HOFC Sermon Archive: March 2025

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SERMON TIMELINE

1. Introduction

2. John the Baptist

3. The Baptism of Jesus

4. Temptation of Jesus

5. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus I

6. The Preaching Ministry of Jesus II

7. The First Disciples

8. A Teacher with Authority

9. At the Home of Simon and Andrew

Today is Sunday. March 2^nd, 2025

INTRODUCTION

So the Gospel of Mark, the first of the four Gospels to be written, starts with Jesus being baptized by John the Baptist. The crowd witnessed the sky “tear open,” and the Holy Spirit descended upon Jesus, and the Father in Heaven proclaimed this was His Son, in whom He was pleased.

Jesus had officially been introduced to the Jews as the Savior, the Messiah they had read many prophecies about was being fulfilled before their eyes.

Jesus was immediately led into the wilderness to fast for forty days and nights. In the end, Satan appeared to tempt Jesus, misrepresenting the written word to convince Jesus to obey him, to which Jesus rebuked each attempt of Satan with the Word of God, properly applied.

After this, John the Baptist was taken into custody, and Jesus began His public ministry.

Choosing the first four disciples, Simon and Andrew, who were brothers, and James and John, who were also brothers. The four of them were fishermen by trade. James and John were the sons of Zebedee, who owned a thriving fishing business. We read he had employees working with them the day Jesus came to preach and invite the four to follow Him into ministry and become fisher-of-men.

We see Jesus and his four disciples go from there to Capernaum and visit synagogues on the Sabbath. At first, Jesus was confronted by a possessed man, who revealed that he “knew Jesus was the Holy One of God.”

The demon asked, “What do we have to do with You, Jesus the Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us?”

Jesus cast the demon out and continued going to many Synagogues, preaching for people to repent and trust in the Gospel because the Kingdom of God was at hand.

Some things to remember about the Gospel of Mark, other than that it was the first of the four Gospels written, is that it is fast-paced and concise.

The Gospel reveals what the day-to-day life was like for Jesus and how He was in constant demand as a teacher and healer. So much so, as we read in last week’s scripture reference, that Jesus could no longer go into towns and villages because of the crowds. He had to stay in the open areas outside of towns so the people could all come.

They were desperate for Jesus.

Nowadays, it seems that if you want to draw a crowd, you have to put on laser-light shows with magnificent concerts, smoke machines, and programs that the whole family will enjoy.

Jesus says in Revelation 2:4-5 “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love. 5 Therefore remember from where you have fallen, and repent and do the deeds you did at first. But if not, I am coming to you and will remove your lampstand out of its place, unless you repent.”

Sometimes, we begin our quest to seek the Lord with the right intentions but lose our way. Jesus calls us to remember where we came from when we were first saved by His grace and forgiven of much sin. We need to return to that time and place in our hearts, repent from our straying, and return to doing what we did at first.

Today, we will see Jesus and his followers return to Simon and Andrew’s home.

SCRIPTURE REFERENCE

Mark 1:29-39

“And immediately after they came out of the Synagogue [where he preached and cast out the demon in last weeks message], they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they *spoke to Jesus about her. 31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she began waiting on them.

32 Now when evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city had gathered at the door. 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.

35 And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus rose up, went out of the house, and went away to a desolate place, and was praying there. 36 And Simon and his companions searched for Him; 37 and they found Him, and *said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 And He *said to them, “Let us go elsewhere, to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came out for.” 39 And He went, preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee and casting out the demons.”

I. JESUS HEALS SIMON’S MOTHER-IN-LAW

a. After leaving the Synagogue, they went to Simon and Andrew’s

i. This was the house where Simon and Andrew lived with their families

ii. We read Simon’s wife’s mother (Simon’s mother-in-law) lay sick with fever

1. Her daughter was the wife of Simon

2. This Apostle is better known by the name Jesus gives him, Peter (Mark 3:16)

3. They tell Jesus she is sick with a fever

iii. We read Jesus immediately heals her, and she begins waiting on them.

iv. This is important!

1. Firstly, Simon Peter was married.

a. So much for some teachings about Simon being the first pope

b. Or priests not being allowed to marry

c. Believer’s Bible Commentary states, “That Peter had a mother-in-law shows that the idea of a celibate priesthood was foreign to that day. It is a tradition of men that finds no support in the Word of God and breeds a host of evils.”

2. Simon, the first called, is married.

3. In fact, most of the disciples were married. (1 Corinthians 9:5)

4. Requisite celibacy is absolutely foreign to the Scriptures

a. 1 Corinthians 7:2

b. 1 Corinthians 7:9

c. 1 Timothy 3:2

d. 1 Timothy 3:12

v. Also!

