in James 5:15+ is similar to Mark 1:31 - "the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise (egeiro) him up." Taking (2902)(krateo) means to take hold of, often forcibly, as when grasping someone. Fever (4446)(puretos from pur = fire) means fever, high temperature, feverish or "fiery" heat, burning heat. 6x in NT - Mt 8:15; Mk 1:31; Lk 4:38; Lk 4:39; Jn 4:52; Acts 28:8 Left (863)(aphiemi from apo = prefix speaks of separation, putting some distance between + hiemi = put in motion, send) conveys the basic idea of an action which causes separation and means to send from one's self. Aphiemi is the same verb used to forgive sins (send them away like the Scapegoat in the wilderness in Lev 16:10+ [Lxx uses aphiemi] on the day of atonement) as when Jesus forgave sins (e.g., Mt 9:2). One gets a picture of Jesus "sending" the fever away (so to speak)! This same verb is used 4x in chapter 1 - Mk 1:18, Mk 1:20, Mk 1:31, Mk 1:34 (not permitting). THOUGHT - Bell applies this healing - "Peter’s house became a place of healing for the whole city! How important it is for us to “take Jesus home with us” after we have worshiped. The Lord met the need in the home, then used the home to meet the needs of others THOUGHT - All our homes at some time or another become homes of grief. But if Jesus is a guest, how richly He pays for His entertainment! For when we tell Him, somehow or other the burden is lifted. Not that the sickness, or whatever be the particular cause of anxiety, is at once removed, but the pain and grief are assuaged, and a blessed peace fills the soul. How can the effect be better expressed than in the words the evangelist uses about Peter's wife's mother—"the fever left her"? That is exactly it! In the midst of our troubles and grief, when we feel the healing, cooling touch of Christ, the fever—the ache, the pain—passes out of our souls. (J D Jones Mark Commentary) INSTANT RECOVERY WITH NO CONVALESCENCE And she waited on them - Jesus had "waited on" her and now she waits on Him! Waited on is in the imperfect tense depicting her doing one thing and another for them (you can see her serving each plate for example). Today believers have been spiritually healed to serve, saved in order to serve! Are you serving Jesus? When you think of all that Christ has done for you, you'll want to do your best for Him. Brooks writes "The Mother-in-law is presented simply as a model of discipleship, which requires lowly service from all, male and female. By including accounts of the healing of women as well as men, Mark implies that Jesus was concerned about all people, including those who have a lowly place in society.” Waited on (1247) (diakoneo - derivation uncertain - cp diakonis = in the dust laboring or running through the dust or possibly diako = to run on errands; see also study of related noun - diakonia) means to minister by way of rendering service in any form or to take care of by rendering humble service. It is the word Martha uses when she informs the Lord that Mary has let her down, leaving her to serve alone (Lk 10:40+ = "left me to do all the serving alone." Uses in Mark - Mk. 1:13; Mk. 1:31; Mk. 10:45; Mk. 15:41. "The verb is in the imperfect tense, showing progressive action. She went to serving them. It took some time to prepare the meal." (Wuest) THOUGHT - The end of Mark 1:31 implies that she served them immediately: “and she began to serve them.” Have you ever recovered quickly after a fever? It generally takes some recuperation time, doesn’t it? Your bones ache, you feel weak and all you want to do is sleep. Especially for us men. Have you heard about the “Man Flu”? It’s an illness that causes the male to be helpless and sicker than any other family member. I’m told that in females it’s called a cold. But for Peter’s mother-in-law she was completely helpless and sicker than any other family member. And yet, there was no recovery time. She didn’t get better gradually. She was healed and went right into helper mode. Anytime you encounter Jesus the natural response is to serve Him! This word for “serve” is the word we get “deacon” from. It literally means to “wait on tables” and was also used of the angels ministering to Jesus at the end of His terrible temptation in the wilderness in Mark 1:13. We have been saved to serve, healed to help and touched so that we touch others. Spurgeon - Jesus was very calm; he was not afraid of catching the fever. See how deliberately, and with what solemn, kindly dignity he deals with this sick woman: “He came and took her by the hand.” I think I see him doing it “and lifted her up.” He gently raises her, and she yields to his tender uplifting hand, and suddenly finds herself cooled of the burning fever, and perfectly restored to health and strength; so she rises from her bed, and the first thing she does is to minister unto them. I am sure that, whenever the Lord helps any of his people out of their temporal or spiritual distresses, they feel at once that they must say, “What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward us?” Her ministering unto them proved that the fever was quite gone, and gone in a way in which it does not ordinarily go; for, as you all know, fever usually leaves behind it extreme weakness. It seems to burn up the strength that is in one; and after it is gone, one is not fit even to wait at table for a long while. But Peter’s wife’s mother immediately when the fever was gone, rose and “ministered unto them.” Christ’s cures are always complete. If he saves us from the burning fever, he saves us from the weakness that follows it, and when he deals with soul maladies, his cures are equally complete, there are no after-affects to the soul as there are in many diseases that afflict the body. When the great Physician restores the soul, he restores it completely. THOUGHT - H A

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Spurgeon - It was the Sabbath, and they would not even bring out their sick folk until the day of rest was over. The Jewish Sabbath ended at the setting of the sun, so these people were all watching and waiting until the sun dipped below the horizon, and then, straightaway, they brought their suffering ones to Jesus. What a mass of misery filled the streets of Capernaum that memorable night! The whole city was turned into a hospital.

Marcos 1

Spurgeon - It seemed as if everybody had come either to be healed or to witness the healing of others: “All the city was gathered together at the door.” Oh, when shall we see our places of worship thronged in this fashion with the spiritually sick? When will this great city of London begin to turn towards the Lord Jesus Christ? Will any of us live to see all our fellow-citizens gathered together around the Saviour to be healed by him of all the wounds that sin hath made? Had gathered (perfect tense - they were not leaving!) (1996)(episunago from epi = on, upon, near + sunago = to lead or bring together; related = episunagoge = a gathering together - 2Th 2:1, Heb 10:25, cf sunagoge) means to lead or bring together upon a place. It literally means “to go with others and settle down together in a group. In passive sense to gather or come together (Mk 1:33). Twice Jesus used this verb in description of birds - of a hen gathering her chicks (Mt 23:37) and of vultures gathering over a dead body (Lk 17:37). To gather together people in a place - to assemble, to convene (Mk 13:27). Hiebert - Had gathered is in the perfect tense and pictures the crowd, having previously flocked to the door, now forming a dense mass as they waited for the Healer to get to them.

