33. The Healing at Sundown
29And immediately Jesus left the synagogue, and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30Now Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever, and they told him of her. 31And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her; and she served them.32That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick.a 33And the whole city was gathered together about the door. 34And he healed many who were sick with various diseases .
35In the morning, a great while before day, he rose and went out to a lonely place, and there he prayed. 36And Simon and those who were with him pursued him, 37and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.”
43But he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also;b for I was sent for this purpose.”c
(Mk. 1:29–37; Lk. 4:43)
a “That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick.”—One day ended and the next day began at sundown. Since this was the Sabbath, the people waited until the end of the Sabbath (at sundown) to go in search of healing. This they did in accordance with Jewish law and custom.
b “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other cities also;”—Jesus has just performed his greatest miracle to date, the supernatural healing of “all who were sick” in the city of Capernaum. Everyone is looking for him because of the great wonder he has wrought. But Jesus realizes that the crowds seek him because of his miraculous healings, not because of his spiritual ministry. He is not willing that his mission of proclaiming the gospel and establishing the kingdom of God be compromised by his healing ministry. Therefore Jesus elects to leave Capernaum at the height of his popular favor, in order to preach “the good news of the kingdom of God" in the other cities of Galilee.
This “good news of the kingdom of God” is Jesus' teaching that we are all sons and daughters of God, our loving heavenly Father. By faith in this saving truth we may enter the kingdom of heaven and gain eternal salvation. (See also Ch. 34, fn. a.)
c “I was sent for this purpose.” Why did Jesus come down to earth? Here is revealed the purpose of his bestowal on our world. The Father sent Jesus to “preach the good news of the kingdom of God.”
Mk. 1:29 immediately Jesus left / immediately he left (RSV)
Mk. 1:30 and they / and immediately they (RSV)
Mk. 1:32 sick. / sick and possessed with demons. (RSV)
Mk. 1:34 diseases. / diseases, and cast out many demons; (RSV)
Mk. 1:35 In / And in (RSV) (145:2–5/1631–6)
