Conversational Sermon Text for 7-19-08

Mark 1:29-34 – Scholars Version of the Gospels

They left the synagogue right away and entered the house of Simon and Andrew along with James and John. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her right away. He went up to her, took hold of her hand, raised her up, and the fever disappeared. Then she started looking after them.

In the evening, at sundown, they would bring all the sick and demon possessed to him. And the whole town would crowd around the door. On such occasions he cured many people afflicted with various diseases and drove out demons. He would never let the demons speak, because they realized who he was.

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Twice so far in Mark, Jesus has not wanted to be exposed for who he was...why?

Have we ever not wanted to be known - even when it was for a seemingly good thing?

What do you think about Jesus healing Simon's mother-in-law only so that she can "look after them"?

There is a pattern in Jesus' healing work that is both in this healing and in the exorcism from last week's text (and the pattern will continue throughout Mark) - what purpose does this healing pattern serve in Mark's gospel?