by Beth Moore
Have you ever seen someone receive an instantaneous physical healing like those described in this text? I've known plenty of people God healed physically, but I haven't had many chances to watch the manifestation of an instant healing take place before my very eyes. Can you imagine what these sights were like for the disciples? Think about the last time you encountered someone who was suffering terribly. What kinds of feelings did you have in response to their suffering?
Few of us choose to confront the suffering around us because we feel so helpless. Imagine the contrast between the agony of seeing human suffering and the ecstasy of seeing them healed. What would such an experience have been like for Mother Teresa, for instance, as she daily died to her own desire for personal comfort and confronted the unimaginable suffering in Calcutta? Then to see many healed? Somehow my mind can hardly even fathom the range of emotions. Picture being one of Christ's disciples. John was a human being just like you. How do you suppose these kinds of sights affected him?
John had observed hundreds of Sabbaths in his life. Imagine that he awakened that morning with a fresh wave of, "I can hardly believe what I've done! I wonder what my mom and dad are thinking right now." He must have been excited and unsure, and his soul was filled with the reality that something new was looming on the horizon.
Perhaps Lamentations 3:22-23 swirled through his mind as he recite his morning prayers of thanksgiving for God's provisions: "It is of the LORD's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassion fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness" (KJV). He prepares to go to the synagogue for services just as he had done all his life, only this time he got a bit more than he bargained for. The scroll was unraveled, and the Scripture for the day's service was read. Then Jesus took the role of rabbi sat down, and preached the curly locks nearly off their heads.
Just then a man possessed by demons started shouting, and John saw Jesus get stern, perhaps for the first time. In an astounding show of power Jesus cast out the demons, causing the man to shake violently. John thought as long as he lived, he would never forget the sound of those demons shrieking. He and the other disciples walked together to Simon Peter's house, whispering all the way about what they'd seen. Simon Peter'; mother-in-law was sick with a fever, so Jesus took her by the hand, helped her up, and the fever left her so instantaneously she began to serve them.
"Don't tax yourself! You need to sit down and give yourself time to recover," the family insisted.
"You don't understand. I feel fine! I don't even feel weak. Let me serve you.
Then they begin to hear sounds at the door. Murmurings. Shrieking Crying. Sounds of moaning. Sounds of hope. What's that-hope? Yes hope. And hope says, "What He did for her, He might do for me," and that He did.
When John awakened that morning, his mind could not have conceived just how many mercies were new that particular sunrise. I can only imagine the kinds of things that went through the mind of the young disciple. He probably tossed and turned most of the night. Perhaps he and James whispered from their pallets until they were overtaken by exhaustion and finally fell asleep.
As I imagine all that happened that Saturday and all they saw, I know one of the thoughts I'd have had if I had been John. Is there anything the man can't do? He watched Jesus practically bring the house down with His teaching. He watched Him confront and cast out a demon. He watched Him not only heal Simon's mother-in-law but instantly restore her strength. Then every manner of distress landed on their doorstep.
I love Matthew Henry's words of commentary on the scene at the door. "How powerful the Physician was; he healed all that were brought to him, though ever so many. Nor was it some one particular disease, that Christ set up for the cure of, but he healed those that were sick of divers [various, diverse] diseases, for his word was a panpharmacon-a salve for every sore."
His Word was a panpharmacon. Ah, yes. I have yet to have an ailment God had no salve to soothe. What may be even more peculiar is that I have yet to have an ailment of soul that God's Word was not the first to point out, diagnose, then heal. His Word is far more glorious, powerful, and fully applicable than we have any idea. You very likely did not pick up this particular Bible study because you sought healing. You would surely have picked other titles. But based on my own experience and many references in Scripture, you will undoubtedly receive some fresh diagnoses and, if you cooperate, a new measure of healing. As will I. I'm counting on it.
That's the nature of His Word. As Psalm 107:20 says, "He sent forth his word and he healed them." How often God has had to send forth His Word and begin the healing to get me healthy enough to face the diagnosis! I want you to revel in something wonderful. Every time God has prepared us with His Word and gotten us to a point that we can receive a hard "pill" to swallow from Him, healing has already begun. Once He confronts us, we never need to be overwhelmed by how far we have to go. If we've heard Him through His Word, healing has already begun. Take heart. He is the Panpharmacon.
Part 2
SIGHTS AND
INSIGHTS
Can you imagine walking right beside Christ? Knowing what size sandal He wore? Recognizing His accent and favorite figures of speech? Over the next ten chapters we're going to take a look at snapshot scenes in the Gospels where John accompanied Jesus. I want you to think of yourself as "Number 13." By that I mean the thirteenth disciple and one who was also invited into every scene we'll study. Remember not to spiritualize John. He was as equally flesh and blood as we are, but what he witnessed reached far beyond the natural realm. Let's stand right by this young disciple's side and gaze upon scenes that marked him forever. May we be marked as well.
