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NASB (UPDATED) TEXT: Mar_1:32-34
32When evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all who were ill and those who were demon-possessed. 33And the whole city had gathered at the door. 34And He healed many who were ill with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He was not permitting the demons to speak, because they knew who He was.
Mar_1:32 "When evening came" Apparently this was after twilight, so the Sabbath was officially over and physical healings were now rabbinically legal.
▣ "bringing to Him" This is an Imperfect tense which means "continually carrying." Jesus did not want to be known as a miracle worker, but a proclaimer of truth (cf. Luk_4:43), yet the word was out (cf. Mar_1:28).
▣ "ill" Mar_1:32 implies that "all" who were sick or demon possessed in the entire town were brought to Jesus. Mar_1:34 states that He healed or delivered "many" of them, but not everyone. It is interesting that the terms "all" and "many" are often used synonymously in the Bible (cf. Isa_53:6 vs. Isa_53:11-12 and Rom_5:18. Mar_1:19). It is uncertain whether Jesus healed everyone brought to Him or many of them. At the pool of Bethesda in Jerusalem, it is recorded that Jesus only healed one of many sick persons. Jesus did not go out of His way to heal, but if the situation presented itself (i.e., a teaching moment for the disciples plus Jesus' compassion for the hurting and needy) He acted in power. He did go out of His way for the purpose of evangelism (i.e., the Samaritan woman, cf John 4, especially Mar_1:4). Healing was a sign, but evangelism was the purpose and focus of His ministry.
There is some confusion about Jesus' methodology in healing; sometimes it is dependent on the faith response of the sick person, sometimes on the faith of one of their friends or loved ones and often for the purpose of showing His power, unrelated to faith on the receiver's part. Salvation did not automatically accompany physical deliverance or healing.
▣ "these who were demon possessed" Notice the distinction between illness and demon possession.
Mar_1:33 These townspeople were curious and some were desperate for physical health and spiritual wholeness.
Mar_1:34 "He healed many" This verse is the first of many in Mark (cf. Mar_1:34; Mar_1:43-44; Mar_3:12; Mar_4:11; Mar_5:43; Mar_7:24; Mar_7:36; Mar_8:26; Mar_8:30; Mar_9:9) which have often been referred to as "Mark's Messianic Secret." Jesus tells the disciples and those He heals not to tell about His healing acts. Jesus did not want to be known merely as a healer or miracle worker. These were only signs that pointed to His Messiahship, which at this point in His life had not been fully revealed. Jesus came to (1) reveal the Father; (2) give Himself as a sacrifice for sin; and (3) give believers an example to follow. The healings and deliverances were only signs of His compassion for the weak, sick, and outcast. This was also an OT predicted sign of the ministry of the Messiah (cf. Isa_61:1).
▣ "was not permitting the demons to speak" This is imperfect tense, implying several exorcisms (cf. Mar_1:24). See Special Topic on the Demonic at Mar_1:24.