PrayerBits
A bite sized devotional program
produced by the West Side Presbyterian Church
Sunday
Scripture lesson: Mark 1:29-39 Demons?
Time to reflect: “Demon” was the first century word for an invasive illness, they had another word, commonly translated as “weakness” for internal illnesses. They had no way of knowing or understanding “virus” or “bacteria” but they instinctively recognized that some illnesses came from the outside, were “catching” and could leave. Demons are not little monsters but illnesses. “Casting out” means curing such an illness (“making whole” was a common term for healing a “weakness”).
Moving through the day: In this passage we see the two callings of the church: proclaiming the message and taking care of the sick. How well are we, Christ's Church and Body, doing these two things today?
As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, 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.
Jesus Prays in 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, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!"
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons.
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