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Week:06, Season:1,
2015
Posted on Saturday by PCT
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The Super Doctor in the Wilderness
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Scripture：《
Mark 1:29-39
》
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. 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!” 38 Jesus replied, “Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.” 39 So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
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From the Bible passage today, it seems that Jesus was as busy as a doctor working to a very tight schedule; he worked from “evening after the sunset” to “very early in the morning” throughout Galilee. People from all over the city came to him. How did Jesus manage his busy time schedule and so much work in his ministry？ I greatly enjoy watching television series about emergency wards and operating theatres; doctors in the films must make very wise and precise judgements to save their patients as every second counts. Each operation is a battle of energy, intelligence and humanity and the slightest error cannot be permitted. Isn’t Jesus’ work like this？
The tender healing from Jesus
Jesus came to cure Simon’s mother-in-law who had a fever. Unlike the previous healing miracle Jesus performed when he rebuked the impure spirit, this time, “he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her.” Mark wrote this healing miracle in a gentle and simple way to emphasise Jesus’ love and authority. The work of Jesus has always been simple and precise. The three actions of “go, take and help” seem to be more complicated than rebuking an impure spirit but they came from love and authority. Jesus cured a humble woman whose name we even do not know. The healing miracle of Jesus is a work of “revival.” Our body often loses its normal function because of illness but the miracle of Jesus revives the beauty of God’s creation. Simon’s mother-in-law was cured and she immediately began to serve the Lord. This is a response of thanksgiving and glorifying God.
Jesus said, “The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve.” Jesus’ love, meekness, service and healing came to Simon’s house and will come to all of those who believe in him. Rev. William Sia was a doctor who dedicated his life to medical treatment especially between two places, Puli, Nantou and Erlin, Changhua. His family asked him to take proper rest but Rev. Dr. Sia said, “If I arrive at the site one minute earlier, my patient will suffer less for one minute.” Dr. Sia took patients’ needs as his first priority but never thought that it was driver fatigue which killed him in an accident. Dr. Sia’s spirit of serving people is a good example of following Jesus.
The Jews in the New Testament times often blamed the cause of illness on Satan’s power and human sin. Jesus has authority but he also acts with meekness and mercy. He forgives our sins and cures the sick; he sets us free. In the previous Bible passage in Mark chapter 1, Jesus fights a world-shaking war to rebuke the impure spirit “go away.” In the first part of this Bible passage, it shows the gentler side of Jesus. The purpose of Mark writing about two different types of miracles is the same: to claim Jesus’ authority. Jesus has the power and love to conquer all difficulties of the human flesh; his healing is holistic and capable of renewing our bodies, mind and spirit; so we may belong to the kingdom of God in the future and at present. The second part of this passage is like a news report of a healing service reporting that Jesus healed many who had physical and mental diseases. Therefore, his disciples came to him exclaiming, “Everyone is looking for you!”
A moment of “new creation”
In verse 35 it says that “in very early in the morning,” Jesus went to pray in “a solitary place”; the original text here means “wilderness.” The time and location Jesus chose to pray is for him to still his mind and concentrate. The time of “very early morning” actually indicates another meaning. The miracle of Jesus walking on water also happened “at dawn.” It is interesting to find that when miracles are described in the Bible, the time is always given. For example, something difficult always happened in the “night” and the solution comes “at dawn.” This is a reference to the Book of Genesis which says when God created the world, it was “formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep.” (Genesis 1:2) So God created “light” to replace “darkness.” “Day” is the first creation by God and “dawn” is a moment of “new creation” and a time when “the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.” The gospel work of Jesus is a new creation and a new salvation which brings the kingdom of God to this world through the power of Jesus’ resurrection. “Dawn” is a moment of salvation. “Wilderness” is the place where Jesus was tempted; the battle between Jesus and Satan but also the beginning of Jesus’ work of salvation.
