Mark 1:29-34
²⁹As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. ³⁰Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. ³¹So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
³²That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. ³³The whole town gathered at the door, ³⁴and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Jesus is the healer. He healed the stranger, and he healed his friends and their relatives. Mark says, "the whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases."

Today many of us have various diseases and sicknesses, not all of them physical. In the blogging world, I have learned of a boy with leukemia and his father is blogging about how God is helping them through this difficult time. Through this illness, they have seen God at work, and many people have been given the opportunity to help and pray. So sometimes, Jesus does not heal, at least not right away, but he draws people to himself during difficult times.

Jesus also drove out demons. I sometimes wondered why Jesus wouldn't want people, even demons, to declare the truth that he was the Son of God. As I've studied the Bible, I've come to realize that in the early days of his ministry, this revelation would have been counterproductive among the Jews who were not yet ready to receive this message. Jesus showed himself worthy of the title of God's Son, though he certainly did not have to do so, and by the time of his death and resurrection, many were able to understand his message and ministry and dedicate their lives to him. Jesus had to work to heal their hearts, their sicknesses, and their spirits before they could come to him.

Today Jesus works in the same way. He comes to us, offers himself to us, heals us, though not always in ways we expect or in timing we want. But we need to be willing to be healed, to allow him to clean us, drive out evil from us, take us through suffering that may be necessary before we are whole. Not everyone accepts his healing touch, but if we are willing, he can change us forever, and walk with us day by day. Then, like Peter's mother-in-law, we can get up and be about the work of His kingdom.





- posted by Suzi @ 6:12 AM