A Day in the Life of Jesus
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29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed.
36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”
38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.”
39 So he traveled throughout Galilee preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. -
14 Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil— 15 and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.
16 For surely it is not angels he helps, but Abraham’s descendants. 17 For this reason he had to be made like them, fully human in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people. 18 Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Today our gospel passage Mark 1 v29-39 is a ‘day in the life of Jesus.’ It’s far from ordinary (to us). But it was an ordinary day in the life of Jesus empowered by the Holy Spirit. This ‘fly on the wall’ account of a day in the life of Jesus in his early ministry, shows that he was fully human and fully divine. It had to be that way so that he could atone for our sins once and for all.
When I was a Hospital Chaplain in Leeds, I was asked to write for the NHS Magazine: ‘A day in the life of the chaplain.’ After a few sentences, I thought it was a very boring, yet ordinary, account of a chaplain waking up, having breakfast, doing prayers, emails, visits on Wards, meetings, more ward visits, writing up notes then home. Later a call back in for an on-call emergency.
1 In the Church
2 In the community
3 In the quiet place
1 Church
Our scene is set in Capernaum (Galilee) Mark 1v21 begins with the Sabbath account of Jesus teaching in the synagogue. Then v29 says after leaving the synagogue they went to the house of Simon Peter where Simon’s mother-in-law is very ill. Let me set the scene - if you go to the Holy Land you will visit the ancient ruins of Capernaum. While in Galilee, Jesus made this fishing town his HQ, it was Peter's hometown. A good reason to make it his HQ. You can go there today and see the same walls of a first-century home, believed to be Peter's house and 40 yards from Peter's front door are the remains of the synagogue. Standing there with the winds of the Sea of Galilee blowing through the ruins you can picture Jesus and Peter waking up on the Sabbath, walking across the street with the rest of the disciples, and attending services. It’s a place Jesus taught regularly. Notice Jesus didn’t linger in the synagogue. Yes it’s a place of teaching and prayer but it wasn’t just a talk shop. It is easy it is to remain within the security and comfort of the church but the purpose of the teaching and prayer and the empowering of the HS is to send us out, out of our comfort zone, out to witness to and serve others thro the love of Christ. Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady sang ‘Words, words, words - I’m so sick of words… just show me.’ Jesus put his words into action.
Jesus knew how long to stay in the synagogue and when to leave and minister to the needy – this is an ordinary day in the life of Jesus. The question for us is this; is our own daily life balanced with bible reading, prayer and action?
2 Community
Mark 1v29 says ‘after leaving the synagogue they went to the house of Simon Peter where Simon’s mother-in-law is very ill.’ In this day in the life of Jesus Mark1v31 says that he took her by the hand, rebuked the fever and lifted her up. (Luke 4v39 ‘ he rebuked the fever.’) Today we may think it’s strange to rebuke a fever (or any illness), i.e. it is strange to talk to a sickness but Jesus addressed the fever because he knew who was behind it (rebuked it and in so doing He rebuked our spiritual enemy). Then she got up (no fuss) and began to serve them. Notice, the ‘word’ and touch of Jesus released the grip of the fever on her. (Jesus’ word attacks the enemy).
Good news travels fast (Mk 1v32) in this day in the life of Jesus - ‘as the sun set, people came out looking for Jesus,’ (Luke 4v40 says he ‘laid his hands on each’) Mark 1v34 simply says he cured many who were sick with various diseases [NB Word & touch]. The ministry of laying on of hands was taught/modelled by Jesus. Many knock it today and some counterfeit spirituality copies it (eg Reiki) but it was modelled by Jesus and endorsed in the epistles and in the hands of trustworthy Christians, it is still relevant and powerful today. (I do have a view that it is preferable for men to minister to men and women to women). The message it this, Jesus still works through his people laying on hands and praying for the needy. If you know someone who has a need, be bold; ask them if they would like prayer (or invite them to church for ministry).
VIP: the power in the word of Jesus and the power in the healing touch of Jesus. Our faith is not that Jesus will heal in a certain way (handkie, a celeb. healer (eg Wimber/Watson), a formula eg Jabez). Our faith is not in the formula or style of ministry but our faith is in the risen Jesus Christ - Christ healer defeated sin and sickness and death and our faith is in his touch, his timing and his word.
Notice again Jesus rebuked demons – in the 21st Century we may think we are better informed medically about mental disorders and epilepsy but it would be foolish to deny that there is demonic activity today [I had Voodu warnings sprayed on my garage walls and my house circled by an audio tape with a curse recorded onto it]. [People interested in horoscopes, people experimenting with Ouija boards and the paranormal, thinking that dabbling in these things is fun and exciting – but in fact it leads to oppression and danger; people are opening themselves to demonic activity and it can affect health both mental and physical [e.g. neighbour has ME in the past she had experimented with Ouija]. 1 John 3:8 says Jesus came to destroy the work of the devil and that is still true today.
3 The Quiet Place
The last thing I notice in this ‘day in the life of Jesus’ is Mark 1v35 ‘In the morning while it was still dark, Jesus got up & went to a deserted place and there he prayed.’ Perhaps it was in obedience to Psalm 5v3 ‘Lord, in the morning I will lay my requests to you.’
When our lives are busy and full we need to seek out the deserted place.’ What a lesson it is to us from this day in the life of Jesus – even the son of God knew it would be futile to try and minister without 1st finding a quiet place and being still before God to pray (at the start of the day). If that was the pattern of Jesus how much more should it be our pattern, to set aside time to be 1:1 with our heavenly father?
Jesus’ Word could rebuke the sickness in Simon’s mother-in-law, His Word could rebuke the evil that oppressed many who came to him ‘at sundown.’ But the next morning ‘while it was still dark’... Jesus knew where his batteries would be recharged. Jesus knew how to ensure the power he had would not drain away like rechargeable batteries, so that He would be exhausted for the mission. There are times when we all feel that everyone wants a piece of us. Do this, phone him, do that job, get a quote/give a quote, prepare the order! Jesus didn’t even allow his friends to pressurise him. He found a quiet place and when we read further on we learn that Jesus moved on when he was in such demand!
Let me emphasise the importance of finding the time, the place to pray in the deserted place. It’s not just about recharging, it’s about growing in faith/ ministry, praying for the sick, rebuking the power of evil that would like to ruin your day and your life.
Take the time, find the place and make the space in your everyday life to be with your Lord Jesus.
