Expositor's Bible Commentary Commentary Mark 1:39

"And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons." — Mark 1:39 (ASV)

Jesus’ reply shows that he feared his healings and exorcisms were hindrances to understanding who he really was. The people of Capernaum were interested in him only as popular miracle-worker. So Jesus suggested that they move on to other villages to preach. He knew that he came into the world primarily to proclaim God’s Good News and all that was involved in discipleship and suffering. Healings and exorcisms had their place, but they were not to usurp this primary purpose. If Mark wrote his gospel to refute a christological heresy that placed too much emphasis on Jesus as a miracleworker, the relevance of these verses is clear.