The Purpose Of God’s Servant

"Preaching The Gospel"

Book of Mark Chapter 1:29-45

Purpose is best described as "that which a person sets before himself as an object to be reached or accomplished. It is similar to a "goal" but even to reach a goal requires "purpose"!

Jesus Christ had a "purpose" for everything that He did while He was on this Earth!

In our last lesson we saw Jesus and how He had begun His ministry of training His disciples in Galilee beginning at Capernaum.

Jesus had at least four of His disciples with Him at this time which were, Peter, Andrew, James, and John.

They had left their means to provide for themselves and their families and followed Jesus to become fishers of men.

Jesus had preached His Doctrine in the synagogues and He would many times more.

We know the fame of Jesus was spreading throughout the area.

We also know it was time to gather the future Apostles to begin their training.

So let’s pick up where we left off:

*****Mar 1:29  And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

The greatest lesson we can learn from this verse is this. "When ever we leave our place of worship it is in our best interest to take Jesus with us" and not leave Him at church.

We know that this house was in Capernaum but Peter and Andrew had another house in Bethsaida where it appears they were raised:

Joh 1:44  Now Philip was of Bethsaida, the city of Andrew and Peter.

This city and Capernaum were wicked places to live:

Mat 11:20  Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not:
Mat 11:21  Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes.
Mat 11:22  But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you.
Mat 11:23  And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

This should remind us somewhat of how people thought at the time of Nimrod and the Tower of Babel.

And we see that James and John went home with Andrew and Peter who had brought Jesus.

*****Mar 1:30  But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

We see that Peter was a married man with a wife at home but no children are mentioned.

Normally a widow would have been taken care of by her own sons but we see that this mother was in the house of her daughter and son in law, Peter.

The Laws of Moses stated that widows were to be treated with respect, so we can see the character of Simon Peter.

Many times in the scriptures we seem to find fault with Peter but we know he had had a job, he provided for his family, and he care for his mother in law and obeyed the Laws of Moses.

Exo 22:22  Ye shall not afflict any widow, or fatherless child.

But also the New Testament:

1Ti 5:3  Honour widows that are widows indeed.
1Ti 5:4  But if any widow have children or nephews, let them learn first to shew piety at home, and to requite their parents: for that is good and acceptable before God.

We can see that this mother in law had some health problems.

Doctor Luke said this was a great fever:

Luk 4:38  And he arose out of the synagogue, and entered into Simon’s house. And Simon’s wife’s mother was taken with a "great fever"; and they besought him for her.

A "great fever" in this day would have been a much more serious thing than in our day, when it is still serious.

This woman was very sick, because we all can relate to how it feels to be running a high fever, either ourselves or seeing how it affected our children.

From what these four had witnessed in the synagogue they immediately told Jesus about her.

We may not know anything about Peter’s wife but we do know, she also cared for her mother, and Peter did not hesitate to bring a houseful home to this caring wife which showed her hospitality and her acceptance of the decisions her husband had made in following Jesus, not knowing where her next meal would come that required faith on her part as well.

Again this was still a Sabbath Day.

The Lord was considerate of Peter’s situation.

And it seems that Our Lord made this house of Simon Peter and Andrew, His home also when He was in Capernaum.

*****Mar 1:31  And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

Mark says that Jesus just took her by the hand.

In other words Jesus took control of the sickness!

Jesus Christ showed all that was present and us, that He also had the power over all disease.

Another thing we witness this day about Our Lord, is that He had not only a public ministry He also had a private ministry!

Jesus showed that both had the same importance to Him!

We are never to abandon those that are spiritually sick and we are never to abandon those that are physically sick!

Both require our attention!

But everything Jesus did was used to teach a valuable lesson these disciples!

Jesus still had these words:

Mar 2:17  When Jesus heard it, he saith unto them, They that are whole have no need of the physician, but they that are sick: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

Those that reject the Word of God and think they are saved by their own works and righteous in their own eyes, are not in need of His attention no more than they need a doctor if they are not sick!

Just as the Bible say, our world seems to be full of evil men in this day we live.

The secular world will say they are in need of a doctor, or they will say they suffer from society, or from their parents and this could be true of a few.

