What is it that you most want from Jesus? I suppose most of us pray for our own health and the health of our loved ones. We might also pray for relief from various sorts of problems – besetting sins, bad habits, or even addictions. But the bottom line is that we want our lives to be as smooth and pain-free as possible.

The people in today’s passage were no different. Once they found out that Jesus had the power to heal, they came from everywhere, bringing the sick and the demon-possessed. And Jesus healed “many who were ill with various diseases” (verse 34).

That’s still good news today – we worship a God Who has the power to heal us and to set us free. So, there’s nothing wrong with asking Him for such deliverance. Indeed, verse 30 indicates that we can even pray on behalf of others and expect God to bless them, just as Jesus’ disciples brought His attention to the needs of Simon’s mother-in-law.

But however great God’s blessings may be for us in this world, verse 38 reminds us that there’s something even more important. For Jesus told His disciples that He hadn’t been sent primarily to be a doctor, but to proclaim the good news. And why? Because only forgiveness of our sin and restoration to a right relationship with God have eternal significance for us. In contrast, all of those people whose bodies Jesus healed that day eventually died.

So there’s nothing wrong with asking God for physical healing. And of course we should respond to whatever deliverance Christ gives us in this world the way that Simon Peter’s mother-in-law did – by serving Jesus with all our hearts. But the best way we can do that is to keep the main thing the main thing – to keep our focus on what is truly lasting, and to encourage others to put Christ first in their lives as well.

Mark 1:29-39 (NASB)

29 And immediately after they left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law was lying sick with a fever; and they immediately *spoke to Jesus about her. 31 And He came to her and raised her up, taking her by the hand, and the fever left her, and she served them.
32 Now when evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city had gathered at the door. 34 And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
35 And in the early morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house, and went away to a secluded place, and prayed there for a time. 36 Simon and his companions eagerly searched for Him; 37 and they found Him and *said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 He *said to them, “Let’s go somewhere else to the towns nearby, so that I may also preach there; for this is why I came.” 39 And He went into their synagogues preaching throughout Galilee, and casting out the demons.