Our Source of Strength

And immediately after they came out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and immediately they *spoke to Jesus about her. And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she waited on them. When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. And the whole city had gathered at the door. 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. In the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and was praying there. Simon and his companions searched for Him; they found Him, and said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” He said to them, “Let us go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may preach there also; for that is what I came for.” And He went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out the demons.

Mark 1: 29-39

Where does your strength come from?

Strength for the Christian and strength for Christ comes in prayer and constant communication with God.

Jesus had a purpose in coming to earth. He came here to die. He came to give His life as a ransom – to pay the price to save us from our sins.

He spent the full time of His earthly ministry looking forward to that one purpose – to pay the price to save us from the punishment for our sins.

But before He could do that, He had another act to complete. Before He could suffer the humiliation or be rejected by most of all people, and even His own friends and neighbors, He had to demonstrate His purpose in coming to earth in the form of a human man.

What all that means is this…He needed to be accepted as a man. He had to be believable.

During Jesus’ daily walk we see that the multitudes of people that came to hear Jesus fulfill numerous requests that people brought to Him.

This made Jesus a popular character. What made Him so popular?

The people say in Him a man who had an answer to every crisis that would come their way in their lives.

They found someone who claimed He could have an influence in their lives --- and He did make that difference --- in terms we would use today ---he followed through with His promises.

One such event is recorded in this portion of the Scripture --- in verses 30 & 31, we read about Peter’s mother-in-law, who was sick with a fever.

For Jesus, it was simply a matter of taking her by her hand and raising her up from her bed. Immediately, the fever left her.

That is Power! That is power possessed by Jesus, the Son of God, but it was also the power that was present in the apostles’ faith that Jesus could be effective in the condition of this mother.

That account of the source of strength was in a more personal setting – in the home of Simon.

Later that same evening, people began knocking at the door of Simon Peter’s house.

Those in need of healing of their illnesses and those who were possessed by demons. These were also healed and relieved of the demons and the illnesses that had taken over their lives and behaviors.

That was quite an eventful night for Jesus and all who witnessed those events.

We can assume that Jesus was able to get some rest following all that happened. The Scripture says – in verse 35 – “in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and way praying there.”

Why, do you suppose, Jesus went out into a secluded place? Did He just need to get away from everyone because they were crowding Him?

Did He want to get away from those who had witnessed the healing of Peter’s mother-in-law, and they were wanting some of His power for themselves?

No, none of that.

Jesus needed to go to a place where He could be alone and son that He could renew His strength.

We, in our own lives, go through some tough times, very trying times, stressful times and events. And, when we do we need a time of refreshing so that we can continue with strength to go on.

That is what Jesus sought here ----- a renewed source of strength.

In Jesus’ example of retiring to a place alone we can also discover our source of a new – or renewed- strength.

Where can we discover a strength like Jesus sought and received?

Here’s how Jesus did it and how we also can gain a renewed strength when we feel we are defeated or at a loss of how to go on in a challenging time.

• Jesus prayed for a renewed strength.

• Jesus prayed to God for a restoration of His perspective.

• Jesus prayed to further and fully discover and know God’s will.

Let me repeat a statement I made at the beginning --- “Strength for the Christian and strength for Christ comes in prayer and constant communication with God.”

Prayer was a source of strength for Jesus. In the same way, prayer is a source of strength for us as well.

It has been said that without the contrasts of life its beautiful color would soon fade to a black and white experience.

Think about it --- if the toil of the day did not have the promise of night and a time for rest, life would certainly be without much enjoyment.

So, good would seem very mundane if there were never any evil to contrast it.

It is the contrasts in life that give It color, meaning, and appreciation.

Think about this in relation to the reaction of the people who saw and heard Jesus teaching in the days while He was on the earth.

He had to come to die --- to take our sins and our sorrows and bear them alone on the cross at Calvary.

There are always contrasts in our lives and often those contrasts give life a balance. That fact is important in Jesus’ life and purpose.

You see, before a person can be rejected, he must first be accepted.

Jesus preached and taught those who would listen about His Father God, and God’s purpose in sending Him to earth. And so, people followed Him.

He was accepted among multitudes. People began to follow Him because He had something they needed.

After all, we can read in Matthew chapter 5 the things Jesus promised the crowds as He preached what we call the Sermon on the Mount.

“Blessed are those who are poor in spirit; those who mourn, those who are gentle, those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers, the persecuted ---and the rewards --- the kingdom of heaven; comfort, inheritance, satisfied, mercy, see God, even to become sons of God; the kingdom of Heaven.” Eternal Life. Never Dying. Living Forever.

Wow! All that sounds like a great deal. Count me in!

But then --- the rejection came when He preached repentance – when He called a sinner a sinner.

Jesus had come to die --- to forgive us of our sins and bear our sorrows --- even all the way to Calvary and the cross.

From the time Jesus began His ministry on earth people began to follow Him – to believe in Him.

But after the passing of time, there were those who began to see Him as a threat to their way of life --- and the life of “doing it their way” was in opposition to what Jesus was teaching.

When Jesus taught: “If anyone would come after Me, he must deny himself, accept his cross and follow me.” ---Matthew 16:24

When the people heard that demand from Jesus they began to lose their devotion to Him. What He was asking was too costly for them.

And, you know, nothing has changed as we look at today’s world. ‘

Multitudes of people have come to believe in Jesus as Christ, God’s Son. And, they have been obedient to accept Him as the Christ, the Son of the Living God, been baptized and pledged their lives to Him --- but then the following became too demanding – limiting the life they had before and still yearned to live.