Daily Devotions
Mark
Day 30
Text: Mark 1
"To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering..." 1 Peter 1:12
MANY IN DESPERATE NEED
Mark portrays for us a very full and hectic ministry of Jesus. His work did not end at sunset!
“At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him
all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed.
And the whole city was gathered together at the door.”MARK 1:32-33
Mark highlighted two groups of people who flocked to Jesus for help. The number of people who came to see Jesus was so huge that the author wrote. “The whole city was gathered together at the door.”
1. All who were sick.
2. Those who were demon possessed.
Mark made a very clear distinction between the two groups of people. The former suffered from physical ailments. The latter suffered from ailments that were inflicted by wicked and vicious demons. The physical illnesses may be similar, but the original cause may be distinguished.
A GRACIOUS MESSIAH
How did Jesus respond to these needs? Mark noted the gracious response of Jesus.
“Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and
cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak,
because they knew Him.”MARK 1:34
1. Equal to the task
Jesus proved Himself equal to the task of caring for the sick.
a) Compassion
He had compassion enough to embrace all the sick who were brought to Him.
b) Power
He had power enough to expel the demons from those who were tormented.
2. Forbidding the demons to speak
a) Knowledge of the demons
They recognized who He was- that He was the Holy One of God (Cf. Mark 1:24).
b) One reason for forbidding them to speak
Jesus did not want people to believe in Him because of the words of demons! All who finally decide to believe in Him as the Saviour and as the Messiah must do so because they have come to know and love Him personally.