Marcos 1

Spurgeon - They would persist in acknowledging him; perhaps with the design of injuring his cause, for nothing hurts the cause of Christ more than to have it praised by bad men or evil spirits. I do not know that an outrageous sinner, if he will not repent, can do Christ a better turn than to abuse him for then he is speaking after his own natural manner but when the devil or his servants go into the pulpit, and begin to speak in praise of Christ, then is Christ’s cause in an evil case indeed; so he “suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him;” or, as the margin puts it, even to say that they knew him.” Brian Bell - Before we assume that all these people were putting their faith in Jesus, it must be pointed out that many just wanted a miracle. They wanted relief from pain and affliction but weren’t ready to repent and receive salvation. While Jesus healed many who were sick and cast out demons, He came for a different purpose....He extended mercy but He was also on mission. He was merciful and missional. I love the progression here that corresponds with our 4Gs. We’re to gather with God’s people to worship and then bring Jesus home with us so that we grow in our faith. We then give to others by serving and finally we go with the gospel to our neighbors and to the nations. (Sermon) "Healer" Sung by Kari Jobe You hold my every moment You calm my raging seas You walk with me through fire And heal all my disease I trust in You, I trust in You I believe You're my healer I believe You are all I need I believe And I believe You're my portion I believe You're more than enough for me Jesus You're all I need You hold my every moment You calm my raging seas You walk with me through fire And heal all my disease I trust in You, Lord I trust in You I believe You're my healer I believe You are all I need Oh, I believe I believe You're my portion I believe You're more than enough for me Jesus You're all I need Nothing is impossible for You Nothing is impossible Nothing is impossible for You You hold my world in Your hands Nothing is impossible for You Nothing is impossible Nothing is impossible for You You hold my world in Your hands I believe You're my healer I believe You are all I need Oh, yes You are, yes You are And I believe You're my portion Lord I believe You're more than enough for me Jesus You're all I need More than enough for me Jesus You're all I need You're my healer Related Resources: Six Characteristics of Jesus' Healing Ministry - John MacArthur (He is a cessationist) What does the Bible say about healing? - Gotquestions (Multiple other resources related to healing) Multiple Resources on Healing from Desiringgod.org - John Piper (He is a continuationist) Brian Bell has some great ACTION STEPS - Let’s allow this passage to percolate in our lives. Here are some action steps. 1. Don’t allow your in-laws to become out-laws. Is there anything you need to do to reconcile this relationship? 2. Live out your faith wherever you are. Are you helping your children learn about Jesus? Are you taking Jesus to your workplace? Have you invited Him into your hobbies, your sports, and other activities? Do you take him to your campus with you? 3. Ask the Healer to bring healing to you and others. Sometimes Jesus heals miraculously. Other times he does it through doctors and medicine and surgeries. And sometimes we won’t receive healing until we’re in heaven. Let’s not be like Asa, who neglected to ask for healing in 2 Chronicles 16:12: “Yet even in his disease he did not seek the LORD, but sought help from physicians.” 4. Find somewhere to serve. The question should never be whether you will serve. The real question is where and when will you serve? We have not been lifted up only to lie back down. You can help us achieve our mission by serving in the Nursery, Children’s Ministry, Student Ministry, Celebrate Recovery, going on the mission trip to Puerto Rico, Pregnancy Resources or World Relief or someplace else in the community. The possibilities are endless because the needs are unending. If you’re saved, settle this truth: you’re a servant. 5. Repurpose your home as headquarters for ministry. Practice hospitality. Reach out to your neighbors. What one event can you plan within the next three months to use your home as a place for people to learn about God’s grace? What about a fall bonfire or a Cookie Exchange in December? 6. Ask the Savior to save you. We all have a sickness called sin and Satan is out to destroy us. Our fever is fatal and there’s no way we can help ourselves. We’ve fallen and we can’t get up. Ask Jesus to come and He’ll come. And He’ll touch you and then lift you up. Repent and receive Him into your life and then follow Him wholeheartedly. He died in your place, taking your punishment, His blood paying the price for all your sins. And then He rose from the dead on the third day, showing His power over sin, sickness and Satan! Steven Cole on why Jesus performed miracles - There were several reasons for Jesus’ miracles. First, they authenticate His person and teaching, proving Him to be the Messiah sent by the Father (see Luke 7:20-22). Second, the miracles show us who Jesus is. He feeds the 5,000 and claims to be the bread of life. He claims to be the light of the world and opens the eyes of a man born blind. Third, the miracles give symbolic lessons of spiritual truth. The sick and the dead represent the human race, broken under sin. Without Christ, they are helpless. But when He speaks the word, they are instantly cured. Thus the miracles show us God’s great gift of salvation. Finally, the miracles show us either implicitly or explicitly how we should respond to Jesus Christ. We must come to Him in our utter helplessness and cast ourselves totally on His mercy and power. The miracles also warn us how not to come to Jesus, since many sought after Him not so that they could follow Him as Lord, but just to use Him for their own selfish purposes. An evil and adulterous generation seeks after miracles. Let me give some brief guidelines about seeking God’s miraculous healing today. First, check your motive. God’s glory, not your comfort, should be foremost (Phil. 1:20). Second, submit to the Lord, who knows better than you do what is best in any situation. Paul thought it would be best to get rid of the thorn in his flesh. God knew otherwise (2 Cor. 12:7-10). Third, don’t limit God by unbelief (Mark 6:5, 6). God is able to do the impossible, if it’s His will. So, pray for miraculous healing, believing that God is able, but recognize that it may not be His will. Fourth, look for the spiritual lessons God is trying to teach you in the trial. There may be a sin you need to confess (James 5:13-16). You may need to learn to trust God in a greater way (2 Cor. 1:8, 9). You may need to learn to focus more on the things above and the hope of heaven (Col. 3:1-4). You may need to rearrange your priorities (Matt. 6:33). God uses affliction to conform us to the image of His Son, and so instant, miraculous healing is often not His will. (Jesus Lord Over All) J C Ryle on the demons knowing Who Jesus was - We learn from these verses, the uselessness of a mere intellectual knowledge of religion . Twice we are specially told that the unclean spirits know our Lord. In one place it says, "they knew Him." to another, the devil cries out, "I know you who you are, the Holy One of God." They knew Christ, when Scribes were ignorant of Him, and Pharisees would not acknowledge Him. And yet their knowledge was not unto salvation. The mere belief of the facts and doctrines of Christianity will never save our souls. Such belief is no better than the belief of devils. They all believe and know that Jesus is the Christ. They believe that he will one day judge the world, and cast them down to endless torment in hell. It is a solemn and sorrowful thought, that on these points some professing Christians have even less faith than the devil. There are some who doubt the reality of hell and the eternity of punishment. Such doubts as these find no place except in the hearts of self-willed men and women. There is no infidelity among devils. "They believe and tremble." (James 2:19.) Let us take heed that our faith be a faith of the heart as well as of the head. Let us see that our knowledge has a sanctifying influence on our affections and our lives. Let us not only know Christ but love Him, from a sense of actual benefit received from Him. Let us not only believe that he is the Son of God and the Savior of the world, but rejoice in Him, and cleave to Him with purpose of heart. Let us not only be acquainted with Him by the hearing of the ear, but by daily personal application to Him for mercy and grace. "The life of Christianity," says Luther, "consists in possessive pronouns." It is one thing to say "Christ is a Savior." It is quite another to say "He is my Savior and my Lord." The devil can say the first. The true Christian alone can say the second. Geoff Thomas