Exegetical and Hermeneutical Commentary of Mark 1:28
And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Verse 28. And immediately his fame spread abroad] The miracle which he had performed was –
1. great;
2. evidenced much benevolence in the worker of it; and
3. was very public, being wrought in the synagogue.
The many who saw it published it wherever they went; and thus the fame of Christ, as an incomparable teacher, and unparalleled worker of miracles, became soon spread abroad through the land.
The word, , immediately, occurs more frequently in this evangelist than in any other writer of the new covenant: it is very often superfluous, and may often be omitted in the translation, without any prejudice to the sense of the passage in which it is found. It seems to be used by St. Mark, as our ancient writers used forsooth, and such like words.
Fuente: Adam Clarke’s Commentary and Critical Notes on the Bible
The fame of his miracles, rather than of his doctrine; by this means many were brought to him to be cured, many were brought also to hear him, some of whom believed, others were hardened.
Fuente: English Annotations on the Holy Bible by Matthew Poole
28. And immediately his fame spreadabroad throughout all the region round about Galileerather,”the whole region of Galilee”; though some, as MEYERand ELLICOTT, explain itof the country surrounding Galilee.
Fuente: Jamieson, Fausset and Brown’s Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible
And immediately his fame spread abroad,…. Not only in the city of Capernaum, where these things were done, and where his fame was first spread, but also
throughout all the region round about Galilee: and not only throughout Galilee, but throughout all the country that was bordering upon it, and adjacent to it; see Mt 4:23. The Persic version reads, “through all the provinces”.
Fuente: John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
The report of him ( ). Vulgate, rumor. See Matt 14:1; Matt 24:6. They had no telephones, telegraphs, newspapers or radio, but news has a marvellous way of spreading by word of mouth. The fame of this new teacher went out “everywhere” () throughout all Galilee.
Fuente: Robertson’s Word Pictures in the New Testament
1) “And immediately His fame spread abroad,” (kai ekselthen he aKon autou euthus) “And immediately the favorable report of Him went out,” with lightening speed of gossip and rumor,, the report went out of what had happened in the Synagogue that sabbath day, Mar 1:21-28.
2) “Throughout all the region round about Galilee,” (pantachou eis holen ten perichoron tes Galilaias) “Everywhere, into all the neighborhood of the Galileean area,” in every direction where the people scattered, in the Capernaurn and immediate Galileean area, along the seashores and into the hill countries round about, that men might know who Jesus was, and that He had come from the Father, Joh 3:2; Joh 4:38; Joh 20:30-31.
Fuente: Garner-Howes Baptist Commentary
28. Spread throughout Galilee The phrase, region round about Galilee, would be more correctly rendered, the surrounding region of Galilee. Our Lord did not leave Galilee, but took a circuit in it. It went abroad that a beneficent being had appeared, at whose touch and voice disease and damage and leprosy and demons disappeared.
The followers of the Saviour were even for centuries called by the Pagans Galileans. The philosopher Epictetus, who lived after the time of the Emperor Nero, asked if a philosopher can become indifferent to suffering, like the Galileans, meaning thereby the Christians. And the Emperor Julian, surnamed the Apostate, in the third century, who was cut off in the midst of his efforts to destroy Christianity, cried with his dying voice, addressing Christ, “Thou hast conquered, O Galilean!”
Fuente: Whedon’s Commentary on the Old and New Testaments
‘And immediately the report about him went out everywhere into all the regions of Galilee round about.’
The news spread like wildfire. ‘This man preaches with remarkable authority, and He casts out evil spirits just by a command.’ The result was that there was a great and growing interest in Him and people began to seek Him out from all over Galilee. Nearly everyone was talking about Him. His outward popularity was growing and His unique status was being recognised.
Note on The Casting Out Of Evil Spirits.
Jesus approach to the casting out of evil spirits was different from His contemporaries who used very different methods of exorcism. Thus Josephus said of a certain Eleazar, ‘he put to the nose of the possessed man a ring which had under its seal one of the roots prescribed by Solomon, and then, as the man smelled it, drew out the demon through his nostrils, and when the man at once fell down, adjured the demon never to come back into him, speaking Solomon’s name and reciting the incantations which he had composed.’ We note here the use of the name of Solomon, whereas Jesus cast them out in His own name and His disciples in the name of Jesus. We also note the use by others of plants and incantations. This contrasts strongly with Jesus’ method of using a word of command.
Had Jesus used the name of Solomon He might have avoided for a while the accusations of the Pharisees, but because He commanded on His own authority they accused Him of being in league with Satan. After all the only alternative was to admit that Jesus was more powerful than Satan, as Jesus Himself pointed out. We can compare here how Jesus asked in whose name the sons of Israel, whom the Pharisees acknowledged, cast out evil spirits (Mat 12:27). According to the Pharisees’ argument they were thus aligning Solomon with Satan.