But most are just evil people who reject authority, both secular and Spiritually and these evil people are going to get worse as we can see with our own eyes and as the Word of God so states.

2Ti 3:13  But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.

It is too easy to say that they are sick when the truth is that they are just evil!

Those evil people, who so easily deceive others will find it even harder to recover themselves from their evil ways.

But we see that this precious mother in law,  immediately, as soon as her fever left her, went to work ministering to her adopted family and friends and her new friend "Jesus of Nazareth".

*****Mar 1:32  And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

At "even" time would have been the end of the Sabbath day and the beginning of the next day which would have been Sunday.

It is not hard to see that the teaching of the scribes, who were most of them Pharisees, that it could be unlawful to seek a cure even for severe sickness on the Sabbath day.

What we do see that did take place is that these people had spread the word that a miracle man was among them and Andrew had already said that Jesus was the Messiah.

They were either curious or their faith was moving them but as those in need of help passed by, Jesus laid His hands upon them and they were all healed.

Luk 4:40  Now when the sun was setting, all they that had any sick with divers diseases brought them unto him; and [he laid his hands on every one of them, and healed them].

And those that were possessed with devils, Jesus commanded them to leave with His voice:

Mat 8:16  When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and [he cast out the spirits with his word], and healed all that were sick:

Matthew wrote that all these things were a fulfillment of prophecy from the Old Testament:

Mat 8:17  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.

Compare:

Isa 53:4  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: [yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted].

The Jews could only see evil in the miracles of Jesus:

Joh 19:7  The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, [because he made himself the Son of God].

But all these that had come this day, only knew one thing!

They knew they had a need and that need could only be fulfilled by this "Jesus of Nazareth"!

They had heard of this Jesus, they had found out where He was located, and they had brought their needs to Him.

They had been very busy on this Sabbath day when they could only walk so far and only lawful to prepare a meal!.

We should also notice that all these things took place and we did not hear that Jesus was preaching or teaching to any at this time.

Jesus knew that these people had not come to hear the "Gospel", they had only came for the "Free Gifts"!

There are many like these in our churches today that do not want to hear the message of the "Gospel", they only wanted to receive the "Free Gifts" of God!

Salvation is a "free gift" BUT God chose preaching to convey His message and the Apostle Paul understood this when he wrote these words:

1Co 1:21  For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, [it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe].
1Co 1:22  For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

Paul also realized that the Jews would always want to see some miracle to prove the existence of Our Savior

God still performs these miracles of healing and He still cast out devils every time someone is saved but these things go unnoticed in today’s societies!

Jesus would go on to show many miracles to the people of Capernaum but not many ever believed on Him!

*****Mar 1:33  And all the city was gathered together at the door.

Capernaum was large enough to be called a city rather than a village and may have had up to 1500 residents at this time.

Most all of them found out where Peter lived and they came to his house!

To all that doubt the there was a real Jesus of Nazareth, then this is more proof  because these all would have been eyewitness to His existence and to His miracles.

We know that Mark also spent a great deal of time with Peter and was led to the Lord by Peter.

We should realize that Peter would have a great memories along with Andrew, James, and John as they had witnessed the "Power of God" this day!

There is a purpose to everything Our Lord does!

When you bring Jesus into the home, doubts will soon disappear!

*****Mar 1:34  And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

It was not that Jesus refused to heal all of Capernaum but we can be certain that there were some who had not come to the house of Peter.

Christ Jesus wanted all these people to see God in the flesh not because they were told to but only if they wanted to see Him for themselves.

In the Old Testament God was dealing with the Nation of Israel for the most part and Jesus had begun His ministry dealing with only those of Israel.

In the New Testament as the Church is about to begin, we see that Our Lord is seeking a personal, one on one relationship, with all people and this has not changed as of this day we live.

Jesus certainly did not want His true nature to be confessed by demons.

Jesus was not trying to keep secrets, we will find out later in this passage why this was so important.

Another thing needs to be pointed out here.

These demons had an intellectual and a physical knowledge of their Creator!

James the half-brother of Jesus gave us these words:

Jas 2:19  Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.