on Miracles - The Bible covers four thousand years of history, and the number of miracles performed by men of God are few, and far between. The Church of Rome has canonised tens of thousands of men and women, making them saints, solemnly announcing to the world that those people have left purgatory and have finally got to heaven. One of the qualifications for being pronounced a ‘saint’ by the Vatican is that a miracle has been performed by that person in answer to prayer being made to that saint for supernatural healing. So miracles in the church of Rome both through their saints and at their places of pilgrimage are fairly commonplace. They are not commonplace in the Bible. Again what has been happening in India this month? Thousands of people have been flocking to a church building in southern India. “A good thing,” you say. But why? To hear the gospel preached? No. A woman called Sheela Antony had prepared traditional Indian flat bread, called chapati, and gave some to her children. Her daughter refused to eat it saying it was burnt. Then Mrs Antony picked up the chapati and noticed the burn mark on the side of the bread. “It looks like Christ!” she cried, and when she showed it to her neighbours they agreed; “It looks like Jesus!” She took it to her parish priest George Jacob and he immediately pronounced that it was a miracle. He put the chapati in a glass case, it was shown in national television and soon thousands of people, including many Muslims and Hindus began to make the journey to Bangalore to see the chapati: “We believe in miracles. Devotees are feeling blessed at witnessing it,” said Father Jacob. 20,000 people are now besieging the Renewal Retreat Centre to catch a glimpse of the ‘miracle chapati’, which is just a burnt piece of bread. (The Times, 18 November, 2002). Fascination with miracles is no evidence of faith in Christ. “An unbelieving and adulterous generation is always looking for signs,” said the Lord Jesus when he refused to perform any miracles for the people. So-called ‘miracles’ are also very common in the religions of the world, but they are not common in the Bible. From the completion of the creation until the moment when Moses and Aaron appeared before Pharaoh, a period of thousands of years, no miracles are recorded. Then there stretches out a period of half a century when a number of divine miracles both of judgment and deliverance take place. They begin with the plagues of Egypt and they last until Jordan is crossed and Joshua’s sun stands still. Another sixteen hundred years of redemptive history pass by, and then there are the miracles of Elijah and Elisha both of deliverance and judgment which last for a decade or two. In Babylon Daniel performed no miracles although there were mighty acts of God manifested there. Then another 900 years pass before our Lord appears and miracles are again confirmed. So we have about 4,000 years during which there were three brief periods where there were miracles. Noah performed no miracles though he served God mightily and was a preacher of righteousness for a century. Enoch walked with God, but he did no mighty works. Abraham, his son and his grandsons performed no miracles; Joseph did no miracles in Egypt; Samuel performed no miracles; David, the greatest of the kings of Israel, wrote the 23rd psalm and other inspired writings, but he performed no miracles; Isaiah was the wonderful evangelical prophet, but he performed no miracles, and neither did Jeremiah and Ezekiel nor the other prophets. Hezekiah’s reformation was not accompanied by miraculous gifts. The reformers, Ezra and Nehemiah, performed no miracles. God gave no such gifts to those men. All this, of course, is history and it is saying to us plainly that miracles were few and far between during the mighty works of God in Bible times. The periods when God restored miraculous gifts to Old Testament leaders were not times of unusual blessing. They were not connected to revivals of religions. When the Son of God, the promised Messiah appears and begins his public ministry a flood of miracles is immediately let loose especially on the province of Galilee, from the first ones at the wedding in Cana and the healing of this older woman of her fever right through to the very end, that is, to the night before Golgotha when the Lord Jesus restored Malchus’ ear, cut off by Simon Peter’s sword. There was never any waning of Jesus’ power nor of his willingness to answer those who came to him for help. As many as thirty of Jesus’ miracles are described for us in the four gospels. The total number is far greater. We are told in verse 33 of many anonymous sick and dying people whom the Lord Jesus healed in Capernaum. There are also those words of John informing us that, “Jesus did many other miraculous signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book.” (Jn. 20:30). So miracles are rare in the Scriptures themselves, but there is a superabundance of them in the ministry of Christ and his apostles. (Sermon) Daniel Akin on why Jesus was not permitting the demons to speak (cf Mark 1:34; 3:12; 5:43; 7:36; 8:26, 30; 9:9) - This raises an important and interesting issue discussed by both believing and unbelieving ("CRITICAL") scholars called “The Messianic Secret.” James Edwards helps us to see why the question was raised in the first place when he writes, On three occasions demons are enjoined to silence (Mark 1:25; 1:34; 3:11). Jesus commands silence after four miracles (cleansing of a leper, Mk 1:44; raising of a dead girl, Mk 5:43; healing of a deaf-mute, Mk 7:36; healing of blind man, Mk 8:26). Twice the disciples are commanded to silence (Mk 8:30; 9:9). Twice Jesus withdraws from crowds to escape detection (Mk 7:24; Mk 9:30). Beyond these explicit admonitions to secrecy, Mark implies secrecy in other aspects of Jesus’ public ministry. But, ironically, the command to silence often results in the opposite: “the more he [commanded to silence], the more they kept talking about it” (Mk 7:36; Mk 1:45;Mk 5:20; Mk 7:24). (p. 63). When one considers the historical context, Messianic expectations and the nature of how the Kingdom has come and will grow, several observations can be made about this interesting phenomenon. Why did Jesus hide and conceal His Messiahship during His ministry? 1) To avoid the impression of being a mere miracle worker (a divine man) or magician since so many commands to silence accompany a miraculous work. 2) To avoid unnecessary and unhelpful publicity in order to have more moments of private teaching and peace with His disciples. 3) To avoid the mistaken idea of the type of Messiah he would be. His Messiahship was to be manifested through service and suffering, not sensational displays of miraculous activity which would excite political messianic fever. 4) To express His humility as the Suffering Servant of the Lord. 6 5) To inform us that only through the medium of faith (ultimately in a crucified and humiliated Jesus of Nazareth) is His Messiahship personally apprehended. (cf. I Corinthians 1-2). 6) To avoid recognition from an undesirable source such as the demonic. 7) To point to the hostility of the religious and political leadership and to mark clearly Jesus’ own choice of the destined hour of His passion. The idea that this is a Markan creation to explain why Jesus was not recognized as Messiah prior to the Easter event is untenable and should be rejected as liberal conjecture grounded in an anti-supernatural bias. That Hebrews rooted in Jewish monotheism would have conceived of, much less fabricated, Jesus as Messiah in terms of His divine Sonship is simply not believable. No, the Messianic Secret arose from Jesus Himself, and His self conscious identification with Isaiah’s Suffering Servant of the Lord and the need to guard his messianic identity from premature and false understandings. He was the Messiah, but He was not the kind of Messiah the 1st century world hoped for. However, He was the kind of Messiah that world, indeed the whole world, truly and genuinely needed. Our greatest need is not sickness but sin, not demons but death. No, we needed a Messiah who would give his life as a ransom, a payment, for sinners like you and me. Praise God, he sent us the kind of Messiah we needed! Henry Blackaby - DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING We are an industrious people. We always want to accomplish something. The idea of doing God's will sounds exciting. Once in a while, someone says, “Don't just stand there—do something.” Sometimes individuals or churches are so busy carrying out plans they think will help achieve God's purposes that they don't bother to find out what He actually wants. We often wear ourselves out and accomplish little for the kingdom of God. I think God is crying out to us: “Don't just do something. Stand there! Enter into a love relationship with Me. Get to know Me. Adjust your life to Me. Let Me love you and teach you about Myself as I work through you.” A