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.
The end of sunset on the Sabbath finds a deluge of the hurting seeking a healing touch from the Master. Not inclined to break the Law, the people of Capernaum hesitated to bring their sick until after the sun set – Sabbath occurring from sunset to sunset. Rabbinic regulations prohibited bearing burdens on the Sabbath – no matter if it meant helping someone in dire need. Interestingly, in the following chapter of Mark Jesus plainly stated the Sabbath was made for man and not vice versa. Flesh constantly gets things turned around. Remember, Jesus is Lord even of the Sabbath:
27 Then he said to them, "The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath. 28 So the Son of Man is Lord even of the Sabbath." Mark 2:27-28 (NIV)
God had made the Sabbath for man’s benefit, refreshment and blessing and it deeply distressed our Lord that the religious leaders of His day had turned it into a set of rules that even they were unable to follow. Never being dissuaded over something as trite as popular opinion, we also see Jesus again in Mark performing another healing on a Sabbath. Our Lord always chose the hard right over the easy wrong did He not? Mark records the reaction Jesus received from the religious elite quickly followed by His response to them which pointed to their stubborn hearts – His poignant questions silencing their wagging tongues:
1 Another time he went into the synagogue, and a man with a shriveled hand was there. 2 Some of them were looking for a reason to accuse Jesus, so they watched him closely to see if he would heal him on the Sabbath. 3 Jesus said to the man with the shriveled hand, "Stand up in front of everyone." 4 Then Jesus asked them, "Which is lawful on the Sabbath: to do good or to do evil, to save life or to kill?" But they remained silent. 5 He looked around at them in anger and, deeply distressed at their stubborn hearts, said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was completely restored. 6 Then the Pharisees went out and began to plot with the Herodians how they might kill Jesus. Mark 3:1-6 (NIV)
In our verses for today, the town had gathered at Peter’s doorstep – as beggars for charity - bringing with them the hurting and the weak and the failing. Could they not all fall into that description – all needing a healing touch from the Master’s hand? Healing covers the great gamut of spiritual, emotional and physical – Hallelujah for that! Isaiah’s words come to mind:
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. Isaiah 53:4 (NIV)
While surely our Lord healed physical ailments during His earthly ministry – the all powerful Physician compassionately healed many various diseases of the body and spirit in response to human need - Jesus’ greater work on the cross healed the sickness of the soul allowing salvation from sin. He took all of our sins – nailing them to the cross – carrying them away as our great Burden Bearer. He bore the just judgment for our sins on the cross leaving His peace and joy for us in the wake of His intense suffering. Amazing love.
13 When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins, 14 having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. 15 And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross. Col 2:13-15 (NIV)
“Whenever His hand is laid upon you, it gives inexpressible peace and comfort, and the sense that ‘underneath are the everlasting arms’ (Deuteronomy 33:27), full of support, provision, comfort, and strength...His tenderness is inexpressibly sweet.” Oswald Chambers
"Peace is not found when you get into perfect circumstances. Peace is found because Jesus Christ, the Price of Peace, has gotten into you. Joy is the perfect partner to peace and is found in the same way as peace. Joy is never found in what you have or what you do, but in who you have living in you." Roy Lessin
Lastly we see our Lord silencing the demons as they were fully aware of Who He was. Of course they were. Jesus saw Satan and his demonic forces fall like lightening from heaven before Him at the preaching of the gospel. Satan’s power is subject to Jesus’ authority. Our Lord repeatedly silenced their recognition of Him demonstrating they were powerless before Him – how comforting! We find His Words in Luke:
18 He replied, "I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven." Luke 10:18 (NIV)