Devotion - Wednesday, February 29

I recently had the opportunity to preach on Mark 1:29-45. I chose to reflect on the verses which expose Jesus' decision to depart so soon. I reflected on this as a pattern. He often leaves sooner than any would want him to. He even leaves the disciples, alone in Jerusalem, when he submits to the arrest of the angry mob.

There is another interesting twist in this section of Mark's gospel; one always catches my attention, but not long enough to be developed into a sermon.

Jesus leaves the synagogue, enters the house of Simon, whose mother-in-law is sick. Jesus reaches his hand out to her, and the fever leaves her, immediately. Not so out-of-the-ordinary, when it is Jesus at the center of the activity. Here in Mark 1, he heals many persons.

What gives me pause is the next verse. It says that Jesus took her by the hand and lifted her up. The fever left her, "and she served them." What does that mean, "She served them"?

The image which comes to my mind is that of my mother-in-law who would overextend herself in order to make family celebrations meaningful. Of one who serves up a wonderful meal, completed by the opportunity for the guests to sit and relax and enjoy each others company.

Jesus comes into this woman's home. She is ill. He heals her. And immediately she rises and begins to serve. There is no pause for reveling in the good fortune that has come her way; there is no analysis of why she was the one to receive this expression of grace. She rises, and begins to serve.

I would hope we would all learn a lesson from this quick little reference. We too have been blessed with expressions of God's loving hand, we too have been made well. What do we do now? Go on with our individual lives? Parade around campus saying "Look at what I got from God?" Or do we rise and begin to serve?

As Christians we profess a God who takes on the form of the servant and gives all he has. As Christians, as followers of the one who does this, we too are called to serve. It is our place and or purpose to serve.

Rise, and meet the day which lies before you. Rise and begin your service.