time will come when action is required, but we must not short-circuit the relationship (Ps. 37:7). Your relationship with God must come first. Out of your walk with God, He accomplishes His plans for our world. Jesus said, “I am the vine; you are the branches. The one who remains in Me and I in him produces much fruit, because you can do nothing without Me.” (John 15:5). Do you believe that without Him you can do nothing? Sure, you can keep yourself busy. You can immerse yourself in activities, programs, meetings, and events, but they will not have any lasting value for God's kingdom. The apostle Paul warned that one day every person's work would be tested by fire to see if it was done according to God's will and divine power (1 Cor. 3:13). The activities God will commend in the final judgment will be those which He initiated. If you are experiencing a time of spiritual dryness in your life, you may be trying to do things on your own that God has not initiated. However, when you abide in Christ, you will be amazed at what God accomplishes through your life. God wants you to gain a greater knowledge of Him by experience. That's what abiding in Him will do for you. He wants a love relationship with you, and He wants to involve you in His kingdom work. He alone can initiate His plans. He wants your involvement, but you cannot do it for Him. When you believe Him and do as He directs, then He will accomplish His work through you. Jesus had advice for those who wearied themselves trying to do things in their own strength: “Come to Me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. All of you, take up My yoke and learn from Me, because I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for yourselves. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light” (Matt. 11:28-30). A yoke was an instrument built for two oxen to work together in tandem. Often farmers would pair up an experienced animal with a younger ox. Thus the younger one could learn from the seasoned animal. Jesus' invitation is for you to join up with Him—to walk alongside Him and follow His lead. When you labor where He is already at work, He accomplishes His purposes through you. The experience is not meant to be exhausting or burdensome, but exhilarating and fulfilling. Sadly, the chronic ailment of Christians today is burnout, particularly among pastors and those in Christian ministry. They grow weary doing things for God in their own strength. Yet Jesus promised that those who walk alongside Him and work with Him will find rest for their souls. God has more than enough knowledge, power, and resources to accomplish whatever He desires. Our involvement—at His invitation—is a privilege that should invigorate us and keep us close to Him. If you are worn out or stressed by your “Christian duties,” perhaps you are not properly yoked to your Master. (Chapter 3 - Doing God's Will - Experiencing God) Mark 1:35 In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. morning. Mk 6:48. 13:35. 16:2. Ge 19:27. 28:18. Jdg 6:38. 9:33. 2 Sa 23:4. 2 Ki 3:22. Job 1:5. Ps 5:3. 130:6. Isa 26:9. Lk 24:1. Jn 20:1. Jesus got up. Mk 6:46-48. Ps 5:3. 109:4. Lk 4:42. 6:12. 22:39-46. Jn 4:34. 6:15. Ep 6:18. Php 2:5. Heb 5:7. early 1 Sa 1:19. Ps 63:1. 78:34. Is 26:9. left. Lk 6:12. secluded place. Ps 107:4-7. Mt 14:23. Lk 5:16. 9:18. praying. Mk 6:46. Ps 109:4. Mt 11:25. 26:39. Lk 3:21. 10:21. 11:1. 22:32. 23:34, 46. Jn 11:41. 17:9. Heb 5:7. Mark 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries DON'T JUST DO SOMETHING SIT THERE! Parallel Passage in Luke 4:42+ - When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were searching for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them. In the early morning, while it was still dark - Ask the when questions? The first answer is easy - early morning. But then ask what morning? This is the morning after the busiest day recorded in the life of Jesus! He must have been literally exhausted for He was fully man, a man just like us. And so He goes to spend time with His Father for rest and revival. THOUGHT - What do you do after a busy day of ministry? Watch a movie? Take a nap? Next time try sitting a the feet of your Lord and see what a difference it makes in the rest of your week. Luke has when day came. So it must have been just as the first morning light breaks into the total darkness, especially in a "wilderness" (secluded) place away from any city lighting. Early morning refers to the last watch of the night from three to six A.M. Morning has broken like the first morning Blackbird has spoken like the first bird Praise for the singing Praise for the morning Praise for them springing fresh from the world Early morning (4404)(proi from pro = before) is an adverb of time closely paralleling our English word early or the phrase in the morning. Proi means early, in the (early) morning; in Jewish time reckoning, the last watch of the night. Mark used the term proi to refer to the fourth watch of the night, the hours from 3 to 6 a.m. Mark 13:35 = "Therefore, be on the alert (gregoreuo in present imperative calling for reliance on the Holy Spirit to obey) –for you do not know when the master of the house is coming, whether in the evening, at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning (LAST WATCH)." Mark 15:1 = Early in the morning the chief priests with the elders and scribes and the whole Council, immediately held a consultation; and binding Jesus, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pilate. Proi - 12x - Matt. 16:3; Matt. 20:1; Matt. 21:18; Mk. 1:35; Mk. 11:20; Mk. 13:35; Mk. 15:1; Mk. 16:2; Mk. 16:9; Jn. 18:28; Jn. 20:1; Acts 28:23 Proi is used over 180x in the Septuagint so only the uses in Genesis and Psalms are listed - Gen. 1:5; Gen. 1:8; Gen. 1:13; Gen. 1:19; Gen. 1:23; Gen. 1:31; Gen. 19:27; Gen. 20:8; Gen. 21:14; Gen. 22:3; Gen. 24:54; Gen. 26:31; Gen. 28:18; Gen. 29:25; Gen. 31:55; Gen. 32:24; Gen. 40:6; Gen. 41:8; Gen. 44:3 Ps. 5:3; Ps. 30:5; Ps. 46:5; Ps. 49:14; Ps. 55:17; Ps. 59:16; Ps. 88:13; Ps. 90:5; Ps. 90:6; Ps. 90:14; Ps. 92:2; Ps. 143:8; Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place - Got up is anistemi which means to arise and is the same verb used by Jesus Himself teaching that He would be killed (crucified) and "after three days arise again (anistemi)" (Mk 8:31) an event that also occurred early one Sunday morning (cf Mk 16:2 = "Very early [proi] on the first day of the week, they came to the tomb when the sun had risen [anistemi].", Jn 20:1 = "Now on the first day of the week Mary Magdalene came early [proi] to the tomb, while it was still dark, and saw the stone already taken away from the tomb.")! Hallelujah! Secluded place is the same Greek word eremos translated earlier as wilderness, the place of His temptations by the devil (Mk 1:12-13+, cf Mt 4:1+) and the site of the ministry of John the Baptist (Mk 1:3-4+)! The only other passage that has early morning describes Ezra the priest reading the Word of God to the people Then Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly of men, women and all who could listen with understanding, on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it before the square which was in front of the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of men and women, those who could understand; and all the people were attentive to the book of the law. (Nehemiah 8:2-3) The related phrase early in the morning is used 33x in the Bible with some interesting associations - Gen. 19:27; Gen. 20:8; Gen. 21:14; Gen. 22:3; Gen. 28:18; Gen. 31:55; Exod. 8:20; Exod. 9:13; Exod. 24:4; Exod. 34:4; Jos. 3:1; Jos. 6:12; Jos. 7:16; Jos. 8:10; Jdg. 6:28; Jdg. 19:5; Jdg. 19:8; 1 Sam. 1:19; 1 Sam. 15:12; 1 Sam. 17:20; 1 Sam. 29:10; 2 Ki. 3:22; 2 Ki. 19:35; 2 Chr. 20:20; Job 1:5; Prov. 27:14; Isa. 5:11; Isa. 37:36; Matt. 20:1; Mk. 15:1; Lk. 21:38; Lk. 24:22; Jn. 8:2 And was praying there - Praying is in the imperfect tense which pictures Jesus as praying through the early morning hours. What is He praying? The Gospels do not tell us, but the context at least gives us a clue, for Mark 1:38 says " so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” So it is at least a reasonable assumption to say that Jesus to some degree was praying in preparation for preaching -- praying for spiritual power, praying for ears and hearts to be open to spiritual truth (because of 1 Cor 2:14+, Lk 24:45+), etc. If this is the case, it is a good pattern for all preachers of the Word to seek to set aside time to saturate their preparation for preaching with prayer before the presentation of their preaching, so that the Spirit might touch them and their message with sacred anointing from the Lord God! (See quote from Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones - Sacred Anointing - then Listen to the 5 minute exhortation The Missing Presence of God by Dr Martyn Lloyd Jones) In the Lord’s service we cannot “run on empty”! Jesus shows us “to give out you must take in!”