But Jesus cannot just be seen as another exorcist. It was considered vital in exorcisms that the exorcist carried out precisely all the prescribed rules and regulations and made use of the correct quasi-magical substances and incantations otherwise it was considered that he would not be successful. This was in total contrast with Jesus exercising of His own authority. Furthermore at Qumran they saw exorcism and healing as being one process, for illness and evil spirits were seen as linked, whereas Jesus specifically differentiated the one from the other. It is clear that Jesus knew exactly what He was doing, and had the power and authority to do it, and did not accept that all disease was the result of the activity of evil spirits.
Josephus then points out that ‘Eleazar placed a cup or foot-basin full of water a little way off, and commanded the demon as it went out of the man, to overturn it and make known to the spectators that he had left the man.’ This is an interesting parallel with Jesus allowing the evil spirits to enter the pigs in the case of the Gadarene demoniac, the difference being that Jesus allowed it because the evil spirits sought His permission because they did not wish to be totally disembodied. But it does serve to demonstrate why Jesus gave that permission so that all would know that the evil spirits had left the man.
End of Note.
Fuente: Commentary Series on the Bible by Peter Pett
Mar 1:28 . . . . .] not merely therefore into Galilee itself, but also into the whole region that surrounds Galilee . Comp. Luk 3:3 ; Luk 8:37 . This wide diffusion, the expression of which is still further strengthened by (see the critical remarks), is not at variance with the (Kstlin finds in the word “a mistaken fashion of exaggeration”), which is to be estimated in accordance with the lively popular mode of expression. Criticism becomes confused by the stress laid on such points.
] with the verb of motion, as is often the case among the Greeks: every-whither . Comp. on , Mar 1:38 .
It is to be observed, we may add, that this first miracle, which Mark and Luke relate, is not designated by them as the first . Hence there is no inconsistency with Joh 2:11 (in opposition to Strauss).
Fuente: Heinrich August Wilhelm Meyer’s New Testament Commentary
28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Ver. 28. His fame spread ] Those that do worthily in Ephratah shall be famous in Bethlehem, Rth 4:11 . Cicero worthily preferreth Cato before Socrates, quoniam huius dicta, illius facta laudantur. because in saying these things, he is praised in doing those things. But our Lord Christ was mighty both “in deed and word,” Luk 24:19 .
Fuente: John Trapp’s Complete Commentary (Old and New Testaments)
28. ] This miracle, which St. Mark and St. Luke relate first of all, is not stated by them to have been the first . Cf. Joh 2:11 .
Fuente: Henry Alford’s Greek Testament
Mar 1:28 . , the report, as in Mat 14:1 ; Mat 24:6 . , expressive of the lightning speed with which rumour travels = = , in every direction. . . . ., a vague phrase suggestive of a wide range of circulation, even beyond the boundaries of Galilee. But that can hardly be meant. Recent interpreters take it as meaning that the fame spread into the Galilean environment of Capernaum , along the lake north and south, and back into the hill country.
Similarity at certain points in this incident to the story of the Gadarene demoniac, especially in the deprecatory speech (Mar 1:24 , Mat 8:29 ), has suggested the hypothesis of borrowing on one side or other. Keim thinks this not a real history but an acted programme, like the change of water into wine in Joh 2 and like the preaching programme in Luk 4 ( L. J. , ii. 165, 203), a mere duplicate of the Gadara story. Weiss thinks the words spoken by the demoniac (Mar 1:34 ) are borrowed from that story, and that Mark reproduces the features with which Peter was wont to describe such cases. The lifelike reflections of the spectators (Mar 1:27 ) powerfully witness for the reality of the occurrence.
Fuente: The Expositors Greek Testament by Robertson
fame = hearing, or report. Put by. Figure of speech Metonymy (of the Effect), App-6, for what was heard.
throughout = into. Greek. eis. App-104.
Fuente: Companion Bible Notes, Appendices and Graphics
28.] This miracle, which St. Mark and St. Luke relate first of all, is not stated by them to have been the first. Cf. Joh 2:11.
Fuente: The Greek Testament
Mar 1:28. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Immediately. That is, as soon as Jesus had healed the man with an unclean spirit, his fame spread like wildfire. The miracle was reported from mouth to mouth till everybody in that region knew of it. It was said that the words and writings of Martin Luther were carried as by the wings of angels, so speedily was everything that he said and wrote made known far and wide. On this occasion, it was so with our Lords wondrous deed of mercy and power: Immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
Mar 1:29. And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
Forthwith, or, again, immediately. Simon and Andrew and James and John were intimately connected, we are told that they were partners in their fishing business. James and John, the sons of Zebedee, seem to have been in a good position in life; we read that their father had hired servants employed in the boats. So James and John went with Simon and Andrew into their partners house when Christ went there after performing that notable miracle in the synagogue.
Mar 1:30. But Simons wifes mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.
