*Mark 1:16-39
Jesus calls his first disciples, heals a demon-possessed man, and establishes himself as a powerful teacher and healer.
- Call of the Disciples
- Jesus walks by the Sea of Galilee and calls Simon (Peter) and Andrew, who are fishermen, to follow him.
- He promises to make them fishers of men.
- They immediately leave their nets and follow Jesus.
- Jesus encounters James and John, sons of Zebedee, mending their nets, and calls them too. They promptly leave their father and follow Jesus.
- Healing and Authority
- Jesus and his disciples go to Capernaum, where Jesus teaches in the synagogue on the Sabbath.
- His teaching astounds the people because he speaks with authority, unlike the scribes.
- In the synagogue, a man possessed by an unclean spirit cries out, recognizing Jesus as the Holy One of God.
- Jesus rebukes the spirit and commands it to leave the man, demonstrating his authority over unclean spirits.
- The people are amazed at his power and authority.
- Healing Peter’s Mother-in-Law and Others
- After leaving the synagogue, Jesus goes to Simon Peter’s house, where Peter’s mother-in-law is sick with a fever.
- Jesus takes her by the hand, lifts her up, and the fever leaves her immediately.
- Word spreads, and soon the whole city gathers at the door, bringing sick and demon-possessed individuals to Jesus.
- Jesus heals many who are sick with various diseases and casts out many demons.
- He does not allow the demons to speak because they know who he is.
- Preaching and Healing Throughout Galilee
- Early in the morning, Jesus rises and goes to a solitary place to pray.
- Simon Peter and others search for Jesus and find him, saying that everyone is looking for him.
- Jesus tells them they must go to other towns to preach, as that is why he came.
- He travels throughout Galilee, preaching in synagogues and casting out demons.
Daily Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for calling us to follow Jesus, just as You called the first disciples. Help us to trust You completely and to share Your love with others through our words and actions.
Teach us to seek You in prayer, as Jesus did, and to rely on Your strength for all we do. May we have hearts ready to serve and bring hope to those in need.
Thank You for guiding us each day and for Your faithfulness.
Amen.
Mark 1:16-39 (WEB)
1:16 Passing along by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew, the brother of Simon, casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you into fishers for men.”18 Immediately they left their nets, and followed him.19 Going on a little further from there, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets. 20 Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him.21 They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, 24 saying, “Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God!”25 Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”26 The unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him!” 28 The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area.29 Immediately, when they had come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 He came and took her by the hand and raised her up. The fever left her immediately, and she served them.32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to him all who were sick and those who were possessed by demons. 33 All the city was gathered together at the door. 34 He healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons. He didn’t allow the demons to speak, because they knew him.35 Early in the morning, while it was still dark, he rose up and went out, and departed into a deserted place, and prayed there. 36 Simon and those who were with him searched for him. 37 They found him and told him, “Everyone is looking for you.”38 He said to them, “Let’s go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because I came out for this reason.” 39 He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons.