"The Response Is Now"

In the next ten verses there is a word that is repeated over and over. See if you can spot it.

Then a voice came from heaven, You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased." And immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. Mark 1:11-12

Then Jesus said to them, "Come after Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." And immediately they left their nets and followed Him. Mark 1:17-18

When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with hired servants, and went after Him. Mark 1:19-20

Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Mark 1:21-22

Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. Mark 1:27-28

But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. Mark 1:30-31

Then a leper came to Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." Then Jesus, moved with compassion, put out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. Mark 1:40-42

And again He entered Capernaum after some days, and it was heard that He was in the house. Immediately many gathered together, so that there was no longer room to receive them, not even near the door. And He preached to them. Mark 2:1-2

"Why does this Man speak blasphemies like this? Who can forgive sins but God alone?" And immediately, When Jesus perceived in His spirit that they reasoned thus within themselves, He said to them, "Why do you reason about these things in your hearts? Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, 'Your sins are forgiven you,' or to say, 'Arise, take up your bed and walk'? Mark 2:7-9

"But that you may know that the Son of Man has power on earth to forgive sins"--He said to the paralytic, "I say to you arise, take up your bed, and go your way to your house." And immediately he arose, took up the bed, and went out in the presence of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, "We never saw anything like this!" Mark 2:10-12
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As I was reading this morning I couldn't help but notice that Mark chapters 1 and 2 are full of a certain word. It was used 10 times in these first two chapters. 10 different times it is used in connection with the reaction or rather the response of either Jesus or the people He is relating to. You too may have noticed it as you read through the 10 verses above? The word is? Immediately. Immediately in the Strong's comes from 2117 and it means; directly, i.e. at once or soon. 2117: straight, and it comes from a root word that denotes an upright and active position. Did you catch it in the verses above? Every time it is used it is in reference to the action or rather the reaction that takes place.  For example the first time it is used1:11-12 it is in reference to the Holy Spirit. God spoke and immediately the Spirit took Jesus into the wilderness.

In the next two examples Jesus speaks and Simon, Andrew, James, and John all immediately respond and choose to follow Him. In the next example it in reference to what Jesus does as soon as He hits town. The fifth reference is about the reaction the people to spread the news about Him because of their astonishment at His authority. Next comes responses the fever and the leprosy have to His touch. Next came the response of the people as they flocked to His presence when it became known that He had arrived. The next one was when Jesus Immediately addressing the heart attitude as He perceive their thoughts. The last one was once again the man's response as Jesus spoke healing and told him to take up his mat and to go home healed and forgiven.

I don't know about you but I work with a lot of kids and the whole, "In a minute," or "I'll do it later," response when asked to do something seems to happen a lot. In these example the concept that jumped out at me today was that when God speaks immediately a response takes place. When Jesus arrives stuff happens and people take notice. When Jesus speaks to a disease it immediately responds to His authority.When He speaks to a person to do something the response is Immediate. It seems to me that every time He speaks to us, whether it is a Rhema or a Logos word, we too are in a place where were we need to respond and be in one of those life changing moments where His authority causes our circumstances to change.

I want my life filled with those moments where God responds and moves on my behalf.  I want my response when He speaks to always be to drop my nets or to pick up my mat and go. I want every fever, sickness, or disease to leave as I bring it before Him. Lord I pray that as your people we would always respond with the action needed to submit immediately to the authority of Your word and Your presence in our lives. O Lord, that we would never put You on hold but that we would always take action to serve you, immediately!