Chapter 6
A SOLITARY PLACE
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him. (Mark 1:33-36)
Sappy. Cheesy. Mushy. Whatever you want to call it, I confess to it. As I stared at these passages, before I had any idea what God would lead me to write, a lump welled in my throat. In these pages you and I are going to walk up on a scene with a few of Christ's first disciples and find Him praying. All by Himself. Or with invisible company that we can't even grasp. I love the alone moments we find of Christ in Scripture. As I continue to learn of Him, my concept of the public Jesus develops more and more; but I am still deeply drawn to the mystery of the private Jesus.
I suppose I've always been a bit drawn to the mysterious in a person. My husband Keith is a man whom very few people know intimately. Somehow knowing him makes me feel special. I am also indescribably drawn to the mysterious side of Christ. What I do know about Him gives me an insatiable desire to know what I don't ... and for now can't.
We all have our concepts of heaven, and goodness knows our images don’t change it one bit. Still, I long for heaven to be not only a place of magnificent corporate worship with myriads of saints and hosts but a place of quiet, private encounters with Jesus Christ. I can't wait to be with all my siblings in Christ and to sit around the table with Moses, Paul, and the apostle John. But as selfish as this may seem, I've got to be honest with you. I want Jesus. Alone. At least for a few minutes each millennium! My dearest times with Him on this planet have been in the secret places. That's heaven to me.
Like the disciples we'll study, I want to walk up on a scene and suddenly find Him there. Unlike them, however, I don't want to drag Him back to the masses. I want to keep Him to myself for a moment. I like to picture that He might turn around, see me, and reach out His hand for mine. I like to think He might gently draw me to sit beside Him and allow me to share what has momentarily captured His attention. Maybe a mountain view of the crystal sea. Or the sight of children playing in a flowery meadow with furry lion cubs (Isa. 11:6).
Do I have too much imagination for you? Maybe I do, but I believe heaven will be far more creative than most believers seem to picture it. Surely a God who created th
is world with all its magnificence, diversity, and experiences does not have an eternal home that is like a one-act play. I hardly think so. Nor can I buy that we'll always be in one huge corporate gathering. How in the world could private encounters happen with millions of the redeemed in heaven? The way I see it, that's one reason we have eternity. Plenty of time for each of us to have Jesus all to ourselves. Oh, I think we have lots of surprises in store.
Like me, you may have memorized Mark 1:35: "Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed." Mark does not tell us what morning, so we cannot dogmatically assume, but might this have been the next morning after the healing at Peter's house? After that kind of day, had I been Him, I might have considered sleeping in. Not Jesus. While the others may have whispered from their makeshift beds about all they had seen, Jesus got up while it was still dark, left the house, and went off to a solitary place to pray.
Don't you imagine Jesus had trouble feeling at home anywhere? Perhaps that's one reason He said, "The Son of Man has no place to lay His head." He slept plenty of places ... but none of them were His true home. He slipped out of the house that morning after the Sabbath because He had a Sunday morning service to attend. The dark wood placard that hung on the wall right above the organist at my first church would have read: "Today's Attendance: 2."
In Revelation 22:16, Christ said, "I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star." The Morning Star is the bright planet Venus seen in the eastern sky before or at sunrise. I've seen it many mornings. When I get up to have my morning prayer time, outside is still as black as night. I love the comfort of knowing that the sun will rise during the course of that precious time with God.
I often step out on the porch, look at the sky, and behold one star that shines far brighter than the rest. That morning not far from the lapping waters of Galilee's shore, the bright Morning Star rose while it was still dark and lit the desolation with the lamp of Glory. Only God saw. "Oh, child," our heavenly Father asks us today, "would you rise for only Me to see?"
Mark tells us Jesus went to a solitary place. The original word for "solitary" (erhmos) means being in a state of isolation ... of an area isolated, unfrequented, abandoned, empty, desolate. Just outside of Capernaum stands a place many locals through the centuries have called Eremos ("solitary") Heights. The area has rugged rocks of red granite and naked, wind-swept cliffs.
In Matthew 6:6, Christ taught, "When thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou bast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret" (KJV). He had no home of His own, but when the One who spoke the earth into existence prayed, the entire Eremos Heights could be His closet if He wanted it to be! I hope you, like Jesus, have a favorite place to pray.
Jesus went to the Eremos for one reason: to be alone with His Father. Oh, how I would love to know how He prayed! What He said! How long He talked! And then I wonder if He could hear His Father's response ... with His ears or His heart? Christ's prayers from Earth were unique, unlike anyone else's. He had a freedom and familiarity that others cloaked in human flesh could not comprehend. Surely that's one reason why the disciples later pleaded with Him, "Lord, teach us to pray" (Luke 11:1).
Hebrew men were taught to pray from the time they could speak. They recited benedictions and petitions off and on all day long. They knew how to pray as men taught to pray, but when they beheld Christ captivated by the presence of His Father for hours at a time, I believe they meant, "Teach us to pray like that!" At Lazarus' tomb Jesus prayed, "Father, I thank you that you have heard me. I knew that you always hear me" (John 11:41-42). One wonderful reason why Christ was so drawn to prayer and could pray for hours was because He had such confidence.