Marcos 1

Spurgeon - While it was yet dark, he stole away even from his favored disciples that he might be alone with his Father. Look no man in the face till thou hast seen the face of God. Speak thou with none till thou hast had speech with the Most High. C H Spurgeon Spurgeon - His hard day’s work probably ran on far into the night. Yet, “a great while before day,” he was up at the sacred work of supplication. The more work we have to do with men for God, the longer we ought to be at work with God for men. If you plead with men, you cannot hope to prevail unless you first plead with God. And, inasmuch as our Lord had great success the day before, it teaches us that the greatest success does not release us from the necessity of still waiting upon God. If God has given you much, my brother, go with thy basket, and ask for more. Never stay thy prayer. Increase thy spiritual hunger, and God will increase the richness of the gift he will bestow upon thee. Brian Bell applies this Scripture on Jesus' praying in solitude - Try scheduling time alone w/God at the beginning of the day! Ps.119:147 I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word. Ps.5:3 My voice You shall hear in the morning, O LORD; In the morning I will direct it to You, And I will look up. [David] Ps.88:13 But to You I have cried out, O LORD, And in the morning my prayer comes before You. [sons of Korah] Is.26:9 With my soul I have desired You in the night, Yes, by my spirit within me I will seek You early. One mother heard her 3-year-old daughter answer the phone in the next room, while doing her devotions…"My mom is having her emotions now. Can she call you back?" “Meet Him in the morning if you want Him through the day!”3 5. Stare into His face…& don’t move! [like the camera!] I wonder if daily our faces showed, like the cameras film, registering how much exposure we had to God that day, if we’d be a little more diligent to this important task? (Like Moses w/10 comm) Prayer should end in Action! - When you say Amen, you should hear God yell, Action! At the end of your prayer, when you say AMEN, what ACTION do you do? Do you pray for the sick and then leave it at that? Or do you pray for the sick, and then pick up the phone and call them to let them know you are thinking about them. Do you ask if you can do anything for them? A hot meal brought to their home? Any medicine they need to have picked up? Do you pray for the poor and hope God does something about the poor? Or do you pray and ask God to use you? Do you put actions to your prayer, giving to the poor yourself, or donating food to our CARE Ministry? Do you pray for church/kingdom growth and then hope that God inspires someone to do something about it? Or do you pray and then say as Jesus said, “I have to go somewhere so I can tell someone about the Good News of Jesus.” When you say Amen, you should hear God yell, Action! ILLUSTRATION OF NEED TO REST - Mrs. Lettie Cowman’s book, Springs in the Valley, she shares a tale from African colonial history: It was a century or more ago that in the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long trek. Natives of the area were hired to carry the loads. The first day they marched rapidly and went far. The traveler had high hopes of a speedy journey. But the second morning these jungle tribesmen refused to move. For some strange reason they just sat and rested. When asked about the reason for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too fast the first day, and that they were now Slide#17 waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies. 2 Daniel Akin - It is interesting to note that there are three prayers of Jesus in Mark: 1) At the beginning of the Gospel and His ministry in Galilee when His ministry is being defined. (Mk 1:35) 2) In the middle of the Gospel after the feeding of the five thousand (Mk 6:46). John 6:15 informs us it was at this time the people wanted “to take Him by force to make Him King.” 3) Near the conclusion of the Gospel when He is in Gethsemane. (Mk 14:32-42) – All three prayers take place at a critical moment in the life of our Lord. – The setting for Jesus’ prayer in each instance is darkness and solitude. All three situations recall allusions to the wilderness and the cosmic conflict of our Lord with Satan and the demonic host in their domain and territory. Our Lord finds strength in the private solitude of prayer and intimate fellowship with His Father. What a valuable lesson and insight too many of us neglect! (Sermon) J D Jones on THE POWER ROOM - And let us never forget that what is true of Christ's sermons is also true of Christ's miracles—they cost. Power, one of the evangelists tells us, went forth from Him (Luke 8:46+). Every act of healing was a drain upon His vitality. It cost Him life to restore life to others. Now if that be so He must have been a tired Christ that Sabbath evening. The day had cost Him much in desire and compassion and sympathy, and He might fairly claim to have earned His rest. But it is not of rest we read, but of new and costly activities. (see Mk 1:32,33) All the city at the door, and within a tired Christ! But he makes no mention of weariness. Out of Simon's house into the midst of that pathetic crowd He passes, carrying healing and blessing with Him. What tireless activity is this! Christ spent Himself in the service of men. He lived under the constraint of a great urgency. "We must work the works of Him that sent Me while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work" (John 9:4). And side by side with this picture of Christ in the midst of His activities, we have a picture of Christ in the midst of His devotions. "In the morning, a great while before day, He rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed" (ver. 35, R.V.). There is the most close and intimate connexion between the one picture and the other. I was once taken through the engineering shops in the Devonport dockyard. I saw innumerable machines busy at various kinds of work, most of them making considerable noise in the process. Then my conductor took me to a room which by contrast was almost silent, where a great engine was working smoothly and quietly. "The Power-room" "This," said he, "is the power-room." In that quiet room I found the secret of the multifarious activities of the machines in the various shops. In Mark 1:32-34, Mark has been showing us our Lord's various activities. In Mark 1:35 he takes us to the "power-room." Back of all the activities of the synagogue and the street lay a life of secret prayer. In communion with His Father, Jesus refreshed and renewed Himself for further labour and toil amongst men. "A great while before day"—Jesus made time for prayer! He snatched it from His sleep. An Example for us. What an object-lesson as to the indispensable necessity of prayer! We realise the obligation of service in these days, and consequently we have become very "busy." But are we neglecting the "POWER ROOM"? We must keep the balance true. We must never become too busy to pray. "This kind," said our Lord, "can come out by nothing, save by prayer" (Mark 9:29, R.V.). (Mark Commentary) RETREAT TO A QUIET PLACE In the Walt Disney production of Alice in Wonderland, Alice comes upon the white rabbit and wants to talk to him, but he has no time and, as he scampers away, sings the following song: I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date, I have no time to say good‑bye, hello, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late. When I wave, I lose the time I save. My fuzzy ears and whiskers took me too much time to shave, I run and then I hop, hop, hop, I wish that I could fly. There's danger if I dare to stop And here's the reason why, You see, I' m overdue, I'm in a rabbit stew, Can't even say good‑bye, hello, I'm late, I'm late, I'm late. In this age of fast food, mega-speed computers, around the world information and rapid transit, it is difficult to slow down and spend time with the Lord. Jesus was also tempted to run life in the fast lane. After all, He was only going to be on earth for a limited amount of time. Thirty three years in which to change the world. And the first thirty were spent in a carpenter’s shop. By every modern standard, He ought to have been rushing at breakneck speed. And yet, Jesus knew how to stop. (John Stevenson) Our Demanding Schedules The whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many. —Mark 1:33-34 Today's Scripture: Mark 1:32-39 Is your life too busy? Business deadlines, productivity quotas, and shuttling children to lessons and sporting events can really fill up your schedule. It’s easy to think, If only I didn’t have so many responsibilities, then I could walk in vital union with God. Yet C. S. Lewis wisely points out that no one was busier than Christ. “Our model is the Jesus . . . of the workshop, the roads, the crowds, the clamorous demands and surly oppositions, the lack of all peace and privacy, the interruptions. For this . . . is the Divine life operating under human conditions.” We read of Jesus in Capernaum: “At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. Then He healed many” (Mark 1:32-34). The next day Christ sought out a solitary place and prayed. There He received direction from His Father to pursue a demanding ministry in another place. Our Lord communed with His Father and depended on the Spirit to minister through Him. Reflect & Pray The many tasks we face each day Can burden and oppress, But spending time with God each day Can bring relief from stress. —Sper To keep your life in balance, lean on the Lord. Be Still Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! —Psalm 46:10 Today's Scripture: Psalm 46 As I sat in the dentist’s chair, I braced myself for the drilling that would begin my root canal. I was ready for the worst, and my body language and facial expression exposed my sense of dread. The dentist looked at me and smiled, saying, “It’s okay, Bill. Try to relax.” That isn’t easy to do. It is actually very difficult to try (requiring effort and exertion) to relax (requiring an absence of effort and exertion). Try and relax just don’t seem to fit together—not only in the dentist’s chair, but in the spiritual realm as well. Far too often I don’t limit my efforts of resistance to visits at the dentist’s office. In my relationship with Christ, I find myself not pressing for God’s purposes but for my own interests. In those moments, the hardest thing for me to do is “try to relax” and genuinely trust God for the outcome of life’s trials. Reflect & Pray Lord, we know that true rest can be found only in You. Help us to end our striving and to trust that You will provide. In Your loving arms we find rest. Amen. God knows the future, so we are safe in His hands. Are You Distracted? Martha was distracted with much serving. —Luke 10:40 Today's Scripture: Luke 10:38-42 In data collected from over 20,000 Christians in 139 countries, The Obstacles to Growth Survey found that, on average, more than 40 percent of Christians around the world say they “often” or “always” rush from task to task. About 60 percent of Christians say that it’s “often” or “always” true that the busyness of life gets in the way of developing their relationship with God. It’s clear that busyness does distract us from our fellowship with Him. It seems that Martha too allowed busyness to distract her from spending time with Jesus. When she welcomed Him and His disciples into her home, she was occupied with preparing the food, washing their feet, and making sure they were comfortable. All of these things had to be done, but Luke seems to intimate that Martha’s busyness in preparation degenerated into busywork that distracted her from reflecting on Jesus’ words and enjoying time with Him (Luke 10:38-42). Reflect & Pray Lord, I don’t want to miss out on moments of intimacy with You. Help me not to be so busy that I fail to devote time each day to prayer and reading Your Word. Amen. If you are too busy for God, you are too busy. Spiritual