There were at least four of Christs followers in the house, yet the mother of the wife of one of them lay sick of a fever. Grace does not prevent suffering in the body; there will still be physical diseases even though in the soul there is spiritual health.
Mar 1:31. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.
Jesus was very calm; he was not afraid of catching the fever. See how deliberately, and with what solemn, kindly dignity he deals with this sick woman: He came and took her by the hand. I think I see him doing it and lifted her up. He gently raises her, and she yields to his tender uplifting hand, and suddenly finds herself cooled of the burning fever, and perfectly restored to health and strength; so she rises from her bed, and the first thing she does is to minister unto them. I am sure that, whenever the Lord helps any of his people out of their temporal or spiritual distresses, they feel at once that they must say, What shall we render unto the Lord for all his benefits toward us? Her ministering unto them proved that the fever was quite gone, and gone in a way in which it does not ordinarily go; for, as you all know, fever usually leaves behind it extreme weakness. It seems to burn up the strength that is in one; and after it is gone, one is not fit even to wait at table for a long while. But Peters wifes mother immediately when the fever was gone, rose and ministered unto them. Christs cures are always complete. If he saves us from the burning fever, he saves us from the weakness that follows it, and when he deals with soul maladies, his cures are equally complete, there are no after-affects to the soul as there are in many diseases that afflict the body. When the great Physician restores the soul, he restores it completely.
Mar 1:32. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
It was the Sabbath, and they would not even bring out their sick folk until the day of rest was over. The Jewish Sabbath ended at the setting of the sun, so these people were all watching and waiting until the sun dipped below the horizon, and then, straightaway, they brought their suffering ones to Jesus. What a mass of misery filled the streets of Capernaum that memorable night! The whole city was turned into a hospital.
Mar 1:33. And all the city was gathered together at the door.
It seemed as if everybody had come either to be healed or to witness the healing of others: All the city was gathered together at the door. Oh, when shall we see our places of worship thronged in this fashion with the spiritually sick? When will this great city of London begin to turn towards the Lord Jesus Christ? Will any of us live to see all our fellow-citizens gathered together around the Saviour to be healed by him of all the wounds that sin hath made?
Mar 1:34. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.
They would persist in acknowledging him; perhaps with the design of injuring his cause, for nothing hurts the cause of Christ more than to have it praised by bad men or evil spirits. I do not know that an outrageous sinner, if he will not repent, can do Christ a better turn than to abuse him for then he is speaking after his own natural manner but when the devil or his servants go into the pulpit, and begin to speak in praise of Christ, then is Christs cause in an evil case indeed; so he suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him; or, as the margin puts it, even to say that they knew him.
Mar 1:35. And in the morning, rising up a great while before day,
While it was yet dark, he stole away even from his favored disciples that he might be alone with his Father.
Mar 1:35-37. He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed. And Simon and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him,–
For he had endeavored to conceal himself in the loneliest spot that he could find. Possibly, the disciples overheard his groans, his cries, his supplications, as he poured out his very soul in prayer to his Father: when they had found him,
Mar 1:37-38. They said unto him, All men seek for thee. And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
Jesus Christ came forth from God the Father that he might proclaim throughout the land the message of redeeming grace and dying love.
Mar 1:39-40. And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils. And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
It is a pity that he could not go further than to say to Christ. If thou wilt, but it is a great mercy that he could go as far as that, so, if you, dear friend, cannot pray a prayer that is full of faith, pray one that has at least some faith in it. If you cannot go as far as some do, go as far as you can. I have often told you to bless God for moonlight, and then he will give you sunlight; but for anyone to say, I will not pray at all because I cannot pray as I would like to pray, is a very foolish thing. Say what you can, even as this poor leper said to Jesus, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
Mar 1:41. And Jesus, moved with compassion,–
This is a wonderful expression: moved with compassion. The face of Jesus and his whole person showed that his very soul was stirred by an intense fellow-feeling for this poor leper: Jesus, moved with compassion,-
Mar 1:41. Put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.
If you or I were to touch a leper, his uncleanliness would at once be communicated to us, but when Christ touches a leper, his cleanliness is communicated to the leper. Oh, how high our blessed Lord stands above us! When we have to deal with certain peculiarly sad cases, we ought to go to the work with much earnest prayer that we ourselves may not be contaminated by contact with gross sinners, but Christ has such virtue in himself that he can even touch the fevered and the leprous, and yet sustain no injury.
Mar 1:42. And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.
This was another very wonderful miracle. All that dryness of the skin, that scurf, that peeling, that inward foulness that eats into the bones, and pollutes the very current of the blood all this was quite gone, the Lord Jesus Christ made this foul, unclean leper perfectly clean and whole in a single moment.
