Helpfinder Sampler - Flipbook - Page 40
MAR K 1
Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit
21 Jesus and his companions went to the town
of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he
went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22 The people were amazed at his teaching, for
he taught with real authority—quite unlike the
teachers of religious law.
23 Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was
possessed by an evil* spirit cried out, 24 “Why
• Prayer
MARK 1 :3 5
Inserted almost incidentally into a busy
Gospel narrative about teaching, healing,
and travel, this one small verse contains
some of the Bible’s most powerful teaching on prayer. Why would Jesus, the
incarnate Son of God, with only three
years to fulfill his mission, take time to go
off alone for prayer? Jesus would invest
such precious time only if, in some mysterious way, even he needed time with
his Father to know his will, assurances,
and resources. Through prayer, he sought
guidance and strength for the day’s
ministry. If Jesus needed to seek God in
prayer, how much more do we need to do
the same!
• Compassion
MARK 1 :4 1
Leprosy was the most terrible and tragic
of diseases in Jesus’ day. It deformed
people, twisting their bodies into grotesque shapes and leaving them covered
with ugly open sores. Because it was
incurable and contagious, it also isolated
lepers from friends and family, their only
means of love and support. When Jesus
saw this leper, he wasn’t repulsed; he
was moved with pity. Compassion was
burning in his heart.
Can you still be moved? When you
see someone in need, hear of a tragic
death, sing a great hymn, hold a newborn
baby—can you still be moved? Do you
still have a well of compassion in your
soul that longs to reach out to the needs
of others? Or is your well dry? Have you
become so callous that the needs and
even the joys of life no longer stir you?
If you feel little compassion, ask God to
stir up this gift in you. And act on Jesus’
example rather than wait for an emotional
urge to be compassionate.
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are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you
are—the Holy One of God!”
25 But Jesus reprimanded him. “Be quiet!
Come out of the man,” he ordered. 26 At that,
the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a
convulsion, and then came out of him.
27 Amazement gripped the audience, 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!” 28 The news about Jesus spread
quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Jesus Heals Many People
29 After Jesus left the synagogue with James and
John, they went to Simon and Andrew’s home.
30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was sick in bed
with a high fever. They told Jesus about her right
away. 31 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.
32 That evening after sunset, many sick and
demon-possessed people were brought to Jesus.
33 The whole town gathered at the door to watch.
34 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.
Jesus Preaches in Galilee
35 Before daybreak the next morning, Jesus got
up and went out to an isolated place to pray.
36 Later Simon and the others went out to find
him. 37 When they found him, they said, “Everyone is looking for you.”
38 But Jesus replied, “We must go on to other
towns as well, and I will preach to them, too.
That is why I came.” 39 So he traveled throughout the region of Galilee, preaching in the synagogues and casting out demons.
Jesus Heals a Man with Leprosy
40 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.
41 Moved with compassion,* Jesus reached
out and touched him. “I am willing,” he
said. “Be healed!” 42 Instantly the leprosy disappeared, and the man was healed. 43 Then
Jesus sent him on his way with a stern warning: 44 “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.”
45 But the man went and spread the word,
proclaiming to everyone what had happened.
As a result, large crowds soon surrounded
1:23 Greek unclean; also in 1:26, 27. 1:41 Some manuscripts
read Moved with anger. 1:44 See Lev 14:2-32.