Decompression Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. —1 Peter 5:7 Today's Scripture: Mark 1:35-39 On May 24, 1883, New Yorkers celebrated the completion of the Brooklyn Bridge, the first steel-wire suspension bridge. This engineering feat, however, was not accomplished without sacrifice. To lay the bridge’s giant foundations in the water, huge watertight chambers called “caissons” had to be used. Men would work in them for 8 hours while under tremendous air pressure. Returning to normal atmospheric pressure resulted in terrible symptoms later known as caisson disease. It was discovered that a rapid decrease in air pressure releases tiny nitrogen bubbles in the blood. This cuts off the oxygen supply, resulting in nausea, achy joints, paralysis, and even death. Today, scientists know that the use of a decompression chamber allows a gradual reduction of pressure, which prevents the nitrogen bubbles from forming. Reflect & Pray There is a quiet resting place, Where peace and joy are found; Where burdens may be laid aside And faith and love abound. —Moore Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength. —Isaiah 40:31 Be Still And Know Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth! —Psalm 46:10 Today's Scripture: Psalm 46:1-11 In February 1946, the world’s first general-purpose electronic computer was introduced at the University of Pennsylvania. The Electronic Numerical Integrator and Computer (ENIAC) filled a 30-by-50-foot room, weighed 50 tons, and used enough electricity every second to power a typical home for a week. Today, a pocket calculator contains more computing power than ENIAC did. A decade ago, one observer noted that computers and other hi-tech gadgets have “snuck up on us and we don’t realize it.” He went on to speak of how wonderful it is to go where there are no computers, phones, or radios, or to go to the beach and listen to the waves. Undisturbed stillness has become more elusive and therefore more necessary than ever to seek. The Lord God said, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10). A respite from activity allows us to focus our thoughts on the majesty of God. A quiet place helps us to listen to Him. Away from voice-mail and e-mail, we turn from our daily schedule to His eternal plan. Reflect & Pray Take time to be holy, The world rushes on; Spend much time in secret With Jesus alone. —Longstaff Spending quiet time with God will bring quiet rest from God. Break The Routine When He had sent the multitudes away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray. —Matthew 14:23 Today's Scripture: Mark 1:32-39 When was the last time you read the Bible while sitting under an oak tree? Have you ever prayed while the cool water of a creek ran across your feet? Wouldn’t it be enjoyable to meditate on God’s Word while watching the sun come up over the horizon? It’s not possible, of course, for all of us to do all those things—but it is possible for each of us to break the normal routine of our time alone with God. Sometimes, the habits of our devotional life can get in the way of our growing closer to God. In fact, at times they can grow stale and boring. But there is nothing boring about a God who created the earth in all its splendor and variety. There is no lack of excitement in worshiping a Savior who was willing to die a horrible death for us and pay the penalty for our sins. There is nothing common about being indwelt by the Holy Spirit, who empowers us to accomplish God’s will. So how do we avoid dry devotional times? By breaking the routine of the usual and adding some variety to our personal time alone with God. Reflect & Pray THINKING IT THROUGH Are you spiritually dry? Try changing the routine of your quiet time with the Lord—a different time, place, method, book of the Bible, or topic. Time spent with the Lord is time well spent. In The Morning In the morning . . . He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. —Mark 1:35 Today's Scripture:Mark 1:23-39 Are you so rushed during the day that you find it hard to take even a few minutes to spend with God? Many people set aside time in the early morning before they get caught up in the hectic pace of the day. I read about a very busy man who somehow manages to find time for giving the day a spiritual jump-start. He’s Dr. Ben Carson, chief of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, a position he assumed in 1984 when he was only 33 years old. Here’s Carson’s testimony about the value of putting spiritual things first: “I’ve found that having a morning ritual—meditation or some quiet reading time—can set the tone for the whole day. Every morning, I spend a half-hour reading the Bible, especially the book of Proverbs. There’s so much wisdom there. During the day, if I encounter a frustrating situation, I think back to one of the verses that I read that morning.” Jesus faced busy days filled with demanding crowds of people. In Mark’s gospel we read, “In the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed” (1:35). Reflect & Pray In the stillness of the morning, Before a busy day of care, How sweet to be alone with God Through His holy Word and prayer. —Anderson Let Christ be first in your thoughts in the morning, and last in your thoughts at night. Mark 1:36 Simon and his companions searched for Him; Mark 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries SEARCHING EAGERLY FOR JESUS This is always a good thing to have a "search party," to search eagerly for Jesus! Simon and his companions searched for Him - Luke 4:42+ records that The crowds were searching (epizeteo in the imperfect tense = over and over - vivid picture of their search) for Him. Undoubtedly they were seeking more miracles! Mark uses the verb katedioko which means to search for eagerly, to hunt for, to track down. One gets a picture of hounds running through the woods tracking down the fox! Swete comments that "“Simon’s intention at least was good; the Master seemed to be losing precious opportunities and must be brought back." THOUGHT - "They pursued after Him." What an illustration this is of the difficulties of communion! "Scarcely can we turn aside," our hymn says, "for one brief hour of prayer." Jesus could "scarcely turn aside." It was with difficulty He found His "quiet time." Something or other—the clamour of the multitude, the cares of the world—was always following Him even into the desert place. We know this difficulty too. What between the claims of business and family, social and church duties, we have no leisure for the "quiet time." Every hour we are "pursued" by something or other, nevertheless, we must make time for prayer. Meal times and prayer times, as the old saying puts it, are not lost times. (J D Jones Mark Commentary) Searched (2614)(katedioko from kata - intensifies dioko - pursue) means to pursue (kata = down so "down to the finish") or search for eagerly, hunt, chase. Only use in NT, but over 80x in the Septuagint where most occurrences take on a hostile connotation of pursuing with evil intent (Pharaoh chasing after the sons of Israel - Ex 14:4, 8, 9, 23). The psalmist says "Those who follow (Lxx - katedioko - what a picture! They eagerly pursue) after wickedness draw near; They are far from Your law. (Ps 119:150, but see use in Pr 13:21 - pursues - Lxx = katedioko). Used in a positive sense in Ps 23:6 where David writes "Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow (Lxx - katedioko - God's two "sheepdogs" named "goodness and lovingkindness") me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever." In another positive use David writes "And those who repay evil for good, They oppose me, because I follow (Lxx - katedioko ) what is good." (Ps 38:20) Only here in NT but frequent in the Septuagint - Ge 14:14; Ge 31:36; Ge 33:13; Ge 35:5; Ex 14:4; Ex 14:8; Ex 14:9; Ex 14:23; Dt. 1:44; Dt. 11:4; Dt. 28:22; Dt. 28:45; Jos. 2:5; Jos. 2:7; Jos. 2:16; Jos. 2:22; Jos. 7:5; Jos. 8:16; Jos. 8:17; Jos. 8:24; Jos. 10:10; Jos. 10:19; Jos. 11:8; Jos. 24:6; Jdg. 1:6; Jdg. 7:23; Jdg. 7:25; Jdg. 9:40; 1 Sa 7:11; 1 Sa 17:52; 1 Sa 23:25; 1 Sa 23:28; 1 Sa 24:14; 1 Sa 25:29; 1 Sa 26:18; 1 Sa 26:20; 1 Sa 30:8; 1 Sa 30:10; 1 Sa 30:22; 2 Sa 2:19; 2 Sa 2:24; 2 Sa 2:28; 2 Sa 17:1; 2 Sa 20:6; 1 Ki. 20:20; 1 Chr. 10:2; 2 Chr. 13:19; 2 Chr. 14:13; Neh. 9:11; Ps. 7:5; Ps. 18:37; Ps. 23:6; Ps. 31:15; Ps. 35:3; Ps. 35:6; Ps. 38:20; Ps 69:26; Ps 71:11; Ps. 83:15; Ps. 109:16; Ps. 109:31; Ps 119:84; Ps 119:86; Ps 119:150; Ps. 119:161; Ps. 142:6; Ps. 143:1; Ps. 143:3; Prov. 12:26; Prov. 13:21; Jer. 15:15; Jer. 52:8; Lam. 1:3; Lam. 3:11; Lam. 3:66; Hos. 2:7; Hos. 8:3; Joel 2:4; Mic. 2:11 Related Resource: Quiet Time: 7 Minutes With God Mark 1:37 they found Him, and said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." Everyone is looking for You: Mk 1:5 Zec 11:11 Joh 3:26 11:48 12:19 Mark 1 Resources - Multiple Sermons and Commentaries EUREKA! They found Him - The verb found is heurisko which gives us our English "Eureka" ("I found it") which Webster's says is marked by usually sudden triumphant discovery. Surely Peter and his companions experienced a moment of "eureka" when they found Jesus in a secluded place. And said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You" - Would it be that that were literally true in our world. These Galileans were looking for Jesus for physical benefits (healing, etc) but not for spiritual reasons.Jesus' clarion call (actually commands) to repent and believe the Gospel (Mk 1:15+) was not on their spiritual radar. Everyone wanted a Jesus that suited their (shallow) fancies, not the life-changing Jesus of the Bible. Beloved, things have not changed much have they! Sadly, at this stage, even Jesus' disciples did not comprehend why He had invaded planet earth! Daniel Akin paraphrases Peter (and I think accurately) - Peter’s words almost have the sound of a rebuke, “everyone is looking for you.” In other words, “what are you doing here? This is not where you should be! You need to be with the crowds! We are building a following. Things are beginning to happen. You do not have time to be alone and pray!” Oh, how we are so much like Peter, not understanding the ways of God and how His kingdom will come. Yes, there will be healings and exorcisms. But, there must also be prayer." (Sermon) J D Jones comments that "Peter, half petulantly and reproachfully. And by that he meant that the people of Capernaum wanted to hear more of the wonderful Teacher, and to see more of the wonderful Healer who had so astonished them the day before. But Peter spoke better than he knew....I read in John's Gospel of certain Greeks who came to Philip saying, "Sir, we would see Jesus" (John 12:21). I read in Henry Drummond's biography that the message the Japanese gave him to bring over to England was this, "Give us your Christ." "ALL men are seeking Thee." Christ is the common and universal need. "Behold," says one old commentator, remarking on this answer of our Lord, "the philanthropy of Christ." The old commentator is quite right. That is what shines out of this answer, the philanthropy—the broad and all-embracing love for men—that filled Christ's heart. Peter's appeal was a selfish appeal. He would have confined Christ's ministrations to Capernaum. But Christ had a larger heart and a broader sympathy and a wider outlook than His disciple. "Let us go elsewhere," He said." Our Lord was always thinking of the "elsewhere." When the minds of His disciples are full of Capernaum, He is thinking of the "elsewhere" of Galilee. When their minds are full of Judæa, He is thinking of the "elsewhere" of Samaria. And when they have taken in the "elsewhere" of Samaria, He journeys with them to Tyre and Sidon, to remind them of the "elsewhere" of the wide world. "Other sheep," He said, "I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring" (John 10:16). Spurgeon - For he had endeavored to conceal himself in the loneliest spot that he could find. Possibly, the disciples overheard his groans, his cries, his supplications, as he poured out his very soul in prayer to his Father: F B

