LXXXIX. HE HEALETH ONE THAT HAD A DEVIL. St. Mark i. 21-28. And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. Our Lord accompanied by the four Disciples He had come from choosing, returns to Capernaum, which was for the present His usual abode, and which was situated on the shore of that Sea of Galilee where He had just seen and called them. The first Sabbath, as it would seem, which followed that event, He began to teach in the Synagogue of Capernaum, as he had done before in the Synagogue at Nazareth. His teaching, so different both in its manner and in its effect to that of their ordinary teachers, the scribes, filled the people with surprise." "He taught them as one that had authority," and "His word was with power." 2 Here was an evidence of it. A man possessed with a devil 3 And continued to do so on subsequent Sabbath days. St. Luke iv. 31. 2 St. Luke iv. 32, 36. Into the subject of demoniacal possession it is impossible to enter in a commentary of this kind. It must suffice to refer to what has been said hereon by Abp. Trench, and others. happened to be in the Synagogue. The presence of Him, who for this purpose was manifested that He might destroy the works of the devil, excites the unclean spirit within the man. It cries out, startled as a criminal, at the unexpected appearance of his captor. Already have the devil and his angels apprehended in Jesus of Nazareth' their destined destroyer. "Earth has not recognised her King, has not yet perceived Him under His disguise; but Heaven and hell alike bear witness unto Him: the devils also believe and tremble.'" But the Lord suffers them not to speak because they knew Him. He receives not testimony from Satan. This would be to give colour to that charge of collusion which blaspheming Pharisees sought to fasten on Him, "He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils." From the father of falsehood He is unwilling to receive even the testimony of truth.3 Here the baffled spirit in retreating utters an inarticulate cry of disappointment and despair, vexing its victim most at the moment when it is compelled to come out of him; even as Pharaoh never treated the children of Israel worse than just when they were escaping from his grasp." The effect is mentioned on the minds of the beholders; amazement and something more. It led to canvassing His claims, and His fame spread like fire through the country side. The report is not confined to Capernaum, but precedes Him into every place of Galilee, and reaches even to the regions beyond. The works that He did bare witness of Him. 1 Dean Alford notes that "this epithet often occurs under strong contrast to His majesty and glory." 2 Abp. Trench, who remarks that there is no contradiction between St. Luke who says (iv. 35) that the evil spirit "hurt him not," and St. Mark L XC. HE HEALETH SIMON PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW. St. Mark i. 29-31. And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her. And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 2 The Lord's works of mercy were wrought in private as well as in public. Little rest He allowed Himself. He has just come from casting out a dæmon in the synagogue, and He proceeds to heal disease in the house. This house seems to have been the joint abode of Simon, afterwards called Peter, and Andrew his brother. There they seem to have given a home to the mother-in-law of the former. They were not only kind to her, but she seems to have been dear to them. Her illness, "a great fever,"1 which laid her low,2 evidently causes them an anxiety which affection only could inspire. They immediately tell the Master. "They besought Him," so St. Luke says in his account,3" for her." "And He came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up." This virtue went forth from Him. "He rebuked the fever," so St. Luke again records, as He had just rebuked the dæmon in the synagogue, and as He afterwards rebuked the storm at sea; and “immediately," as in the case of the nobleman's son at Capernaum, "the fever left her;" left her so completely that, instead of the great weakness that long attends even recovery in such cases, she was able at once to minister to them at what was probably their mid-day meal. "Restoration to health by any ordinary means would not have enabled Simon's mother-in-law to do this. We all So St. Luke, "the beloved Physician," in his account (iv. 38) exactly states. 2 St. Matt. viii. 14. 3 Ch. iv. 38. 4 Ch. iv. 39. know that it fares far otherwise with a patient on his first recovery from fever." 1 But here instant strength takes the place of previous weakness, as that storm on the neighbouring Sea of Galilee subsided at His word, into a great calm. So this woman proved at once the completeness of her cure and the liveliness of her gratitude. This miracle, we may note, consisted not, as in some other cases, in the cure of what was otherwise incurable, but in the manner in which the cure was effected; the fever fleeing, as a conquered combatant, at the voice and touch of this stronger than the strong. Next, though He knows what things we have need of before we ask, and our ignorance in asking, he yet, we may see, requires us to ask in order to receive. Then, in thus "providing for her son's guests," this woman becomes "a pattern to all who have been restored to spiritual health, that they should use this strength in ministering to Christ and to His people." 3 2 XCI. HE HEALETH MANY. St. Mark i. 32-34. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him. With the Jews the day ended at even-tide. At sun-set they reckoned another day to begin. The Sabbath therefore was now over, and they were not hindered by any scruple from bringing to the Healer any that were sick. The good Physician by His miracle in the Synagogue had already taught them that it was lawful to do good and to 1 A Plain Commentary. 3 Abp. Trench. 2 St. Luke xi. 21, 22. heal on the Sabbath days; but they seem to have waited, according to their traditions, till the Sabbath was past. Hardly however do they wait for it, and while the sun is still setting they come in crowds. The whole city is gathered together at the door of Simon Peter's house in Capernaum. A house of mercy indeed it was, the Church itself from out which the Saviour dispenses that grace by which all the diseases of our souls may be healed. What a picture might this make! All the sufferers in that city, brought in beds or on couches, and laid before the door! And still men would do as much for the relief of the body, though they are unmoved when they hear that He is still willing equally to heal the soul. Here none were sent empty away. "He laid His hands on every one of them and healed them." And still His promise is to souls that need His healing, "Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out." But not bodily sickness only yielded to the Saviour's touch; devils even were dispossessed by His mighty word. They proclaim Him, as they cower before Him, the Christ, the Son of God.3 But He receives not testimony from Satan. They knew 3 by their defeat what the people as yet knew not; but the Lord silenced them, and suffered them not to continue their witness lest "some countenance might thus seem to be given to the calumny of His enemies, that He acted in collusion with them." So St. Paul afterwards "stopped the mouth of the spirit of divination who tried to conciliate him by calling him the servant of the Most High God." Another Evangelist notes in all this work of healing the fulfilment of Isaiah's prophecy, "Himself took our infirmities, and bare our sicknesses." 1 St. Luke iv. 40. 2 St. Matt. viii. 16. 4 "At even, 'ere the sun was set, The sick, O Lord, around Thee lay: 3 St. Luke iv. 41; 1 St. John iii. 8. Bp. Wordsworth. 5 St. Matt. viii. 17. 6 Hymns Ancient and Modern. |