Prayer is as important as our work
In recent years, many Taiwanese ministers have visited the Taizé Community in France for prayer. The Taizé Community was founded by Brother Roger in 1940 during the time of World War Two to make a sign for world peace. When the Community began, there were only a few members . They gathered three times a day for prayers and chants. The Taizé Community refuses any donations to support their work in Christ’s name. The members make their living by working and live a very simple life. Every year, young people from all around the world come to the community and very often as they arrive, they are invited to join the community team. Everyone has a role and responsibility and is trusted. During the stay, no one supervises you or checks your work because the basis of the community is trust. Members take turns in cleaning the community site, the toilets, doing the catering, working on reception and even safeguarding from late night to dawn. The Taizé Community offers a solitary place for those who come for prayer. It also spreads the notion of the beauty of ecumenism. At the Taizé Community, people work and pray; they never prioritise working before praying.
In 2008, Anselm Grün from Münsterschwarzach Abbey in Germany visited Taiwan for a special speech about multicultural ministry. He mentioned in his speech that “prayer and work has always been the core spirit of Münsterschwarzach Abbey as this is a guide for us to balance our time to work and pray. This also reminds us to keep a devoted attitude to live our life so to be able to influence this world and bring the spiritual power of salvation and freedom to all.” Anselm Grün also emphasised that your work place should be where God meets you. What matters is not to judge whether you offered your body and mind to God but how you live your life and how we do our work in practical way. Jesus’ work and life is to preach, heal and drive out impure spirits. He never forgot prayer in his ministry. Praying and working inspires us with a precious spiritual power: to show our devoted attitude in everything we do.
There are two purposes of prayer: to seek God’s instruction and to receive strength from the Lord. Jesus’ gospel work was begun in Capernaum, Galilee but it began to spread to further afield; a new era was coming. So Jesus went to the wilderness to pray. Jesus prays in a solitary place before his ministry started. He owned the authority of God; he is the king of God’s kingdom and this mission to make all nations to be God’s people is given by God. This is why Jesus came to a solitary place to pray before his new gospel ministry began. The purpose of Jesus’ work is to preach and help us to know the meaning of our work. His work is also a good reminder for us to follow his path.
The “Reading the Bible with New Eyes” Bible study plan promoted by the Presbyterian Church in Taiwan is a good reminder to ask you “have you returned to wilderness to pray？” We should avoid seeking religious zeal but losing ourselves in popular worshipping trends. Try to ask yourself that after attending a Christian conference and when the zeal of all the people seeking Jesus’ healing fades away. Does a prayer in the wilderness keep your heart open to God still？ Even the miracle doctor, Jesus, needed to go back to the wilderness and pray before taking another journey of serving people who were in pain and suffering. Have you returned to your “wilderness”？ I encourage you to start your Christian ministry by praying in the wilderness and after each service, try to separate yourself from the crowds, especially those who love to follow you, depend on you and support you; leave a solitary space to pray and reflect.
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For discussion：
1. Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law with gentle words, healing body and mind; he showed both authority and mercy together. In your opinion, does a modern doctor act like Jesus？ Have you meet a doctor who showed his expertise and gentleness at the same time？
2. Do you consider yourself busy？ What are you busy for？ Do you make time to pray in your busy working life？ How can you keep this habit？
Please pray for：
1. People who are suffering illness. May God’s comfort and healing be with them.
2. You can give thanks to God for his salvation and healing. Learn from Simon’s mother-in-law to act “immediately” to serve others.
Prayer：
Dear Jesus, thank you for giving us your mercy and salvation so we can have a new life in you. We pray for people suffering illness, especially those who have become disabled through illness. May you forgive their sins and cure their illness. May your comfort support them and help them to build belief in you. In the name of Christ. Amen.
Something you can do：
1. With your team members, visit a church member who has not come to church for a while; try to listen to him/her and lay your hands on him/her to pray.
2. No matter how busy you are, try to practise the “555 prayer” principle, which is: spending five minutes per day, five times a week to pray with the “555 prayer note” for five friends in five different aspects, such as body, work, mind, relationship, and spirit.
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