Gather at the Door

DEVOTION

THE GOSPEL OF MARK

GATHER AT THE DOOR

Mark 1:32-34

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

NIV

Not sure if we ever need to have a conversation with a demon in order to find out who Jesus is, but it seems that would be one way. But the point here is not about demons, but about Jesus healing many, and driving out many demons. These are the two things which cause so much hardship in people’s lives. Both sickness and demonic powers bring all sorts of torment and temptation into the lives of people, but Jesus can heal both. As it was in the time Jesus actually walked on earth it is the same today. If we believed enough the whole town, well maybe the whole church would gather at the door where Jesus is and be healed of various diseases. Yes the churches send out prayer requests for individuals, but when we gather together, for the most part we ask prayer for someone’s aunt who has a friend whose next door neighbors daughter needs whatever. We might suppose that is right because we are bringing the needs of others Jesus, but what about us? Are we not part of the whole town? Are we so healthy we don’t need any healing? What about the demons in our life? What about those things which continue to tempt us? What about the area of our life we are too embarrassed to admit? Should we not bring everything to Jesus? It is one thing to ask for forgiveness and it is quite another to ask to be healed or delivered. Maybe we just want forgiveness but actually are not ready for healing and deliverance because we want to hang on to illness or temptation for a little longer. It seems, at least with us older ones that our conversations mostly turn towards all our infirmities. Doesn’t Jesus heal the older ones too? So what’s with all the conversations about what’s wrong with our bodies? Do we think just because we are old we should have infirmities? Noah was five hundred and worked on building the ark for one hundred years. Moses was over eighty when he traveled for forty years leading people, lots of walking, lots of miles. So what is so different about us? Sure we don’t live as long as some of those of old did, but we surely should not sit down and live with our infirmities, comparing ours with others, to see who has more or worse ones. We should get to that door what Jesus is and he will heal us, as he is so inclined to do. And if we are bothered by demonic powers, by temptations that is seems we cannot overcome alone, then we need to get to the place Jesus is, and he will drive them either out or away. We need to gather at that door.