From the moment he walks onto the scene of Mark’s gospel, there is a pendulum swing movement between the public and private Jesus. A public baptism and the Spirit’s pronouncement are “immediately” followed by Jesus’ private sojourn in the wilderness. Back from that solitary temptation Jesus embarks upon his public proclamation of the kingdom of God and his up-front teaching in the synagogues. The first “healing” act Jesus performs, an exorcism, is in that public forum, with the unclean spirit identifying Jesus as “the Holy One of God” before it is dramatically banished.

Conversely, the second healing event that takes place in Mark’s gospel is quite private and distinctly low-key. Leaving the synagogue and the public eye, Jesus and his first four disciples retire to the private home of Simon…