Mark 1:32
And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.
At evening when the sun had set and the Sabbath had ended, the people of Capernaum brought to Jesus all who were sick and possessed with devils. They had waited through the Sabbath hours for fear of being treated as Sabbath transgressors under the influence of the rabbis and Pharisees. As soon as sunset came they pressed toward Him from homes, shops and marketplaces throughout the city, hour after hour, many carried on couches and litters or tottering feebly leaning on staffs and supported by friends. He turned away none who came seeking help but relieved them one by one by a word or a touch, healing the feverish, paralyzed, blind, deaf, lame and leprous, and little children. Moved with sympathy and rejoicing in His power to restore, He brought relief and joy and shouts of deliverance to sufferers and their families, continuing far into the night until the last sufferer had been relieved.
Sabbath Sunset Setting
The “at even, when the sun did set” was after the sun had disappeared below the horizon, when the Sabbath had ended. The people had heard of His work and He had healed on the Sabbath, but they dared not come for healing upon the Sabbath. Fear of the rabbis and the Pharisees’ influence held them back, lest they be treated as Sabbath transgressors for seeking help on that day.
As soon as sunset came there was a great commotion, with the inhabitants coming from throughout Capernaum and the city. From homes, shops, and market-places they pressed toward the humble dwelling sheltering Jesus. The afflicted came from every direction, pouring toward Him at once when Sabbath restriction no longer kept them away.
Hour after hour they came and went, because none knew whether tomorrow would find the Healer still among them. Never before had Capernaum witnessed a day like this. Many were too helpless or weak to come on their own and were carried by friends upon couches or litters, leaning upon staffs, or supported by others tottering feebly into His presence. Some came on their own, while many who were too weak to walk without help were brought and carried by others.
Healing the Multitudes
The crowd brought to Him that evening embraced both classes together, all who were diseased and those possessed with devils, the sick and the demon-possessed side by side. The possession was no mere disease or delusion but real control by demons. When the paroxysms were upon them, those under that control could appear to many to be inspired of God, speaking fluently with words coming thick and fast.
He met each case with a word or a touch, relieving them one by one. None who came seeking help was turned away, for He healed everyone who came to Him. Those healed included every condition of severe illness and disability, the feverish, the paralyzed, the blind, the deaf, the lame, and the leprous, and even little children. The work was so extensive it could not be counted, and those He touched returned home restored to health.
His heart was stirred with sympathy as He witnessed the suffering before Him. He was joyful in the joy He awakened, rejoicing in His power to restore them to health and happiness. That restoration displayed His power and compassion and brought relief and joy to the sufferers and their families. The air was filled with the voice of triumph and shouts of deliverance.
He labored on far into the night, continuing until the last sufferer had been relieved.
Pattern for Ministry
After sunset the sick and those possessed by demons were brought to Jesus for help, and this shows that He continued receiving and caring for people in need in the evening. That evening attention reached those who had spent the day working to support their families. The healing belonged to His labor among the people through the day, and after dismissing the people to rest He spent the night in prayer and began His work again in the morning. In that Sabbath scene after sunset, when the sick and demon-possessed were brought to Him, His ministry comforted the sick and healed disease with a work so extensive it could not be counted.