Really give this some thought for a minute as we talk reality and not just theology. How differently would we pray if we were convinced of two critical factors: (1) that our Father is the omnipotent Creator and Sustainer of the universe and (2) that He always hears us?
Do we not find our minds wandering and ourselves even a tad bored in prayer at times because-if the truth were known-we wonder if our words are bouncing off the ceiling? How differently would we pray if Christ chose to manifest His presence? Would we pray differently if He sat in a chair right across from each of us, leaning forward to concentrate on what we're saying?
Beloved, if only we would realize that though He's invisible to our sight, that's in essence what He does! He intercedes for us at the right hand of the Father. When we pray, He is so close to us, He may as well be leaning over the edge of heaven and bending down to hear. His presence through His Holy Spirit literally surrounds us as we pray. His eyes are fixed on our face. On every word we're saying. On every expression we're making. Can you imagine how the angels marvel over our boredom at times when we pray, as their faces behold our Father in heaven who is listening intently to every word?
I want to give you a personal prayer assignment for you to practice in your own "prayer closet." Every time you pray for the next week, begin your prayer with Christ's words straight out of John 11:42: "I know You always hear me." Then conclude it with Christ's words in John 11:41: "Father, I thank you that you have heard me." Practice God's presence! Pray as if He's really listening because He is!
In Mark 1:35-37, the disciples were far too immature in their walk with Christ to consider the enormity of the scene. Instead, they blurted out, "Everyone is looking for you!" Ah, here we have an insight into their present state of mind. Forget what Jesus did in private! They wanted to be seen in public with the popular Jesus! We're not going to be too hard on them because they were demonstrating a normal part of adolescent Christianity. We are the same way in our spiritual immaturity. At first we are far more excited about corporate worship than we are private worship.
One reason is because frankly we don't know Him well enough to have as much to say one on One. We love the excitement of being in the masses of those who are enthralled by Christ, and we always will. However, as we mature and Jesus becomes a greater and greater personal reality to us, I think we come to treasure time in the solitary places with Him more than anything.
Mark 1:36 tells us that Simon and his companions went to look for Jesus. The only companions we've met thus far in Mark's Gospel are Andrew, Peter, James, and John, so we can be almost certain our John was among them. Notice they weren't called disciples yet. I'm not sure they qualified as learners and pupils yet! Whoever the companions were, the terminology of the original language tells us they were tracking Jesus down, almost like a manhunt. The Greek word katadioko, translated "to look," is often used in a hostile sense.
I'm not suggesting they were hostile toward Jesus but that they were quite anxious and maybe even a little put out with Him that He wasn't where all the people were. We see no indication from the text that they hesitated for a moment of respect or awe when they found Jesus praying. They barreled on the scene with, "Everyone is looking for you!"
I would like to offer a little conjecture that the companions tracking down Jesus may have been Peter, James, and John. Later in His ministry, these three men were chosen by Christ to watch Him on several different occasions in the inner places. Something caused Jesus to single them out. I believe Scripture will prove that it wasn't their spiritual maturity. I think two primary motivations compelled Christ to draw the three into several intimate places:
1. The fact that they just didn't "get it" at times.
2. The fact that Jesus knew once they did "get it," they'd really get it!
In other words, I wonder if Christ might have thought, So you're not the boundaries types, are you? OK I'll take you behind some ordinary boundaries, but I'll hold you responsible for what you learn while you're there. Just food for thought.
I have a friend whose little boy thought he was the teacher's pet because she seated him in class right in front of her desk. He didn't realize for years that she was motivated by his disciplin
e problems. Why didn't she just send him to the principal instead of expending so much energy on him? Because she knew the child had a student in him, and she was determined to find it. And she did. We're going to see Peter, James, and John get their desks moved to the front of the class. Just like children, at times they might be tempted to think the Rabbi moved them there because they were the Teacher's pets.
Chapter 7
THREE AND ONE
After six days Jesus took Peter, James and John with him and led them up a high mountain, where they were all alone. (Mark 9:2)
I want to remind you of our objective. You may otherwise be frustrated over my leapfrogging from place to place in Scripture. Although I wish we could go through every step the disciples took with Christ, the purpose of this journey is to draw riches from the life and letters of John. We've taken the first steps of his encounters with Jesus rather slowly because he was among those first chosen to follow Christ. For a time we will pick up the pace rather dramatically as we leapfrog from scene to scene. As we focus on the synoptic Gospels, our objective is to concentrate on the settings where John is named or known to be present.
Keep in mind that Jesus had many followers, but He chose twelve from the many to walk nearest to Him. The next chapter will center on events that happened very close to the last Passover Jesus and His disciples observed together. Every moment the twelve spent with Jesus was significant, but now we're going to look at two scenes with some common denominators that no doubt had a profound effect on John. Try your best to view each occurrence from his point of view. Keep in mind that John was probably the youngest of the apostles and younger brother to one. Think of him as flesh and blood, and imagine what each experience might have been like for him.