Ordinary Deliverance
Opening Prayer
My Lord and God, I thank You that You are with me now and that I can be with You, also.
Read Mark 1:29-34
[29] As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. [30] Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. [31] So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. [32] That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. [33] The whole town gathered at the door, [34] 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. Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved throughout the world. Used by permission of International Bible Society.
Reflect
What do you learn about Jesus in these verses?Healing someone’s mother-in-law from a fever doesn’t sound world-shaking! Surely something more sensational would have been better to launch Jesus’ ministry onto center stage. If we were in charge of God’s redemption project in the world we might do it differently. Jesus did miracles at home and told demons to keep quiet about his identity. This strange way of doing ministry shows us more of what Jesus came to do. He didn’t come only to announce the kingdom of God, or to die in our place; he came to model the Kingdom of God! Through his daily life, Jesus shows us what being human could be like: an unbroken relationship with God through the power of the Holy Spirit that brings the realities of God’s Kingdom into a broken world so that it can be restored. It created a stir. The whole town came to see this great ordinary deliverance. For the disciples, it was the start of their training. James, John, Simon and Andrew began to see what their lives could be like as they followed the Master.
Apply
What “ordinary” challenges do you face today? Share them with God and let him calm any fears.
Closing prayer
Lord, I want to have that daily, unbroken relationship with You that the disciples enjoyed. Help it grow more each day.
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