Mar 1:43-44. And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away; and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
That was all he was to do, to go and show himself to the priest, so that it might be officially known and certified that he was clean, and he was not to tell anyone else of his cure. He was disobedient to Christ; perhaps you will think that he was very naturally and excusably so, but we must never make excuses for doing what Christ tells us not to do. Our duty is not to judge whether such-and-such a course will be profitable or beneficial, but to consider whether such-and-such a course is in accordance with the Word of the Lord. This man ought to have held his tongue, for Christ had told him to do so. I have no doubt that he said within himself, The more I talk about this miracle, the more good I shall do, and the more famous Christs name will become. But he had no business to think that, his business was to obey Christs command.
Mar 1:45. But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter the city,-
There were such crowds that he could not work his miracles of healing. The disobedient man was no doubt moved by gratitude, which seems a very proper motive; yet his disobedience caused Christ serious inconvenience, and hindered his work; and I have no doubt that there are many things done in the Church of God today of which many say, They are very proper, and very nice; yes, but are they Scriptural? Did the Master command them? If not, they will cause him and his kingdom serious inconvenience and loss at some time or other. We cannot too fully realize that, as Christs disciples, we are to obey him implicitly; and the best proof of our gratitude is to do exactly as Christ bids us. This man blazed abroad the news of his cure, so that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city,
Mar 1:45. But was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.
This exposition consisted of readings from Mar 1:28-45; Mar 2:1-12,
Fuente: Spurgeon’s Verse Expositions of the Bible
Mar 1:45, Mic 5:4, Mat 4:24, Mat 9:31, Luk 4:17, Luk 4:37
Reciprocal: Mat 14:35 – General Mar 6:14 – his name Luk 4:14 – and there Luk 5:15 – went Luk 7:17 – General
Fuente: The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge
Chapter 7.
The Authority of Christ
“And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at His doctrine: for He taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes…. And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.”-Mar 1:21-22, Mar 1:28.
The Manner of Christ’s Teaching: with Authority.
This paragraph gives us an account of our Lord’s first appearance as a preacher in the synagogue at Capernaum, and also of a mighty work He performed at the close of His sermon. Both the sermon and the miracle produced a profound impression upon the crowd; and the impression produced in each case was the impression of authority. At the close of the sermon “they were astonished,” Mark tells us; for “He taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mar 1:22, R.V.). When they saw the demoniac restored to self-possession, “they were all amazed,… saying, What is this? a new teaching! With authority He commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him” (Mar 1:27, R.V.).
His Authority of Character.
Here, then, we get Jesus Christ as the Authoritative Teacher. What kind of an authority was it Jesus Christ possessed? (1) It was the authority of character. The scribes had the kind of authority that comes from office. But it was not that kind of authority Jesus wielded. He had no office. He had not, as we should say, been trained for the ministry. He had never been ordained. He came straight from the carpenter’s shop. And yet when He spoke, men felt there was an authority about His words they never felt in the words of the scribes, their official teachers. It was the authority of character, of a pure and holy personality. In the presence of Jesus men felt themselves instinctively in the presence of a Holy Person. That was why the traffickers in the Temple tumbled out in disordered flight before Him. That was why Pilate feared and trembled before Him. The human spirit is keenly sensitive to moral condition. And the people, as they listened, felt behind the words of Jesus all the tremendous force a holy character wields.
His Authority of Perfect Knowledge.
(2) It was the authority of perfect knowledge. In a sense the scribes had authority, for they were the recognised masters of the Law, and the teachers of Divine truth. But Christ’s authority was completely different.
“Not as the scribes.” The scribes taught, shall we say, at second hand. They buttressed every statement by quoting the Law and tradition. But Jesus never quotes the Law and the Prophets in support of His statements. He abrogates, alters, amends, enlarges the law of Moses on the strength of His own ipse dixit. He lays down laws-declares truth with the assurance of intimate and first-hand knowledge. He speaks on the tremendous themes of God and the soul, of duty and destiny, with the authority of One who knew.
There is never a “perhaps” or “it may be”; there is never a guess or surmise in the speech of Christ. All is calm, authoritative, sure. He moves amongst the great problems of the soul as one who is perfectly at home. “I say unto you”-that is His formula. “He spoke as having authority”-it was the authority of perfect knowledge.
His Authority of Power.
But it was not authoritative speech alone the people discovered in Jesus, but (3) authoritative power as well. At a word from Him “the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him” (Mar 1:26, R.V.). If the sermon revealed Him as the Authoritative Teacher, the miracle revealed Him as the Almighty Deliverer. He has authority over every evil spirit. He can break every chain of evil. He can release every prisoner in Satan’s bondage held. This is a revelation every whit as welcome as the former. For man is not simply in the dark, and longs to see; he is bound, and wants to be freed.
A Provision for Our Needs.
