Mark 1. Welcome to the Gospel of Mark! Mark’s account is the shortest of all the gospels and it’s quite a fast-paced narrative. As you read you will notice that Mark uses the word “immediately” rather often, giving the impression that Jesus and his disciples were rushing about on their kingdom mission in the world. In fact, Mark skips right over most of the details related to Jesus’ birth and childhood, and we encounter 30-year-old Jesus on the day of his baptism in chapter one. Isn’t it great that we have four gospel narratives, each filing in different details of the life and ministry of Jesus?

As we read Mark, I propose we ask a question to help focus our thinking and reflecting. Let’s approach each chapter with the question, “How does Jesus interact with people?” With this question in mind, I see the following details in chapter one:

Jesus calls out to ordinary people as they go about their daily lives. He is walking along the seashore and calls out to Simon and Andrew, and then to James and John. He called them (1:20). They were not academics, or high-respected members of the religious leadership. They were regular, blue collar, hard-working men who were doing the best they could with the circumstances of their lives. Jesus saw them, reached out to them, and they responded.

Jesus is concerned about people who are sick and suffering. We read that Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever… and Jesus came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her (1:30-31). Jesus is not too busy to stop and care for those who are suffering. He brings healing and restoration to them. We see that Jesus healed many who were sick with various diseases and cast out many demons (1:34). The presence and touch of Jesus brought restoration and freedom to those who were suffering.

Jesus is full of empathy. A leper came to him, imploring him and kneeling… and Jesus was moved with pity (1:40-41). His heart is broken for this one who is suffering, and Jesus heals him.

The Jesus we meet in chapter one engages with regular people and is full of empathy and compassion for them. He brings wholeness and restoration. This is Jesus – a figure we are drawn to, one we hope would call out to us and have compassion on us in our suffering and brokenness.

Is Jesus calling out to you now? How are you responding? Did you know that he is broken-hearted and full of pity for our sufferings? Have you come to him for healing and restoration?