Lessons learned when meditating

on the order of Jesus' public ministry

As Jesus began His public ministry,

the first thing He did was preach the gospel of God

(Mark 1:14-15).

Then, He called His disciples (vv. 16-20),

and after that, He went into the synagogue and taught (vv. 21-22).

Following that, He cast out an unclean spirit from a man

possessed by a demon in the synagogue, healing him (vv. 23-27).

Then, He took Simon's mother-in-law by the hand,

raised her up, and healed her from a fever (vv. 29-31).

As I meditate on this sequence, the lesson I receive is that,

above all else, the priority should be preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ

[Ref.: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation”

 (Mark 16:15)].

Next, making disciples is essential

[Ref.: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations…”

(Matthew 28:19)].

After that, the ministry of teaching must be done diligently and consistently

[Ref.: “Command and teach these things.

Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young,

but set an example for the believers in speech,

in conduct, in love, in faith, and in purity.

Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture,

to preaching, and to teaching”

(1 Timothy 4:11-13)].

In the midst of all this, as I meditate on Jesus' healing ministry,

my prayer is that through the gospel of God that He preaches

and the Word of God that He teaches,

He will reveal the power of the gospel

and the power of the Word,

healing the hearts of Jesus’ disciples above all.