A Day In the Life of Jesus
Sea of Galilee Sunset
Mark 1:21-35 . . . They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to serve them.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, 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.
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.
From The Life and Times of Jesus the Messiah
By Alfred Edersheim
It was evening. The sun was setting, and the Sabbath past. All that day it had been told from home to home what had been done in the Synagogue; it had been whispered what had taken place in the house of their neighbor Simon. This one conviction had been borne in upon them all, that ‘with authority’ He spoke, with authority and power He commanded even the unclean spirits, and they obeyed. No scene more characteristic of the Christ than that on this autumn evening at Capernaum. One by one the stars had shone out over the tranquil Lake and the festive city, lighting up earth’s darkness with heaven’s soft brilliancy, as if they stood there witnesses, that God had fulfilled His good promise to Abraham. On that evening no one in Capernaum thought of business, pleasure, or rest. There must have been many homes of sorrow, care, and sickness there, and in the populous neighborhood around. To them, to all, had the door of hope now been opened.
Truly, a new Sun had risen on them, with healing in His wings. No disease too desperate, when even the demons owned the authority of His mere rebuke. From all parts they bring them: mothers, widows, wives, fathers, children, husbands—their loved ones, the treasures they had almost lost; and the whole city throngs—a hushed, solemnized, overawed multitude—expectant, waiting at the door of Simon’s dwelling.
There they laid them, along the street up to the market-place, on their beds; or brought them, with beseeching look and word. What a symbol of this world’s misery, need, and hope; what a symbol, also, of what the Christ really is as the Consoler in the world’s manifold woe! Never, surely, was He more truly the Christ; nor is He in symbol more truly such to us and to all time, than when, in the stillness of that evening, under the starlit sky, He went through that suffering throng, laying His hands in the blessing of healing on every one of them.
No picture of the Christ is more dear to us, than this of the unlimited healing of whatever disease of body or soul. In its blessed indefiniteness it conveys the infinite potentiality of relief, whatever misery have fallen on us, or whatever care or sorrow oppress us. One must be blind, indeed, who sees not in this Physician the Divine Healer; in this Christ the Light of the World; the Restorer of what sin had blighted; the Joy in our world’s deep sorrow. Never was prophecy more truly fulfilled than, on that evening, this of Isaiah: ‘Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses.’ By His Incarnation and Coming, by His taking our infirmities, and bearing our sicknesses did He become the Healer, the Consoler of humanity, its Savior in all ills of time, and from all ills of eternity.
So ended that Sabbath in Capernaum; a Sabbath of healing, joy, and true rest. But far and wide, into every place of the country around, throughout all the region of Galilee, spread the tidings, and with them the fame of Him Whom demons must obey, though they dare not pronounce Him the Son of God. And on men’s ears fell His Name with sweet softness of infinite promise, ‘like rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth.’
Prayer
Gracious Lord, help to truly understand that every single thing we have (our lives, our time, our talents, our treasures, our families, our friends, our neighbors, our health, our very breath) are all gifts that you have entrusted to us to use in this life in loving and joyful service to others. Lord, you have blessed us with your indwelling spirit, and called us to be your light and salt in this hurting and broken world to bring healing and hope to those who are suffering, remembering that you have the power to multiply even our smallest acts of kindness far beyond what we could ever imagine. And last in all that we do Lord, help us do it in unbroken fellowship and love for you remembering that you will generously give all that is necessary for us to live in harmony with each other and to produce in us fruitful lives. In the name of our loving savior, Jesus Christ. Amen