These demons, were evil spirits and subject to Satan, but they also knew who sits on the throne in Heaven.

These are the same spirits that work in all those that reject Christ Jesus today and refuse to obey the Word of God!

Eph 2:2  Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, [the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience]:

The Lord Jesus was probably up late and had had little chance to sleep but there was something else more important than sleep!

*****Mar 1:35  And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

The doctrine of the humanity of Christ Jesus is equally important as the doctrine of the Deity of Christ Jesus!

Jesus had to be a man if he was to represent fallen man.

The Apostle John wrote:

1Jn 4:3  And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.

If Jesus Christ was not a real man then His death on the cross would amount to an illusion.

Jesus was a complete human being, having a body, a soul, and a spirit.

Jesus was troubled in His soul on many occasions!

Jesus was self-conscious, that He would have to bear the sins of the world and Jesus expressed His emotions very often.

Joh 11:33  When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, [he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled,]

It was God that had stood before all those the prior evening and healed all that came to Him!

But it was that flesh side that needed to be in contact with His Father very early this next morning!

Both of these natures of Our Lord were necessary for redemption.

As a man, Christ Jesus could represent man and die as a man!

As God, that death would provide redemption for the sins of the entire world!

Jesus was an example to us all and this verse shows us the importance of secret prayer:

Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, [pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly].

*****Mar 1:36  And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.
Mar 1:37  And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

That morning was still Sunday and Jesus had told these 4 men to follow Him.

Jesus wasted no time showing them the importance of prayer and not just prayer but "Closet Prayer".

Jesus was not just outside the door of Peter’s house, they had to search to find Him.

They had not searched for Jesus for their own purpose but they had been awakened by another crowd that had gathered at the house of Simon Peter.

To Mark, the disciples are now just called "Simon and his companions" who did not yet understand "what to follow the Lord" actually meant.

Had Christ not needed this time alone with the Father, He certainly would not have taken it!

For His remaining days before the Cross there would always be some one looking for Him and most of them were His enemies.

These people were seeking Jesus of Nazareth, the "miracle worker" and this hindered the message of Our Lord!

Jesus healed for many reasons but His biggest reason "was because of His compassion for His creation"!

Did Jesus return to perform more miracles?

*****Mar 1:38  And he said unto them, "Let us" go into the next towns, that "I may preach there also": [for therefore came I forth].

Why had God come to this Earth?

Here we have our answer!

Jesus had come to preach the "Gospel"!

Jesus was not impressed by large crowds just seeking something from Him!

It was more important to seek those "that are lost and had never heard His message".

This is our rule of thumb for today. Our priority should be given to those that have never heard the "Gospel" rather than to those that have heard it many times and have rejected it!

Jesus had come to preach!

The Apostle Paul wrote:

Rom 10:13  For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.
Rom 10:14  How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? [and how shall they hear without a preacher]?

What was His message?

We read that in verse 15:

Mar 1:15  And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and "believe the gospel".

The message is "to believe the Word of God"!

The "Gospel", the "Good News" of Jesus Christ must be preached to this lost world!

Every follower would have to be grounded in His Word!

"Let us go" meant "are you going with Me"?

Jesus ask everyone of us this same question when He calls us out of this lost world and saves us.

Are you going to pick up your own cross and follow Me?

This is our purpose!

Peter did not yet understand what is was to follow the Lord BUT he followed Him.

*****Mar 1:39  And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

Lower Galilee contained the tribes of Zebulun and Issachar.

Upper Galilee was considered the "Galilee of the Gentiles".

Mat 4:15  The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles;

Matthew also added these words:

Mat 4:16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up.

We know that "great light" was the preaching of "Jesus of Nazareth"!

Where did Jesus get His Words to preach?

Joh 12:49  For I have not spoken of myself; [but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak].

This the same place that every true preacher should get his own sermons!

And it is the preaching of the truth that will "cast out" all of Satan’s demons that gather inside the house of God.

*****Mar 1:40  And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

It may be easy to understand why Christ would touch a feverish woman who was trying to take care of her family, but to touch a leper could mean death.

Lepers were supposed to keep their distance and warn people that came into their presence.

