What does Mark 1:28 mean?

At this time, the focus of Jesus' ministry is to teach and prepare the people for the coming of the Holy Spirit (Mark 1:7–8). And yet, news of Jesus' quick miracle, performed in a confined space in the presence of a few men, quickly travels throughout the region of Galilee. In a world without the internet, the spiritual need of the people helps spread the story no less quickly than if they had live-streamed the event.

The word translated "immediately"—from the Greek euthus—can also mean "straight, or level." The account of Jesus' ability to free a demon-possessed man with only the words of His mouth drives directly into the needs of the people. Many hear and accept His words of spiritual healing, but many more are first pulled by their physical needs. The very temptation that Jesus triumphed over in Luke 4:2–4, prioritizing spiritual needs over physical needs, proves too much for the Galileans.

It is a sign of God's great grace that He cares about our physical condition as well as our spiritual. This event sets a precedence for Jesus' entire ministry—combining teaching with miracles of physical and spiritual healing. Sometimes our spiritual growth is fertilized by physical illness, but God is always willing to heal us spiritually, if we will let Him.