What Jesus Did

Then Jesus sent [the man whose leprosy he had cured] on his way with a stern warning: "Don't tell anyone about this. Instead, go to the priest and let him examine you. Take along the offering required in the law of Moses for those who have been healed of leprosy. This will be a public testimony that you have been cleansed."

—Mark 1:43-44 NLT

Key Thought​

"Take along the offering required in the law of Moses." Two principles are at work here. First, the man cleansed of his...

 

A man with leprosy came and knelt in front of Jesus, begging to be healed. "If you are willing, you can heal me and make me clean," he said.

—Mark 1:40 NLT

Key Thought​

Sometimes we come to the LORD for help simply out of habit. Sometimes we come with a sense of entitlement, arrogantly approaching him as if he owes us something. Humility is not really part of our modern vocabulary. Begging is not in our nature or in our experience. We very much need to learn from this leper: We...

 

So [Jesus] traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.

—Mark 1:39 NLT

Key Thought​

In the previous verses, Jesus committed to his mission to preach in the villages and cities. In today's verse, he went all over Galilee sharing the message of the Kingdom. He went to the people in the synagogues and continued his powerful mastery over demons. He had a plan to fulfill his God-ordained purpose. He executed this plan, not just because...

 

Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got up and went out to an isolated place to pray.

—Mark 1:35 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus had a regular, disciplined time to be alone with his Father each day. His quiet time with his Father was intentional; it was a priority he built into his day, and it required his effort — effort to wake up early before everyone else, and effort to go out away from everyone else so he could talk with the Father by himself. How intentional is your daily time...

 

So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons. But because the demons knew who he was, he did not allow them to speak.

—Mark 1:34 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus' power was not limited. As the Son of God, he had power over all different kinds of diseases, and he had power over all different kinds of demons. The demons knew who Jesus was, so he wouldn't let them speak. He would reveal his identity at the appropriate time, not let his enemies...

 

That evening after sunset, many sick and demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus. The whole town gathered at the door to watch.

—Mark 1:32-33 NLT

Key Thought​

When people saw the power of Jesus to change a person's life, they were drawn to him. As believers whose lives have been touched by Jesus, the power of Jesus in our lives is just as powerful. People can be drawn to the grace of our LORD when they see his power at work transforming us. He asks us to be ready to share...

 

After Jesus left the synagogue with ### and ###, they went to ### and ###'s home. Now ###'s mother-in-law was sick in bed with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right away. So he went to her bedside, took her by the hand, and helped her sit up. Then the fever left her, and she prepared a meal for them.

—Mark 1:29-31 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus left no doubt in his power over illness; he saw the illness and cured it. It was gone in an instant. With the touch of Jesus' hand and...

 

Amazement gripped the audience [when Jesus cast the evil spirit out], and they began to discuss what had happened. "What sort of new teaching is this?" they asked excitedly. "It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!" The news about Jesus spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.

—Mark 1:27-28 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus has authority. Not just rank so he can give orders. Not just power so he can obliterate his enemies. No, Jesus has true authority —...

 

But Jesus reprimanded [the evil spirit]. "Be quiet! Come out of the man," he ordered. At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and then came out of him.

—Mark 1:25-26 NLT

Key Thought​

Jesus had power over the evil one and the vile power he seeks to wield. Jesus defeated the evil one during the temptation in the wilderness. He defeated him in every encounter during his life. Most gloriously, he defeated him in the place of Satan's greatest power —...

 

Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!"

—Mark 1:23-24 NLT

Key Thought​

One of the things that we will see again and again in the Gospel of Mark is that the demons know who Jesus is: He is the Son of God. The demons know he is more powerful than they: He casts them out, and they obey his commands. Jesus is stronger...