Mark 1:29-39
29 On leaving the synagogue he entered the house of Simon and Andrew with James and John.
30 Simon's mother-in-law lay sick with a fever. They immediately told him about her.
31 He approached, grasped her hand, and helped her up. Then the fever left her and she waited on them.
32 When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were ill or possessed by demons.
33 The whole town was gathered at the door.
34 He cured many who were sick with various diseases, and he drove out many demons, not permitting them to speak because they knew him.
35 Rising very early before dawn, he left and went off to a deserted place, where he prayed.
36 Simon and those who were with him pursued him
37 and on finding him said, "Everyone is looking for you."
38 He told them, "Let us go on to the nearby villages that I may preach there also. For this purpose have I come."
39 So he went into their synagogues, preaching and driving out demons throughout the whole of Galilee.
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This picks up immediately after yesterday's passage. It is the sabbath, and Christ has just cast out an unclean spirit. The same day he heals Simon's mother in law. From early on in his ministry, he shows that it is acceptable to God to do God's work on the Sabbath. We also see another example of Christ withdrawing to solitude to pray.
Sometimes Mark is so brief in his descriptions of amazing events that I need to go back and read them again. For example, in v33 he tells us that the whole town was gathered at Simon's door. That had to have been quite a scene. We never hear anything about Simon's wife, but it makes me wonder what she thought of all of this. :)
