sermon preview: Jesus gives evil a beat down

"And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them." (Mark 1:31)

Last week, in the synagogue in Capernaum, Jesus confronted and drove out the evil spirit that was harassing a man (Mark 1:21-26). Compared with that, the "miracle" He now performs, healing the fever of Peter's mother-in-law, somehow seems a bit trifling. But God doesn't only deal with the massive evils in the world. God hates evil, it's true, but at the same time He loves us passionately. So, He is concerned about whatever troubles us and prevents us from living abundantly. Jesus came not only to drive out evil, but also to bring in joy.