The Gospel of Mark (11) - The Healer

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.

So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up.

The fever left her and she began to wait on 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. 

                                                                 -- Mark 1:29-34


"They," in this passage, still refers to the first four of Christ's disciples: Andrew, Peter (Simon), James and John.

Here they are leaving the synagogue where Jesus taught with "authority" that amazed the people, and also where the demon-possessed man cried out to Jesus, apparently during the service, challenging him, "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Are you coming to destroy us? I know who you are -- the Holy One of God!"

Now Peter and Andrew are bringing James and John back to their home, where Peter's mother-in-law also lived. (Was Peter a widower?)

And they brought Jesus home with them.
(It's always a good idea to bring Jesus home from church!)

Jesus had just displayed His power and authority over the spirit world when He cast the demon out of the man at the synagogue.

Now He displays His power and authority over the physical world by healing Pater's mother-in-law.

He had authority over everything because he was the Author of everything.

Then that evening crowds came to the door seeking healing.

Jesus was quickly becoming well-known for His ability to heal diseases.

Many were beginning to believe that the long-awaited Messiah was now in their midst.


Jesus did not have a "healing procedure."

Sometimes He would touch a person, like with Peter's mother-in-law. Other times He would just utter a word.

Occasionally He would heal someone who wasn't even in His presence, as we see in Matthew 8 when the centurion come to Him pleading that his servant was "lying at home paralyzed, dreadfully tormented."

"Go your way," Jesus said; "and as you have believed, so let it be done for you." And his servant was healed that very hour.                            

And this happens many times in the gospels.

 A few days later a man with leprosy asks for healing.

There are about 30 healings recorded in the gospels, all demonstrating the Jesus had authority to heal and cast out demons.

"That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed."  The Greek verb used here indicates "they kept on bringing" people to him.

By waiting until after sunset, the Sabbath rules would not be broken.

So Jesus must have had a long evening.

Mark makes a distinction between "demon- possessed" and "physical sickness."

They are separate issues. Both needed healing.


He would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was...and they knew why he came....

Jesus did not want the demons to announce who He was -- He did not need, nor did He want, the assistance of Satan and his minions to proclaim or acknowledge Him.

Jesus did not need, and certainly He did not want, endorsement from Satan and the forces of evil to validate His ministry.

Through His teachings and His miracles alone He would show that He indeed was the Son of God.

He commanded them to be silent precisely because they did know exactly who He was! And they knew why He had come!