Don't Panic

When trouble or crisis hits what's the first thing that you do? Panic? Phone your Mum? Pray? In Mark 1:30 Simon and Andrew take Jesus and James and John home, but Simon's mother-in-law is ill with a fever. There is no paracetamol to hand. But Mark tells us that immediately (TNIV) they told Jesus about her. So Jesus helps her up and the fever goes.

I'm sure that most Christians, if you were to ask them what you should do when trouble strikes, would respond 'pray' - but how many of us do? 

Simon and Andrew had just seen Jesus heal a man by driving out an evil spirit. In comparison a fever probably didn't seem too big a deal. But for many of us, our experience of prayer is that all too often God doesn't seem to answer. People get sick and we pray for them and they get worse. Or else they go to the doctor and respond to the medicine - just like everyone else. So why should I pray immediately - in fact, why should I pray at all?

Miracles were very important for Mark - although his is the shortest gospel he records the most miracles. The miracles were a sign that Jesus was the Messiah. They were also a sign that the Kingdom of God was at hand. As God moves in, the powers of darkness have to move out. The trouble was that most people started to focus on the signpost rather than what it was pointing to. Crowds looked for Jesus in order to see or experience a healing miracle. But Jesus wasn't just here to perform miracles, he was here to proclaim the Kingdom of God and bring people to repentance and belief. It got so bad that Jesus wasn't even free to enter the villages anymore (Mark 1:38 & 45).

So then, what is prayer and why should we pray?

In all the busyness of his ministry Jesus took time out to pray - time when he could be alone with God without distraction. The only time this was possible was very early in the morning when everyone else was still asleep (Mark 1:35). If Jesus felt the need to spend time with God - how much more do we need regular time with God.

But what's the point if my prayers don't get answered? Come back on Friday for a few thoughts on that question.