May the words of my mouth and the meditation of our hearts be pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.
That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. The whole town gathered at the door, and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.
Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. Simon and his companions went to look for him, and when they found him, they exclaimed: "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "Let us go somewhere else--to the nearby villages--so I can preach there also. That is why I have come." So he traveled throughout Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and driving out demons. (Mark 1:29-39)

In Christ's name and to his glory, dear friends: As we watch Jesus through the eyes of Mark today and listen to our Savior speak in this Gospel I hope that you notice bravery, a confidence, an assuredness, and optimism that is lacking all to often in us who struggle with our sinful flesh. But I also hope that you will remember that this is the Gospel, the good news of what God has done for us in Christ. Jesus does not give us this little snap shot of himself to shame us. No, his optimism is meant to be contagious by divine design. Because Jesus was optimistically doing his work here on earth, you and I have reason to be optimistic. For all that he did he did for us! Today we consider the Gospel of Mark 1:29-39 and see that THE CHRISTIAN IS AN OPTIMIST.

The Christian sees hope even in difficult times. Sickness plays a big part in this Gospel. The mother-in-law of Peter is down, sick in bed. People have various diseases and even demon possession. If anything can get us down, and make us pessimistic, it is when we or someone close to us is sick. Perhaps we don't think of this, but sickness is one of the effects of sin in the world. We often think of death and condemnation as results of sin, but these are not the only ill effects of that first sin of Adam. Sickness, pain, and disease - all these came as a result of sin and disobedience to God. As such it is meant to be unpleasant. It's part of the "frustration" that the Lord has subjected the world to in the hopes that we will come to and remain repentant (Romans 8:20,21). This fact - the good intent of God in sending sickness - is the beginning of being optimistic even in difficult times. It is when struggling with difficulties like sickness that we learn by experience how desperately we need the Lord. And it is when we are in difficulties from which we cannot rescue ourselves that we are able to see the power of our Savior. Once when the disciples and Jesus came across a blind man the disciples ask, "Who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind?" "Neither this man nor his parents sinned," said Jesus, "but this happened so that the work of God might be displayed in his life. Difficulties set us up to see the Lord's wonders. It's only when there is no wine that we are set to see what Jesus can do. It's only when there is a storm that we can see what it means when Jesus says, "Don't be afraid; it is I." It's only when we have but two fish a few loaves of bread that we look to Jesus who says, "Tell the people to sit down..." And so the Christian strives to be optimistic.

There is good reason to hope and expect good things of God. He is more powerful than the demons that craftily, successfully introduced sin into the world. They cannot live where Jesus does not want them to live. Notice how Jesus drives them out of people. Nor can the effects of sin, like sickness, stay whenever the sin-destroying Jesus commands it to leave. Notice how Peter's mother-in-law and the others are healed from the various sicknesses. He had come to remove sin, the cause of sickness. Once the cause was removed, then the effects would be gone as well. Jesus' miracles were meant to assure us of this.

Now it is true that Jesus sometimes has to say to us what he said to his mother at the wedding in Cana who wanted Jesus to take action on her schedule. "Woman, my time has not yet come," Jesus had to say to his impatient mother. I know that we sin time after time by not remaining optimistic when God does not keep pace with our plans. And as we see him in this Gospel today we ought to remember that this Jesus had willingly placed himself under his heavenly Father's schedule, just as we are. We often loose heart, question God, and fail to be optimistic as we live under our Lord. Jesus never failed to be optimistic. He would live and work, suffer and die and ever say, "Your will be done." And all the while he remained optimistic even when friends got sick and died, close friends turned on him, and life was difficult. In other words, all the while he fear, loved, and trusted God. This he did for us, so that we too can be optimistic despite our sin. For Christ's obedience covers over our sin so that when God the Father looks at us he sees us as he sees his perfect Son - holy and perfect.

The Christian prays since he knows the Lord is listening. One victorious day gave way to another. And we hear that Jesus, fresh off the victories of the previous day starts his new day in prayer. Prayer was a regular part of Christ's optimistic life here on earth. That shows that Jesus, the Creator who became flesh, had put himself in the position that we are - dependant on God the Father. Of course, he would be optimistic as he prayed. There was no sin getting in the way between he and the Father. Psalm 24 says, Who may ascend the hill of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to an idol or swear by what is false. He will receive blessing from the LORD. As the sinless Son of God Jesus was optimistic in prayer.

As we watch him today, do not be afraid to see that as Jesus was optimistic in prayer we too can be so. We too have clean hands and a pure heart. We did not come by these naturally, as did our Lord Jesus. We came by our purity through our Lord Jesus. The blood of Jesus Christ his Son purifies us from all unrighteousness. Satan can do nothing about Jesus rescue work. It's done successfully and while it was going on Satan was no match. Satan was powerful but Jesus was infinitely more so. And Jesus has won the victory. Satan can do nothing about that. So now Satan turns his frustrated anger on us, who benefit from Jesus' victory. Satan wants us shy and anxious in prayer, as if there were still some reason that God would not be listening to us. Satan wants us foolish about prayer, thinking that it doesn't really help or that it isn't all that necessary since God will do whatever he wants anyway without our prayers. But then up pops our Savior in this Gospel. "You needn't worry about how God feels about you. He is your dear Father and you his dear children. Be bold. And be children. It is not a sign of weakness that you need his help. I too looked to the Father to sustain me when I walked where you are now. Be an optimistic prayer, like I was."