Jesus’ startling words and deeds did not please everyone, though. In chapters 2 and 3, Mark shines the light of divine illumination on a group of people keenly interested in Jesus’ revolutionary ministry but whose response was hatred and fear. Despite the nature of Jesus’ ministry—its compassion, power, and joy—this group was not drawn to Jesus. On the contrary, the more wonderful the words and works of Christ, the more hostile this group of men became. The more hope He brought to a despairing people, the more they feared and hated Him. The more life and health He imparted, the more determined they became that He must be destroyed.
There is one thing about Jesus’ ministry that never changed—have you noticed it? It is the ever–present element of surprise. Jesus was always doing the unexpected. He never followed another person’s prepackaged program. When He met John the Baptist, He overturned John’s desire to be baptized by Jesus by requesting that John do that very thing for Him instead. He outmaneuvered Satan’s power plays in the desert not with divine power, but in His humanity. Jesus resisted the earthly paths to power and success and instead won the victory over Satan with a humble submission to the word and will of the Father.
After this long, arduous day, there is one more thing Mark would show us about Jesus. Mark writes in verses 35–39: “And in the morning, a great while before day, He rose and went out to a lonely place, and there He prayed. And Simon and those who were with Him pursued Him, and they found Him and said to Him, ‘Everyone is searching for You.’ And He said to them, ‘Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also; for that is why I came out.’ And He went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”
I suppose that village was the healthiest place on the face of the earth. When the Lord Jesus Christ heals, it’s not the type of thing that people today call “divine healing.” Years ago, when I first began my radio ministry, I had lunch with a dear Christian man. As we ate, he said, “Dr. Barnhouse, you have no idea how the conservatives of this city rejoice that there’s a fundamental voice on the radio,” because at that time there was no other. “You know, it’s so wonderful,” he continued, “if you had just one more doctrine, it would be perfect.”
Mark takes special note of the fact that Jesus took this woman by the hand (Mark 1:31). Mark was interested in details like this. In Mark 5:41, you find the young girl who was dead,and Jesus took her by the hand. In Mark 8:23, Jesus took the blind man by the hand. In Mark 9:27, Jesus took the young man with the dumb spirit by the hand and lifted him up. In Mark 9:36–37, “He took a child, and put him in the midst of them; and taking him in His arms.” Isn’t it interesting that Mark should point out five times in his little gospel that Jesus touched people? What power that touch had!
