Scripture: Mark 1:21-45

Aim: To emphasize how men sought after Jesus Christ and to draw some lessons for us today.

Golden Text: “And Simon, and they that were with him followed after him. And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee” (Mark 1:37).

Many years ago a little gospel tract was written and greatly distributed at Christmas time. It is still used today. The truth of its title is still the same: “Wise Men Still Seek Jesus.”

Please take note that Jesus Christ came into the world to “seek and to save” the lost sinner. Jehovah God seeks men to worship Him in spirit and in truth. The Holy Spirit seeks to bring men to saving faith in Jesus Christ. God is seeking man; however, man in general is not seeking God, or Christ, or salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. Yet, some men “seek” after Jesus. The important question for those who seek Jesus Christ is this: “What is the motive for which Jesus is sought?”

In the Gospel of Mark, the word translated “seek” (see the Golden Text above) is found nine times. It is used in different ways. The disciples “seek” Him because the multitude is looking for Him for healing (1:37). His mother and brothers came “seeking” to speak with Him (2:32). The scribes and chief priests “sought” a sign from Him that He was Messiah (8:11). The scribes and chief priests “sought” how they “might destroy Him” (11:18; 14:1). Leaders of the Jews “sought” how they might “lay hands on Him” to kill him (12:12). Judas “sought” to betray Him (14:11). The leaders of the Jews “sought” for a witness against Jesus to condemn Him (14:55). The followers of Christ came to the tomb “seeking” Jesus (16:6). Here are several different motives for seeking Jesus.

Again, the question remains for those who are seeking after Jesus: “What is your motive? What do you want with Jesus?” Whether or not one “finds Jesus” is dependent upon his answer to this question. God’s requirement is “And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart” (Jeremiah 29:13).

I. Demons sought to identify Jesus with themselves (Mark 1:21-27). Jesus was confronted with a man who was demon possessed. The demons began to declare that they knew that Jesus was the “holy one of God.” Jesus cast them out of the man with a rebuke to the demon to “hold thy peace and come out of him.” The demon obeyed. Jesus would not allow the demons to proclaim His divine identity because this would appear that He was confederate with them. Later some claimed that Jesus spoke by the prince of devils. If Jesus was confederate with demons, He was discredited as being the Son of God. Demons were trying to use Jesus to be acceptable to men.

II. Jesus became very popular (Mark 1:28-38). He healed Peter’s mother in law (vs. 29-31). This furthered his popularity (vs. 28 and 32). The whole population of the village came to seek Jesus for healing and out of curiosity (vs. 33). He healed many of them. The next morning the people were still seeking Jesus. The disciples sought Jesus to satisfy the people (vs. 35-37). Jesus took the disciples and moved on to other villages (vs. 38).

III. Jesus healed a leper and was hindered from ministry in the city (Mark 1:39-45). Jesus asked the man to go show himself to the priest, but, instead, he published his healing all over town. This caused the people to seek Jesus for reasons other than spiritual ones. Jesus could no longer enter the city because of the foolish reasons for which men sought Him (vs. 44-45).

Are you a seeker after Jesus Christ? What is your motive? To seek Him for salvation is to please Him. To seek Him to truly worship and honor Him is acceptable. To seek Him for the strength and help to be what He wants one to be in His will is pleasing to Him. To seek Him to be acceptable to others, to discredit Him, to dishonor Him is never acceptable. Why do you seek Him?