Lev 13:45  And the leper in whom the plague is, his clothes shall be rent, and his head bare, and he shall put a covering upon his upper lip, and shall cry, Unclean, unclean.
Lev 13:46  All the days wherein the plague shall be in him he shall be defiled; he is unclean: he shall dwell alone; without the camp shall his habitation be.

This leper understood that if Jesus could heal the sick, the blind, and the crippled, and cast out devils, then it would be no great task for Him to heal a leper also.

This leper was just not sure if Christ was willing!

Most every lost sinner has it in their mind that their sins are so great that they could never be forgiven, but just like this leper they should know that God has made  it abundantly clear that "He is "not willing" that sinners perish".

2Pe 3:9  The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, "not willing that any should perish", but that all should come to repentance.

Those that perish because of sin, do so because they chose to do so, by rejecting the truth of the "Gospel"!

Our Lord wants all mankind to be saved:

1Ti 2:4  Who will have "all men to be saved", and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.

It is then not hard to see that leprosy is in fact, a picture of sin!

SO, "to be clean" is then to be enlightened to the "Gospel of Jesus Christ"!

1Jn 1:7  But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, "and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin".

*****Mar 1:41  And Jesus, [moved with compassion], put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

Jesus had compassion.

To have compassion is to actually feel the pain and the suffering of someone else!

Jesus could feel the pain of this leper!

Jesus could feel the longing this leper had just for the touch of another human being!

Jesus healed this leper with His Word just as He had brought all creation into existence, just by His spoken Word!

Jesus had compassion on this leper because he had sought Him out!

Jesus healed many while He was on this Earth simply because God Is Compassionate!

Jesus has compassion on the lost because they are like sheep, who have no shepherd!

Mat 9:36  But when he saw the multitudes, [he was moved with compassion on them], because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, "as sheep having no shepherd".

*****Mar 1:42  And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

How long did it take for this man to be healed?

The Lord spoke and it was done!

No drugs, No follow up, No rehab, No nothing, just healed!

Physically and emotionally healed!

What is the difference between regeneration and religion?

Religion has an agenda:

Religion calls for good works, for rites, for rituals, for self-denials, and for some, payments. But religion never healed anyone and certainly not a leper. Religion is a creation of man!

Regeneration is instantaneous!

Regeneration is miraculous!

Regeneration is ETERNAL!

Regeneration can only come by "Touch" of Christ and God’s Word!

When God speaks, His Creation listens, all but Humans, who He gave a choice.

*****Mar 1:43  And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;
Mar 1:44  And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

Jesus could have kept this leper around to draw a crowd as some faith healers do but Jesus sent him home but so could tell others what had happened to him.

There should be some things that are just between you and God!

There was only one thing that he must do. He was to present himself to the priests.

Lepers were robbed of their name, a chance to work, fellowship, family, and a chance to worship.

None of these things could be restored until they went to the priest!

Under the Laws of Moses, this man was not clean until a priest said he was clean. (Leviticus 14)

*****Mar 1:45  But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, [insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places]: and they came to him from every quarter.

Jesus was God in the flesh and He had all power over His creation, over diseases, and over all evil spirits but He allows man to rule his own heart and his own mind.

God does not want a bunch of robots!

It is that free will that God gives to mankind that separates us from all His other creations on Earth.

God also gave free will to the angels in Heaven but they only have one chance.

The greatest question this world has to answer is "What Are You Going To Do With Jesus"?

Sadly most of our world has chosen to "reject" Christ Jesus.

Jesus could no longer enter the cities because drawing large crowds could cause many wrong things to happen.

Jesus did not stop His ministry!

The people now had to come to Jesus on His terms "and so they did"!

What have we learned?

1.) If Jesus came as a servant, then we are to be servants. There is no greater calling than that of a servant in the House of God.

2.) God shares His authority with His servants. Only those servants called of God can have the authority of God

3.) All servants must have compassion not only  on other believers but also on the "Lost".

If it is inconvenient to serve God, then you cannot pick up your cross and follow Jesus.

The "Cross" is a sign of suffering and death!

Questions?

Let’s Pray!