Mark 1.38 - a Procrustean bed?

Mark 1.38 A Procrustean bed?
Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else—to the nearby villages—so I can preach there also. That is why I have come.

No Christian can doubt the importance of the spoken word, for the prophetic is central to the bible story, not least the ministry of Jesus Christ. However, in my opinion, it has become routine to focus on the spoken to the exclusion of the enacted word when, in truth, both are equally important. In this regard Mark 1.38 - the lectionary reading for Sunday 8 February - has become something of a proof text.

In the days when I attended Proclamation Trust Conferences - and I have to say they were a great blessing to me - it was axiomatic that Jesus' ministry was primarily one of preaching and in this verse lay the summary evidence. However, this case can only be made by ignoring the context, both before and after. Immediately before, Jesus' heals Simon's mother-in-law, plus many sick. Immediately after, he drives out demons and heals a leper.

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. 31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them. 32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons....
39 So he travelled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. 40 A man with leprosy came to him and begged him on his knees, "If you are willing, you can make me clean." 41 Jesus was indignant. He reached out his hand and touched the man. "I am willing," he said. "Be clean!" 42 Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cleansed.

All of which suggests that Jesus came both to announce the in breaking of the Kingdom of God and to realise its arrival through his actions.

Similarly, Christians are called to share in both the ministry of Christ the Prophet - by declaring the Word of God - Christ the priest - by mediating God's healing and forgiveness - and Christ the King - by sharing his just and good rule over the world that is his.

What God has united - that is word and deed - let no man put asunder, to paraphrase Jesus' words on another occasion.

I will have more to say about this in a later post. Meanwhile reflect on what it means to share the Good News in today's world by viewing the beautiful video below taken from the website of Trinity Grace Church in NYC.