Mark 1:32-34

³² So, Later, after the sun had set, they were bringing to him all the ones who are sick[1] and the ones who are demon possessed. ³³ And the whole city was there, because they have been gathered to the door. ³⁴ And he healed[2] many who were sick, having various kinds of diseases, and he cast out many demons; but he was not allowing the demons to speak, because they had recognized him.

reaching the whole city

The Capernaum campaign was designed to get the Gospel message about Jesus out to the most people.  From that standpoint, it was quite successful.  But note the context of the story.  Jesus had taught in the synagogue, then has a time of rest at Peter’s house, then, after the day’s teaching, he is met by this crowd from the whole city at the door.

It is tempting to conclude that the healing and deliverance ministry was the key to their success.  After all, who does not know someone who has something wrong with them?  A family with a sick child, or a brother with a possessed brother would certainly be drawn to Jesus just for the chance for deliverance.  But Mark reminds his readers that this show of power was not the whole story.  There were demons who were being driven out, but Jesus made sure that those demons said nothing.  Mark had told the story about a demon who recognised Jesus as the “Holy One from God” (1:21-24).  The demon had been afraid that judgment day had come, and that Jesus was there to destroy him.  If these demons were allowed to steal the show, they would have distracted the people from the kingdom message that Jesus had been probably teaching in the synagogue. 

Ultimately, the Capernaum campaign was not a success, because Jesus later condemns Capernaum for rejecting his message, in spite of the display of miracles (Matthew 11:23-24).  Healing and deliverance has its place as a ministry of Christ and his church.  We should seek to care for the broken as a means of spreading the gospel.  But that is only one of the many means of getting the gospel out to the whole city.

LORD, give us wisdom to get your gospel message out, utilising many means so that we reach as many as possible.

[1] lit. “the ones having something wrong with them”

[2] θεραπευω (1:34; 3:2, 10; 6:5, 13).