This double aspect of Christ’s authority exactly meets our human need. Our two great desires are these: certitude in the realm of truth, and deliverance from the thraldom of evil. Men crave to know; they want certitude; they long to be sure. And to them Christ presents Himself as the Truth, God’s Everlasting Yea, the answer to all their questioning. And they crave to be delivered. And to them Christ presents Himself as One who has authority over every unclean spirit. Does a man cry in his bitter bondage, “Who shall deliver me”? We can answer with the apostle, “Thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Co 15:57).
Fuente: The Gospel According to St. Mark: A Devotional Commentary
He Went About Doing Good
Mar 1:28-45
INTRODUCTORY WORDS
We want to talk to you about the changeableness of the people toward Christ. Mar 1:28 says, “And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the regions round about Galilee.”
1. It should be remembered that Capernaum was amazed at His doctrine and miracles. Capernaum was? stirred from center to circumference. Nothing had ever been known in that city to be compared with the wonderful works of the Son of God. In one of the Gospels, Jesus spoke of Capernaum, saying, “And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto Heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.” Then Christ added the memorable statement, “It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”
Herein we see that Christ’s fame amounted to nothing, so far as Capernaum’s heart attitude was concerned. Capernaum and all Galilee were astonished and amazed. They began to talk among themselves, and the news spread from person to person, until the fame of Christ spread abroad.
However, the very city where so many of His mighty works were wrought, utterly refused Him. We stood a few months ago on the sight of ancient Capernaum. All that we could find of that city were the ruins of what was once its greatest cathedral. We took pictures of the wonderful carvings and engravings upon its walls. Capernaum certainly has been brought down to hell.
2. To be followed by the populace does not mean true success. Crowds are easily swayed and led. They are the victims of excitement. The multitudes will run hither and thither, and will follow most any fad or fanaticism, or even fancy, for a time. The popular preacher is not always the one who is accomplishing the greatest work for God. We may be ever so popular with the populace, and yet ever so unpopular with the Lord. The populace run to the fire.
3. Jesus Christ knew what was in men. Not for one moment was He deceived by the fame which followed Him in His early ministry. He knew its short lived character. He knew that the same people who were applauding Him to the skies, would soon be crying, “Away with Him; let Him be crucified!”
We remember how Christ said, on one occasion, that the people followed Him for the loaves and fishes.
When the rich young ruler fell at His feet, we might have taken him for a convert. But Jesus Christ put him to the acid test, and said to him, “Sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, * * and come and follow Me.” Then it was that the young man went away sorrowful, for he had great riches.
There were three would-be followers, as described in the last part of Luk 9:1-62. To one Christ said, “Foxes have holes, and the birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay His head.” Another said to him, “Suffer me first to go and bury my father”; but Christ said, “Let the dead bury their dead.” The third one said, “Let me first go bid them farewell, which are at home.” But Jesus said, “No man, having put his hand to the plow, and looking back, is fit for the Kingdom of God.”
The Lord Jesus was never carried away by human applause.
Christ received not the honor of men. He taught us that we were not so to do. He never sought to make Himself of any reputation. We are sure that, in those early years, when the crowds followed Him in order to see another miracle, or to eat of His bread and fishes, He vividly saw the Cross looming before Him; and He knew that but few would follow Him along that rugged Calvary pathway.
4. He was despised and rejected of men. Christ the Miracle-Worker may have been approved so long as the people benefited; but Christ the Saviour; Christ the Son of God; the Giver of life and of light, and the Heralder of truth, was despised and rejected. He died with only a few hundred people who were truly His followers. He was forsaken by men.
I. HOW CHRIST LOVED THE HOME (Mar 1:29)
1. The home of Peter and Andrew. Our verse reads, “And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.” There was something about the home that appealed to Christ. We have read that motto frequently: “Christ is the Head of this home; the silent Listener to every conversation.”
2. The home of Martha and Mary. The Lord delighted to go to that sweet place of rest, and to tarry the while. He was there as a teacher of the way of life. It was at His feet that Mary often sat, and so did Martha, and they heard His Word.
It was in that home that Jesus went in the hour of sorrow, when Lazarus, whom Jesus loved, had died. He went to scatter the shadows, and to remove the pain.
It was in that home that the Lord Jesus stopped as He was en route to Calvary. As He was eating that day with them, about the table, it was Mary who anointed Him with the precious ointment.
The home was established by Divine command, and Christ loves to enter every home tint has the door of welcome open to Him.
3. Some family suggestions: To a young man who was saved, and who fain would have traveled with the Lord, Jesus said, “Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee.” Christ entered many homes, and every home He touched He blessed. The truth is that He wants the whole household for His domicile.
Joshua said, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.” The jailer believed in this Lord with all his house. God give us more homes like these!
Satan’s greatest victory is achieved when he divides the household. If he can enter a home through one or more members of the family, he will contaminate it with worldliness and with sin.
