The Apostle Mark is known for his brief and to the point writing. His Gospel is the shortest one and is considered the oldest one as well. In today’s reading we can see how in one short passage Mark portraits three crucial characteristics of Jesus prayer, service and witness.

Let us take a closer look at these three areas of Jesus’ life and see how they apply to our lives today. The text starts with Jesus leaving the synagogue and coming to the house of Simon and Andrew. Just as all of us do, Jesus went with his disciples to worship. He honored the third commandment: Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. But of course he wasn’t doing it just because he was supposed to, but because at all times he was seeking the presence of his Father.

How many times we hear, I believe in God, but I don’t go to church. Well if Christ lives in our hearts, if he plays important role in our lives, we’ll be seeking his presence in the community of believers, where his words are spoken to give comfort and peace, where his body is broken to give forgiveness and a fresh start, where praises are sung in joy and unity and prayers are said on behalf of the weak and struggling.

If we believe in Christ, wouldn’t we want to be a part of this? Jesus certainly did, for together with his disciples he was in synagogue every Saturday. Prayer and worship were important parts of his life. But it doesn’t stop here. For after the worship Jesus leaves the synagogue and goes to Simon’s house. Probably for lunch and a visit. Now this is where things get tricky.

I had a friend talk to me, and he said I just can’t believe in this Christianity non-sense. He said: My father gets up every Sunday morning and goes to church. My mother, stays home feeds the animals, they lived on a small farm, and then she cooks the lunch while taking care of the children. Sometimes when my father comes home, the lunch is not ready and he throws a fit and yells at my mother. Then they have a huge fight and the rest of the Sunday is ruined. Now tell me, why he went to church in first place when he acts like that at home.

Why did I share with you this story? Well it is important to go to church, but what’s even more important is what happens when you come home from church. What happens as you live your everyday life!? Do you live according to your belief!? Can people around you see Christ in your life!?

Jesus came home from synagogue and he cured Simon’s mother-in-law. By the way, if you were wondering whether some of the disciples were married, this verse lets us know that Peter certainly was. For Jesus heals his mother-in-law. But anyways, Mark describes this act in a brilliant way. He says: “Jesus came and took her by the hand and lifted her up.” After worship and prayer, Jesus goes and serves. Jesus goes and lifts others up.

A father that comes home from church and yells at his wife for the lunch isn’t ready, doesn’t lift her up but beats her down. Husbands and wives who come together to church but through the week fight, ignore each other doing their own thing, showing no love or affection aren’t lifting each other up but they’re pulling themselves down. Parents who aren’t there for their kids, who don’t spend the time with them to play, to study or to pray aren’t lifting their children up but their pulling them down. Children who rebel against their parents in any possible way, don’t lift their parents up but their pulling them down.

Jesus comes home and lifts Peter’s mother-in-law up. He takes her by the hand. (pause) Please take the hand of the person sitting next you. It’s ok they won’t bite you, just grab their hand. And now lift your hands up. That’s what our hands are for! To lift each other up! We are Jesus’ hands and Jesus sends us out to use them every time where there is a need for help, every place where there is a need of healing.

And if you are in that place right now, if you need a hand of Christ to lift you up, know that Christ is here. He is here to bless you with his healing, with his help, his words of comfort, strength and encouragement. He is here through his faithful servants, people that love you and care for you, because Christ is in their hearts. Service, a huge part of Jesus life. As he served other, he calls all of us who belong to him to do likewise. Peter’s mother-in-law, when the fever left her, she began to serve them.

And there were many others coming to Jesus, seeking the help. Just as there are many others today, seeking Jesus, seeking his help. Are we willing to be his hands, his mouth, and his body? We’ll be able to do so if we’ll follow Jesus example in today’s reading. After Jesus healed and helped many, he got up and went out to a deserted place and there he prayed. Again we’re coming back to prayer. Jesus didn’t only pray in worship, but he seeked the presence of God in the quiet time on his own. That’s where he recharged his batteries, that where he unloaded all of his burdens, that where he listened for guidance and direction.

Alone in a quiet time with God. How many times did you say, tomorrow I’m going to start the day with God, alone in the quiet place. And days keep passing by and you don’t remember what was the last time you recharged your batteries. Serve and pray. Pray and serve. Two things that can not be separated. For if we serve without prayer, sooner of later we’ll burn out, we’ll lose the direction, the sight of God’s will for our lives and his strength to serve. If we pray and pray but never put the words into action of love, we’re just a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. For faith without action is dead says apostle James. But Jesus wants us to come to him especially in the times when we’re failing, in the times when we realized that we’re pulling people down and don’t lift them up, in the times like that he wants to give us the strength to change and start over again.

And so we talked about prayer and service, but in the beginning I said there are three characteristics of Jesus portrait in today’s text. And the third one is witness. For when Peter found Jesus praying alone, and told him that everyone is looking for you, Jesus answered: Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also. For that is what Jesus came out to do. And that is what he calls and sends us to do.

Don’t just pray, don’t just serve, but witness as well. For many can serve and different intentions but you go and serve in the name of the Christ. And don’t be afraid to share it with others. It is ok to say, it is not I who helps you but Christ using my hands, my blessings, my words. We are Christ’s body, his church who is called to pray, serve and witness. Let us not do the one or the other, but with the help of Christ’s Spirit let us always do all three. Letting the world know that Christ lives in us.

Amen