Jesus’ miracles and mission
What would you do if you could go to a clinic and have any problem resolved? And it wasn’t a con.
What would you do if a clinic actually could heal you? The doctor could completely resolve your problems.
Our family has been in and around doctors a lot this year. Imagine no more waiting to get into the doctor in another 5 weeks. No more blood tests. No more unknown sicknesses. Imagine any problem completely fixed.
What would you do?
Well, you wouldn’t wait around. You’d run there if you have to. You’d be calling people to come along with you. You’d be giving multiple 5 star ratings on google from every google account you have. You’d be calling the newspaper, writing letters to the editor.
Something of the kind happens here in Mark Chapter 1:
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.
More than amazement
People are gobsmacked at what Jesus does here. And understandably so. The crowds flock to Jesus. The whole town is said to have come to check out what Jesus can do.
And yet… there is something odd happening here. The strange thing is, right at this moment, Jesus actually doesn’t want the news getting out. Yes, Jesus heals people but he wants to keep things quiet. Maybe just maybe there is a little bit more going on here than a clinic that can cure every disease.
“What could be more important than healing sick people, Jesus? Have you got something better to do?”, we might ask. And the thing is…Mark tells us that he actually does.
Jesus is the most compassionate, loving, caring person in the world. He could and did heal every kind of disease during his ministry, and yet Jesus offers us something greater than fixing our problems in the here and now. He has good news of the Kingdom that not only addresses the now but also the forever. He has a gospel to preach. He is the one who we need to believe in to be able to enter the Kingdom.
This is what the crowds missed that day, but what we need to not miss today.