II. THE MINISTRY OF HEALING (Vss. 31, 32)
1. Christ entered into Simon’s home. He found Simon’s wife’s mother sick of a fever-“and anon they tell Him of her.” There is, to us, a beautiful touch in this. He entered into a home where there was sickness, and they tell Him. That is just what we all ought to do: tell Him about everything. Is it not written, “Cast thy burden upon the Lord, and He shall sustain thee”? Why should we not tell Him everything? His ears are opened to our cries. His hand is still ready to reach out in helpfulness.
2. He “took her by the hand.” Here is another marvelous and helpful statement. Has He never taken you by the hand? Perhaps she would have arisen alone at His command, but more likely her faith needed a little encouragement. The touch of His hand; the pull; the upward lift; all encouraged her to believe in His healing power.
When Peter was sinking beneath the waves, and cried out “Lord, save me,” the Lord took Peter by the hand. He always takes us by the hand. Have you not read, “For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee”? Certainly He will help; He always helps and lifts up those who call upon Him.
3. She ministered unto them. When God heals us, He does not heal us that we might live for ourselves, but for others and for Him. As soon as Peter’s mother-in-law was healed, she began to serve. This should be our chief desire-to minister in His Name.
III. THE END OF A BUSY DAY (Mar 1:33-34)
1. “Faint, yet pursuing.” You remember how in the days of Joshua they grew weary with the long battle. Joshua commanded the sun to stand still in order that they might fight on and prevail. They grew tired in the flesh, however, while the spirit was still active. They were faint, yet they were pursuing.
The Lord Jesus had had a very busy day. He had been healing and preaching as He served others. He had finally come home to rest, and had found Peter’s mother-in-law sick, and He healed her. After the even had come, after the sun had set, the people would not leave the Master alone. We read that “they brought unto Him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door.” Did Christ turn them away? Not He! Weary and forespent, as far as the body was concerned, He yet welcomed them, and healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons. Let us not be weary in well-doing, for we shall reap if we faint not. Let us spend and be spent for Him.
2. Meeting the needs of all classes. Christ was not a minister to the rich alone. He did not isolate His message, or His healing power. His heart said, “Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” His message was a “whosoever will” message.
Shall we not walk in His steps in this matter? It was written of Christ that the “Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He hath anointed Me to preach the Gospel to the poor; * * to heal the brokenhearted”; also “to comfort all that mourn.” If Christ showed any preference whatsoever, He showed it to the poor; but He showed it to them because the common people heard Him gladly.
3. A display of His great power. He healed them that came to Him. He cast out the demons, and with authority, He suffered not the demons to speak. It does not matter what the need may be. Christ is abundantly able to meet it. It does not matter how dark the day, how disastrous the affliction, how overwhelming the gloom, there is One who is able and who is willing to help. Is anything too hard for the Lord? Believe, and thou shalt receive.
IV. THE BEGINNING OF A NEW DAY (Mar 1:35)
Our verse says, “And * * rising up a great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.”
1. “A great while before day.” It seems to me that most of us, if not all, if we had had such a busy day as He had had, and such a great strain in service, would have probably slept in the next morning. Not so with our Lord, He not only got up early, but He arose a great while before the dawning of the new day. This is appealing. Do we get up a great while before day to commune with God? Doubtless we do if we comprehend the need, not of the past day, but of the coming day.
2. “A solitary place.” Public prayer has its call, but private prayer has the great appeal. “When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, * * and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly,” said our Lord. Public prayer may be to the ears of the people; private prayer is to the heart of God. In public prayer we may be tempted to use great sounding words, and we may be concerned with our oratory; in private prayer, we will certainly be thinking of Him.
Let each one of us practice prayer in the secret place.
3. He “prayed.” He prayed? Christ prayed? God Himself prayed? So it says! “A great while before day, He went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.” Christ was thronged by the multitude in the daytime, so He longed to get alone with the Father. Would that every one of us would follow in His footsteps in this matter! We can see David, on the occasion when Absalom came against him. David, while the camp was asleep, sought the face of his Lord, and poured out his prayer unto God. No wonder that he closed the prayer with this shout of victory: “I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people, that have set themselves against me.” If we prayed more, we would have more faith, and more victory.
V. THE NEXT TOWNS ALSO (Mar 1:36-38)
1. “All men seek for thee.” After the disciples had been awakened in the morning by a great crowd of people, they went in, no doubt, to rouse the Master, and to tell Him that others had come with sick ones to be healed. They found out, however, that the Lord Jesus had gone.
There is no doubt but that they knew where He had gone, and why He had gone. It must have been His habit to arise early, and to seek the solitary place for prayer. Therefore Simon Peter led the crowd to where the Lord was sure to be, and when they had found Him, Peter said to Him, “All men seek for Thee.”
We wonder if all men would not be seeking Him now if they had not lost confidence in His healing power and presence. They sought Him then, but they sought Him for what they could get out of Him. They did not seek Him that they might give to Him their love or their service.
