ROCKVILLE

Jesus begins his ministry in Capernaum not far from Galilee.

 

Capernaum does not know it yet but many things are going to be shown to them over the next few years by the Lord. Many will be coming to faith at what will be done with changed lives, healings, the Sermon on the Mount, the feeding of the 5,000 and people forever believing in the Son of God, all around in the area of this city.

 

The passage starts with: Mar 1:21  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. (NKJV)

 

The Lord is always gracious and merciful to start to minister to us with teaching and speaking into our hearts. The true heart longs for the things of God, the fleshly heart longs for the things of the world.

 

Where is your heart today? Is it receptive to the word of God? Do you wish to seek his face in the Word?

 

Jesus is the Word that was made flesh. He entered this world redeem us from the works of the flesh and the devil. We were not just formed out of the dust of the ground forever to return to the ground we are now through faith in Jesus, to have everlasting life with Him! 

 

What is everlasting life? It is a life that is forever expanding, it is changing and extending, it is age long and beyond, that it is forever.

 

Why would we want to just wallow for what is here on earth with our eyes? We need to seek the face of the one that loves us and listen! The Demons in this passage attempt to interrupt. They attempt to thwart the things of God. They attempt to throw impediments to stop the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. To those demons the Lord Jesus in Mar 1:25  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" As everyone saw this they are amazed! I know I would be, would you?

 

When you see the things of God do you view them with earthly eyes or spiritual eyes? I know I have to shake myself awake to make sure I view the things of God with my spiritual eyes. I want to have the scales removed like Saul and become a Paul. I want to be like Blind Bartimaeus, and have my sight restored by the Lord Jesus. Let me see you Lord in the land of the living!

 

Peter’s mother-in-law is healed in verses 29-31. Many are healed and demons cast out after Sunset verse 32-34. This Sabbath day the first day of ministry is a whirlwind of activity. The Lord is here on earth, His ministry is in full force and the first day is beyond productive.

 

He continues into the next day and leaves all the hubbub and retreats to pray. Mar 1:35  Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. (NKJV)

 

There are times we need to just pull away from the world and draw close to God.

 

Where do you go? When do you do it?

 

The Lord needs to speak in those quiet moments. No technology, no phones, no speaking, no doing anything, palms up, sitting quiet, listening, expectant to hear from our Lord. Praying is extending to the Father and the Father is extending to His own. He speaks. You see our prayers rise up before the throne of God and the Lord hears them. The one second prayer of the fighter pilot as captured by C.S. Lewis before he crashes to the ground in his plane, his cry out prayer rises into eternity and goes before the Father. Forever it is in eternity in one second. That is where our prayers go.

 

Back on earth, the disciples, were looking for him, worried about him but when they found him he told them: Mar 1:38  But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." That is what the Lord does. That is what he is tasking us to do as the body of Christ. As he has come forth, so do we. As he speaks and preaches so do we. What - you say you are not a preacher? That is OK, neither am I, but I have learned that we need to bring Christ in everywhere we go. We bring Him to the workplace, the school, the market, the gas station, the post office, and to the church with us on a Sunday.

 

Do you bring the Lord Jesus with you wherever you go? Do you wish to speak all that He has done in your life to all that will listen? To everyone you encounter? Tell them about how He is good, just, how He Loves us and cares for us and never forsakes us. Lord, I love you for that.

 

Thank you Lord for saving us, casting out the demons in our lives, speaking the words of life into our lives and showing us the way to eternal life found only in you.

 

Thank you Lord!