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“WE’RE FAMOUS”



 

The Sabbath Day, according to first-century customs, started at sundown on Friday and continued until sundown on Saturday.

 

Jesus, with Peter, Andrew, and others, had been to the synagogue, then had returned home. Since it was the Sabbath Day, no work was to be done. So, “when it was evening, after the sun had set” (Mark 1:21), the Sabbath restrictions were raised, so “they brought to him all those who were sick and demon-possessed” (Mark 1:32-33).

 

Having heard Jesus teach in the synagogue (Mark 1:21), seen Jesus emancipate the demon-possessed man (Mark 1:25-26), and heard that Peter’s mother-in-law had been miraculously healed (Mark 1:31), the neighbors carried their sick family members and friends to Jesus.

 

The scene must have been chaotic as “the whole town was assembled at the door” (Mark 1:33). The lame were carried on stretchers. The blind were led. There was a line stretching down the sidewalk. The anticipation was electric. Excitement filled the air.

 

Peter may have acted as the doorman, inviting one-at-a-time to enter the little house. “Hello Isaac, Hannah, Samuel, Jonathan. Please come in. Jesus is in the dining room. Right over here.” Peter knew them all and welcomed his friends into his home.

 

Jesus patiently, gently, compassionately, “laid his hands on each one of them” (Luke 4:40). Without exception, everyone touched by Jesus was restored to perfect health. The lame walked out. The blind rubbed their eyes, blinked, and exclaimed, “I can see!” Joy filled the village!

 

Finally, late in the evening, after the last one in line had been ushered into Peter’s house, Jesus and His disciples fell into bed. Exhausted.

 

On the following morning, who was the first person to rise? Jesus. He quietly slipped out of the house, into the darkness, to a quiet place where He communed with His Father. “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he got up, went out, and made his way to a deserted place; and there he was praying” (Mark 1:35).

 

With the sun peeking over the eastern horizon, Peter found Jesus. “Everyone is looking for you” (Mark 1:36). “Crowds are already gathering! Come back to the house and do some more miracles… We’re famous!”

 

“No, Peter, I didn’t come to perform like a circus side-show. I came to preach the Good News, so “let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach there too. This is why I have come” (Mark 1:38).

 

“… think on these things” (Philippians 4:8, KJV).




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