Have you ever noticed in the Bible how quickly God’s healing power can come?
A while back I read through the book of Mark. It seemed like every other verse had the word “immediately” in it. Everything happens so fast. There’s a quickening pace in Mark you don’t find in the other Gospel writers.
In this week’s episode I focus mainly on the first chapter of Mark. where the immediacy of Jesus’s mission bursts upon the scene with his baptism, temptation in the wilderness, and the beginning of his preaching and healing.
Here are a few of the examples:
When Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, “immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.” (v. 10) Jesus heard a voice from heaven declare, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (v.11) There was no delay in God’s response to this event.
The very next verse says, “The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.” (v. 12)
When Jesus calls Andrew and Peter to follow him, “immediately they left their nets and followed him.” (v. 18) They didn’t hesitate a moment to respond to Jesus.
When Jesus saw James and John, “immediately he called them,” and they followed. (v. 20) Jesus didn’t waste time deliberating what to do. He knew instantly whom to ask and when to ask them.
Jesus goes to Capernaum “and immediately on the Sabbath he entered into the synagogue and was teaching.” (v. 21) He just went in and started. He waited for no man’s approval. He just did what God impelled him to do with no delay.
God’s healing power for a sick man
While he’s there, a man with an unclean spirit taunts him, and Jesus doesn’t try to reason with the man or ignore him. He instantly rebukes, not the man, but the unclean spirit. He wastes not one second in wielding his Sword of Truth and the man is healed. (vv. 25, 26)
What was the result? “And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.” (v. 28) And they didn’t even have social media
God’s healing power for everyone
That night, when the Sabbath was over, the whole town comes to the house bringing their sick folks. Jesus healed them right on the spot. He didn’t tell them to go home and pray or read the Scriptures. He healed them right there and then. (vv.32-34)
I give several more examples in this week’s episode.
The immediacy of evil’s attempts to destroy Christ
But the response from those who opposed Jesus could be just as immediate.
- When Jesus healed a man the Pharisees immediately plotted to kill him.
- Jesus explained that the devil immediately tries to take away the word of God someone has just heard.
- When Jesus finished praying in Gethsemane, immediately Judas came to betray him.
How can we experience more of the immediacy of God’s power to heal?
And how can we not be caught off guard by the immediate opposition from the evils of the world?
The key is having the same awareness that Jesus did, that the kingdom of heaven is at hand. When we are conscious of God’s presence and supremacy here on earth, as in heaven, regardless of what the outward appearances are, we can respond as Jesus did, because “we have the mind of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 2:16)
I invite you to join me in cultivating a deep awareness of this immediacy of God’s love and power to heal and save. It is part of our birthright as children of God and followers of Christ.
God’s power to heal doesn’t take time
It doesn’t take time for God to love you. It doesn’t take time for God to heal you. There is no separation of time or space between you and God.
The more we become aware of God’s immediacy, the more we’ll experience God’s presence in our lives and the more we will be inspired to take action when and how God directs us.
Take a moment right now and drink in the immediacy of God’s love and presence and power to heal.
Thanks for listening. Please share with a friend.
Blog post mentioned: The immediacy of God’s power to heal
This article is the basis for this week’s episode. Check it out.
Blessings,
James Early
Bible references
Mark 1:10-12, 15, 18, 20, 21, 25, 26, 28, 29, 31-35, 38, 40-42 ESV
10 And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove.
11 And a voice came from heaven, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.”
12 The Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness.
15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him.
20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.
25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.
31 And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. (KJV)
32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons.
33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door.
34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons.
35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed.
38 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.”
40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”
41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”
42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.
Mark 3:6 ESV
6 The Pharisees went out and immediately held counsel with the Herodians against him, how to destroy him.
Mark 4:15 ESV
15 And these are the ones along the path, where the word is sown: when they hear, Satan immediately comes and takes away the word that is sown in them.
Mark 14:43 ESV
43 And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders.
1 Corinthians 2:16 ESV
16 …we have the mind of Christ.
Photo Credit:
Erda Estremera on Unsplash