2. “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also.” This was Christ’s reply to the seeking crowd. We might sum it all up in one word: “others.” The Lord Jesus Christ was happy to help the people in one community, but not in that community to the exclusion of other communities. He whose heart throbs with the compassion of the Master always feels the urge of the needs of others.
The Apostle Paul said, “Not boasting of things * * that is, of other men’s labours but having hope, when your faith is increased, that we shall be enlarged by you according to our rule abundantly, to preach the Gospel in the regions beyond you.” Is this our rule: the next towns also, and the regions beyond us? This is the command of the Master: “Every creature”: “All the world”; “The end of the world.”
3. The call of the mission fields. Back of Christ’s statement, “Let us go into the next town,” we can almost see the outstretched hands, and hear the call, “Come over into Macedonia, and help us.” God’s love for you, and your church, and your town, does not at all circumscribe His love to others, and to their towns. “God so loved the world,” and God wants all men to be saved. The Caucasian race, does not have any monopoly on the Gospel. God wants the Malay and the black and the red races, and all races to hear His good news of salvation. Let those who read this be stirred up to the “next town” also.
VI. FIRST THINGS FIRST (Mar 1:39)
1. “And He preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee.” “He preached,” our key verse says. This is the first necessary thing. Let us put the preaching of the Gospel in the place where it belongs.
When Peter had healed the lame man at the gate of the Temple, the crowd came rushing out, saying, “By what power, or by what name, have ye done this?” Did Peter begin to talk about the wonderful healing power which he had? Not he. He began immediately to preach Christ to them. He said, “By the Name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by Him doth this man stand here before you whole.” Then in a moment he added, “Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.”
Neither Peter nor any other Apostle ever magnified his healing power. The Apostles magnified Christ, and they placed the emphasis on Christ, the Saviour. Whatever else a minister may do, under God, he must remember that he is commanded to preach the Word. He is separated unto the Gospel of God concerning His Son, Jesus Christ. Many other things may call upon his time and attention, but they must be secondary to the one ministry: preaching Christ.
2. He cast out demons. The Lord Jesus Christ had also a ministry for the oppressed, for the men and women who were demon-possessed. He came to seek that which was lost, but He came also to undo the works of the devil. He came to set free the captives. Concerning a woman who had been bound by Satan eighteen years, He said, “Ought not this woman * * be loosed?” Then He loosed her.
3. He healed. Mar 1:34 tells us that He healed many of divers diseases. His name is Jehovah-Ropheca, “I am the Lord that healeth thee.” If any is sick, He has told us to “call for the elders of the Church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the Name of the Lord.” He never would have given us such a command if it were not His will and His purpose to heal in answer to the prayers of His people. We ask and receive not if we ask it unbelievingly, or to consume it upon our own fleshly desires. It is the prayer of faith that brings healing.
VII. THE HEALING OF THE LEPER (Mar 1:40-45)
1. “If thou wilt, thou canst.” As Jesus passed throughout all Galilee, there came a leper beseeching and kneeling down to Him, and saying, “If Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean.” There was something in this God. He also showed his faith when he said, “Thou canst make me clean.” There was something in this that moved Christ with compassion. There was that in the attitude of the man-his prostrate form, and also in the words of the man-that moved the Lord.
Let us remember that the place to get things from God is at His feet. We heard Mr. Meyer of London say one day that he had a lovely dog which would come to the table and bark for a choice piece of food. To this Mrs. Meyer made objection. The dog soon learned that his barking got him nothing. So the great London preacher said that his dog soon learned to slip under the table, and to lift his paw and scratch his master’s knee. He got his morsel every time.
If you want to appeal to the Heavenly Master, you must fall at His knees. The proud look and the lofty mien get nothing from God. It is the contrite and the broken heart that appeals to our God.
The Lord also observed the man’s willingness to abide his Lord’s pleasure. He said, “If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.” That Christ could do it, he knew. But he pleaded that the one who could, would.
2. “I will; be thou clean!” Jesus Christ accepted the challenge. The leper said, “If Thou wilt, Thou canst.” Jesus said, “I will.” And He is also today to say, “I will” when we have both the attitude and the confidence in Him that were expressed by this leper.
There is another thing to be observed: The man confessed that he was unclean, and Jesus Christ said, “Be thou clean.” If we want anything from God we must confess our sinful estate. The impurity of heart and of life must be confessed.
3. “Say nothing to any man.” When the leper was about to depart, Christ straightly charged him, saying, “Say nothing to any man,” and sent him away. He was told to show himself to the priest, and to offer proper things for cleansing, as Moses had commanded, but he was not to say anything to any man. We may wonder why the Lord did this. He did it in order to bar the rabid desire of the populace to look upon Him as a healer. The man, however, published it the more. What was the result? The people pressed upon Christ so much that He could no more openly enter into the city, but abode in the desert places, and they came unto Him from every quarter.