Marcos 1

Spurgeon reminds us "Behold is a word of wonder; it is intended to excite admiration. Wherever you see it hung out in Scripture, it is like an ancient sign-board, signifying that there are rich wares within, or like the hands which solid readers have observed in the margin of the older Puritanic books, drawing attention to something particularly worthy of observation." I would add, behold is like a divine highlighter, a divine underlining of an especially striking or important text. It says in effect "Listen up, all ye who would be wise in the ways of Jehovah!" R Kent Hughes introduces this section - Realizing, then, that Christ's miracles were parables, we must note that leprosy was especially symbolic of sin, and the healing of it especially a parable of deliverance from sin. R. C. Trench, the great Greek scholar and the inspiration for and first editor of the monumental Oxford English Dictionary, recognized this. Though the leper was not worse or guiltier than his fellow-countrymen, he was nevertheless a parable of sin—an "outward visible sign of innermost spiritual corruption. The nature of leprosy, with its insidious beginnings, its slow progress, its destructive power, and the ultimate ruin it brings, makes it a powerful symbol of moral depravity. If we see ourselves with spiritual eyes, we see that apart from the work of Christ we would be decaying forms of walking death. (Preaching the Word – Mark, Volume I: Jesus, Servant and Savior) Picture of a man "covered with" (full of) leprosy. And a leper came to Jesus - The verb for came is simple erchomai, but in Matthew's account (Mt 8:2+) it is the verb proserchomai which means literally to come near and figuratively of drawing near to or coming before God (read Heb 4:16+, Heb 7:25+, Heb 11:6+, Heb 10:22+). This was the verb used to describe the Jews "who draw near" through their Temple sacrifices, coming through the Law rather than coming through grace (read Heb 10:1+). The leper probably did not understand what he was doing but in effect he was drawing near to the throne of grace to receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need for Jesus was God! And in Matthew's version the leper calls Him "Lord (kurios)" and "bowed down (proskuneo - can be translated "worship")! Leper (3015)(lepros from lepo = to scale, peel or lepis = a scale as of a fish - see picture of scaly rash) originally meant scaly or scabby and then was used to describe one afflicted with leprosy. It was was used to refer to an uneven surface of any kind (e.g., a road), but usually denotes a leprous condition of the skin, a serious skin disorder secondary to various etiologies, not always infection with the Mycobacterium leprae (pix), the cause of Hansen's Disease. Leper - 9x - Matt. 8:2; Matt. 10:8; Matt. 11:5; Matt. 26:6; Mk. 1:40; Mk. 14:3; Lk. 4:27; Lk. 7:22; Lk. 17:12. Lepros in the Septuagint (Lxx) - Lev. 13:44; Lev. 13:45; Lev. 14:2; Lev. 14:3; Nu 5:2; 2 Sa 3:29; 2 Ki. 5:11; 2 Ki. 7:3; 2 Ki. 7:8; 2 Chr 26:20; 2 Chr. 26:21; 2 Chr. 26:23.