1. Notice what takes place.

a. A woman is ill, knows nothing of Jesus

b. Someone who is “with” Jesus finds out she is ill

c. They immediately go to Jesus with this information

d. Jesus responds by “raising her up” (healing her) and “taking her by the hand,” the fever left

2. When Jesus comes to us, and we take Him by the hand, He raises us up.

a. So, when Jesus “raised her up” and healed her, what was her response to Jesus?

3. Scripture says, “She began serving Him.”

b. Witness the compassion of Jesus and what our response should be

i. Whether in a crowded Synagogue or quiet home, Jesus is ready to heal

ii. And when we are sick from the curse, from illness, from sin, from this fallen world, and someone takes this in prayer to Jesus, and Jesus “takes our hand, and raises us up,” the proper and ONLY response we should have, is to serve Him.

1. The word translated serve, or waiting on in some translations is diēkonei, which means “minister to”

c. As if she asked the Lord in gratitude for her healing

i. What may I do for you, Lord?

ii. How may I minister to your needs?

Reading this should cause us to pause.

When we were lost in sickness and sin, someone brought us to the Lord in prayer. Jesus came to us, taking us by our hand and raising us up, healing us, forgiving us for our sins, freeing us from the bondage of sin. Did we turn to him as Peter’s mother-in-law did and minister for the Lord and His desires?

Jesus makes known His desires for us in Matthew 28:19-20, which we are to carry on until His return.

God forbid me from ever believing I deserve your healing and forgiveness.

I pray I never take the attitude of a petulant, spoiled child believing or ever saying, “Do you know who I am?”

“I am a child of the Most High.”

“I am a child of God.”

It was not the pride or a self-righteous attitude Peter’s mother-in-law displayed. She humbly served the Lord, not thinking more of herself than she ought.

There is false humility or piety, which is nothing more than arrogance.

Before Jesus, we are lost. Without Jesus, we are nothing.

The only difference between the saved and the lost IS JESUS.

Be humble. Stay humble.

II. JESUS TAKES TIME TO PRAY.

a. When did Jesus pray?

i. In this case, He rose early in the morning while it was still dark

ii. This is a great time for peace, quiet, no distractions

b. Where did Jesus Pray?

i. He left the house, where everyone was, and went to a desolate place

ii. Secluded, just Him and God

iii. By the way, if the Lord needed to pray, how much more do we need to?

c. Where Jesus preferred to pray

i. In Mark 1:35, a desolate place in the dark of early morning

ii. In Mark 6:46, he went to the mountains

iii. In Mark 14:32-42, he went to Gethsemane (which literally means “oil press”), a garden of ancient olive trees that still stands there.

iv. Why did Jesus like the deserted places?

1. Luke 4:42 “When day came, Jesus left and went to a secluded place; and the crowds were eagerly seeking for Him, and came to Him and tried to keep Him from going away from them.”

2. To remove Himself from distraction and devote His full attention to prayer.

Jesus says;

“And when you pray, you are not to be like the hypocrites; for they love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on the street corners so that they may be seen by men. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full. 6 But you, when you pray, go into your inner room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in secret, and your Father who sees what is done in secret will reward you.” Matthew 6:5-6

CONCLUSION

Over the last two weeks, we have read that the more Jesus does for the people, the more people come to Him. So much so He has to move Himself into open places to accommodate them all.

In many verses, Jesus clarifies that His purpose was to preach the Gospel.

When people tried to keep Him in one place, He explained His purpose. He moved to the next town, preached more in another Synagogue, and continued His mission.

Once Jesus preached the message in a town, He moved on to those who had not heard.

Does this mean we shouldn’t have churches or stay in one place preaching to the same people?

Absolutely not.

Preacher, teacher, missionary, evangelist, there are many callings, each with its purpose and service.

Even the Apostles stayed in the same place for extended periods (Acts 17:2; Acts 18:3-4; Acts 18:11; Acts 19:8-10)

However, our purpose remains the same. Tell as many people about the Gospel of Christ that will listen. (Mark 16:15)

Jesus reveals Himself in today’s verses as a man of compassion and service, having a prayer life, and staying true to His purpose.

As disciples of Christ, we should have compassion for the lost, take them to the Lord in prayer, be willing to serve, and stay true to our purpose, especially regarding the Great Commission.

NEXT WEEK: “Part 10: Jesus Cleanses a Leper”

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Wednesday, March 5, 2025

Gospel of Mark Part 9: At the Home of Simon and Andrew