AN ILLUSTRATION
Christ is ready to save you now. He still goes about to help, to heal, and to save. Will you let Him in?
When Dr. Chalmers was on a visit in the northern part of Scotland he was entertained by a Christian lady, who told him she was very anxious about her daughter, and she asked him, “Will you talk to her?” He said he would; but the lady told him, “You will find her mind is set very firmly against religion. Her father and I and various friends have tried to talk to her, but it’s no use; she is fairly set against it.” “Oh, is that the case?” said Dr. Chalmers. “Leave her in my hands, I’ll do what I can.” By and by he was left alone with the young lady, with whom he had made friends, and he said: “They have troubled you a great deal about this question of religion, have they not?” “Yes, they have.” “Suppose I were to ask them not to trouble you about religion for six months?” “Well,” and she hesitated, “but perhaps I mayn’t live that time.” “Suppose, then, we say three months?” Still the young lady trembled to put it off so definitely, for she might not live a month. “Suppose we say a week, then?” “I had better not put it off a week; it mayn’t be safe.” “You are quite right,” replied the doctor; “suppose we settle it now.” He got down on his knees and prayed for her, and they didn’t separate until she was safe in Christ’s fold. Jesus is waiting-able and willing to save. Will you let him save you “now”? (2Co 6:2). Oh, honestly and heartily say, “I will” (Gen 24:58). If you wait in time you may “wail” in eternity.
Fuente: Neighbour’s Wells of Living Water
8
An event like the casting out of devils without any apparent means would be reported by everyone who heard about it. As a result the fame of Jesus spread at once throughout Galilee which was the district in which Capernaum was located.
Fuente: Combined Bible Commentary
Mar 1:28. And the report of him straightway went out everywhere. The correct reading presents most graphically the effect of the miracle.
Region of Galilee round about. Not the regions adjacent to Galilee, but the adjacent regions of Galilee.
Fuente: A Popular Commentary on the New Testament
The second miracle which our Saviour wrought in this chapter, to confirm the truth and authority of his doctrine was his raising up of Peter’s wife’s mother from her bed of sickness.
Where note, 1. that St. Peter, now a disciple, and afterwards an apostle, was a married person. Neither the prophets of the Old Testament, nor the ministers of the New, did abhor the marriage-bed, nor think themselves too pure for an institution of their Maker. The church of Rome, by denying the lawfulness of priests’ marriage, makes herself wiser than God, who says, Marriage is honourable amongst all men. Heb 13:4.
Observe, 2. Peter, though a good man, and his wife’s mother probably a gracious woman, yet is his family visited with sickness; strength of grace, and dearness of respect even from Christ himself, cannot prevail against diseases. God’s own children are visited with bodily sickness as well as others.
Observe, 3. The charitable care of St. Peter, and the other disciples, forthwith to acquaint Christ with the condition of this sick person, Anon they tell him of her. The care of our fellow-christians, especially when of the number of our near and dear relations, in a time of sickness, is not to be deferred or delayed. Outward help for their bodies, and the spiritual help of our prayers for their souls, are both straightway to be afforded them.
Observe, 4. Christ’s divine power manifested in this miraculous cure: He no sooner took her by the hand but the fever left her. The miracle was not in curing an incurable distemper, but in curing an ordinary distemper after a miraculous manner; namely,
1. By a touch of the hand.
2. The recovery was instantaneous and sudden: Immediately the fever left her.
3. The visible effects of her recovery instantly appeared: She arose and ministered unto Christ and his disciples.
That she could arise, argued her cure miraculous; that she did arise, and did minister to Christ, argued her thankfulness.
Learn thence, That after Christ hath graciously healed any of us, it ought to be our first work and care to administer unto Christ; that is, to employ our recovered health in the service of Christ, and to improve our renewed strength to the honour and glory of Christ.
Fuente: Expository Notes with Practical Observations on the New Testament
28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
The Lord was becoming well known from this one miracle. The word translated “fame” is the normal word for ear but is translated fame and rumor also. This would indicate that the word was spreading by word of mouth. Actually that is about the only way that news traveled in that period of time. They had no blackberry, no laptop, no pocket phones, just the old word of mouth which worked quite well without having to carry extra batteries or chargers.
Often in the Gospels you will see that Christ tried to suppress his fame by asking people not to tell anyone about what they had observed. Some feel this was a ploy to get them to go tell everyone, however that seems rather disingenuous of the Lord and I doubt that this would have been an action He would have taken.
I’m sure many in our world would give anything to be able to be involved in one occurrence and draw that sort of acclaim. This casting out of demons was a very unique occurrence otherwise the news would not have traveled as quickly as it did.
Fuente: Mr. D’s Notes on Selected New Testament Books by Stanley Derickson
1:28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region {r} round about Galilee.
(r) Not only into Galilee, but also into the countries bordering upon it.