Marcos 1

Spurgeon comments that "This was another very wonderful miracle. All that dryness of the skin, that scurf, that peeling, that inward foulness that eats into the bones, and pollutes the very current of the blood — all this was quite gone, the Lord Jesus Christ made this foul, unclean leper perfectly clean and whole in a single moment." Notice the two descriptions "leprosy left" and "was cleansed," the former describing the physical aspects of his scaly skin rash and the latter describing that fact that with the clearing of the skin rash, he was now ceremonially clean. He would be able to go into the Temple for the first time in likely many years. Immediately (2117) see preceding discussion on euthus - used 11x in chapter 1 - Mk. 1:10; Mk. 1:12; Mk. 1:18; Mk. 1:20; Mk. 1:21; Mk. 1:23; Mk. 1:28; Mk. 1:29; Mk. 1:30; Mk. 1:42; Mk. 1:43 (One other use in Mk 1:3 means "straight"). Kent

Marcos 1

Spurgeon says "That was all he was to do, — to go and show himself to the priest, so that it might be officially known and certified that he was clean, and he was not to tell anyone else of his cure." The problem was that there was no cure for leprosy in those days, so as far as we know these laws were never implemented. Naaman was miraculously healed (2 Kings 5:1-19), but he was not an Israelite, so did not follow the prescribed procedures for cleansing (see Who was Naaman?). So far as the record goes, this incident in all 3 synoptic Gospels is the first time that a cleansed leper would have gone to the priest in the manner prescribed by Moses, with the one possible exception of Miriam (Nu 12:10-15). Imagine the shock of the priests! If that would not shake them out of their spiritual lethargy, even a dead man rising for the dead would not awaken their consciences and pierce their hearts (cf Lk 16:31+). Jesus full of mercy would give the priests another chance and this time would send not one healed leper but ten cleansed lepers to the priests (Read Lk 17:12-19+) Surely this would break through their hardness of heart! But it was not to be! Go (5217)(hupago from hupo = under + ago = to go) means literally to lead under and most commonly hupago means to go, to go away, to withdraw one's self as in this context. Show (1166) (deiknuo) means to show and has the sense of to draw attention to or exhibit something, in this case primarily by visual means so that the priest could apprehend with their senses what had occurred. The idea of this verb was to show so as to prove something is true or to make clear by evidence. In short the leper's skin free of the ugly spots was to be a visual demonstration of a dramatic miracle! Priest (2409)(hiereus from hieros = consecrated to God and as a noun = temple) is consecrated person who serves God and in Jesus' day, were the Jewish men who offered Temple sacrifices and carried out other sacred rites associated with the Temple (cp Heb 8:4). Torrey Topical Textbook Priests Easton's Bible Dictionary Priest Fausset Bible Dictionary Priest Hastings' Dictionary of the Bible Priest Hastings' Dictionary of the NT Priest The Jewish Encyclopedia Priest And offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded (prostasso) - Matthew 8:4+ does not have for your cleansing (also used in Lu 5:14+) Here is what Moses commanded... Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying, 2 “This shall be the law of the leper in the day of his cleansing. (Lxx = katharizo) Now he shall be brought to the priest, 3 and the priest shall go out to the outside of the camp. Thus the priest shall look, and if the infection of leprosy has been healed in the leper, 4 then the priest shall give orders to take two live clean birds and cedar wood and a scarlet string and hyssop for the one who is to be cleansed. 5 “The priest shall also give orders to slay the one bird in an earthenware vessel over running water. 6 “As for the live bird, he shall take it together with the cedar wood and the scarlet string and the hyssop, and shall dip them and the live bird in the blood of the bird that was slain over the running water. 7 “He shall then sprinkle seven times the one who is to be cleansed from the leprosy and shall pronounce him clean, and shall let the live bird go free over the open field. (Lev 14:1-7+). Warren

Marcos 1

Spurgeon says "he was not to tell anyone else of his cure. He was disobedient to Christ; perhaps you will think that he was very naturally and excusably so, but we must never make excuses for doing what Christ tells us not to do. Our duty is not to judge whether such-and-such a course will be profitable or beneficial, but to consider whether such-and-such a course is in accordance with the Word of the Lord. This man ought to have held his tongue, for Christ had told him to do so. I have no doubt that he said within himself, “The more I talk about this miracle, the more good I shall do, and the more famous Christ’s name will become.” But he had no business to think that, his business was to obey Christ’s command." Preaching (proclaiming) (2784) see previous discussion of kerusso used 6x in chapter 1 - Mk. 1:4 = John the Baptist; Mk. 1:7 = John the Baptist; Mk. 1:14 = Jesus...preaching the Gospel; Mk. 1:38 = Jesus "preach"; Mk. 1:39 = Jesus "preaching and casting out demons"; Mk. 1:45. Spread (1310)(diaphemizo from dia = dispersion + phemizo = to speak) means to rumor abroad, to advertise, in Mt 9:31 two blind men healed and told to be quiet instead "spread the news about Him throughout all that land." In Mt 28:15 "And they took the money and did as they had been instructed; and this story was widely spread among the Jews, and is to this day." To such an extent that Jesus could no longer publicly enter a city, but stayed out in unpopulated areas - Unpopulated is eremos used 6x in Mark 1 (Mk. 1:3; Mk. 1:4; Mk. 1:12; Mk. 1:13; Mk. 1:35; Mk. 1:45) NIV = "stayed outside in lonely places" KJV = "in desert places." Publicly (5318)(phanerós from phaino = give light; to make to shine) means made visible as an external manifestation to senses. Phaneros stresses what is visible to sight as in Peter's vision in Acts 10:3+. And so it describes what is openly manifest, visible, easily seen, open to sight, open and public as in this passage and in John 7:10. And they were coming to Him from everywhere - Were coming in in the imperfect tense, picturing some coming from here, some from there, over and over they kept coming to Him. Spurgeon comments that "There were such crowds that he could not work his miracles of healing. The disobedient man was no doubt moved by gratitude, which seems a very proper motive; yet his disobedience caused Christ serious inconvenience, and hindered His work; and I have no doubt that there are many things done in the Church of God today of which many say, “They are very proper, and very nice;” yes, but are they Scriptural? Did the Master command them? If not, they will cause Him and His kingdom serious inconvenience and loss at some time or other. We cannot too fully realize that, as Christ’s disciples, we are to obey Him implicitly; and the best proof of our gratitude is to do exactly as Christ bids us. This man blazed abroad the news of his cure, so that “Jesus could no more openly enter into the city" J