Teaching and Healing

“Significant, too, is the link between Jesus’ authoritative teaching and his power to heal, seen in the way these two themes are woven together in 1.21-8. Mark has already told us in 1.14f. the theme of Jesus’ teaching—it is the proclamat6ion of the Kingdom of God. Now we know that this proclamation involves healing: in Jesus the power of God’s Kingdom is at work, destroying the unclean spirits. Elsewhere, we discover that the inbreaking of the Kingdom in Jesus’ healing miracles means more than mere physical healing: those who were excluded from the community because of their infirmity are restored to the membership of God’s people.”

Mark gives me the impression that Jesus teaching and his miracles are interchangeable. They both equally proclaim the position of the Kingdom and are intended when Jesus says he must go and preach in other villages.

Jesus at the bed of Peter's Mother-in-law

“Can you imagine Jesus standing before your bed and you continue sleeping? It is absurd that you would remain in bed in his presence,” said Saint Jerome. Just five more minutes Jesus. I said, leave me alone Jesus. I’m tired! “Therefore, let us ask the Lord to grasp our hand.”

The gospel is not one of textbook and doctrine, but of wonder and miracle. That is where we see the kingdom of God manifest.

Transcendant Message

Again this week, we see God’s Transcendence against our discipleship. There is Good News in the air! “Have you not seen? Have you not heard?” Ours is a God of wonder, might, and creation. “He is worthy of our praise”

Indeed his divine nature, his transcendence commands us to praise. Our praise cannot remain shut up in our bones. His greatness excites it from us.

Paul like Jeremiah knew the power of the Word of His Greatness shut up within him.

“If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel!”

In his preaching of the goodness, holiness and transcendence of God, Paul is willing for his life itself to cry the message, even to “becoming all things to all people.”

What is the good news? Jesus. And he made it plain. The kingdom of God is among you! Only this week we don’t see him speaking the message with his mouth. We see him showing the nearness. He literally brings God’s power to bear in their midst, healing all. God, who does not grow weary gave strength to an old mother in-law. He ministered all the day long to the multitudes brought to him. He got up early and communed with the Father.

Then he tells his disciples, it is time to go. “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do."

Have we heard? Do we not know? The message is before us. God is in our midst. Will we praise, will we proclaim?