Gospel of Mark - Chapter 1:21 - 31

Gospel of Mark        Chapter 1:21 - 31           January 28, 2017 

Short Review; 

Mark 1:1 This is the beginning of the Gospel of Jesus the Messiah, the Son of God. 

One of the reasons we are taking the Gospel of Mark verse by verse, to learn what the work of Jesus is all about to learn what our Father told Jesus to do. 

The central theme running through the Gospel of Mark is about Jesus Work.  When we see what Jesus is doing and we find out what His work is all about. 

John 4:34 Jesus said to them, "My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work. 

John 17:4 (Jesus said) I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do. 

John 19:30 (Jesus said) So when Jesus had received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished!" And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.

           Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit – Mark 1 

(21)  Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 

Jesus began to teach as soon as he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. 

Towns name means “Village of Nahum.” 

Capernaum was Christ's ministry “headquarters” and is mentioned twenty-two times in the Gospels 

The synagogue was the gift of a centurion 

Luke 7:5  "for he loves our nation, and has built us a synagogue." 

Matthew 4:13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali, 

Capernaum is where our Lord and His mother and brethren had moved to from Nazareth. Notice, Mark does focuses on His deeds, works, not words. 

Synagogues could be formed whenever there were at least 10 Jewish men above the age of 12. They welcomed visiting teachers to read and teach;  

Did you know when someone teaches in the synagogue, they would sit down. 

(22)  And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.   

They (individuals in the synagogue) were astonished at His teaching: 

Words:  I say to you 

Where Jesus would say in the Gospels, “I say to you” there is over 130 places Jesus says this in the Scriptures.  

Examples: 

Mark 9:1 And He said to them, "Assuredly, I say to you that there are some standing here who will not taste death till they see the kingdom of God present with power." 

Matthew 5:27-28 "You have heard that it was said, 'You must not commit adultery.'  (28)  But I say to you, anyone who stares at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.

This is Jesus speaking as the spokesman of the Old Testament. 

There are 418 verses found with the statement, “thus says the Lord.” 

Jesus said, this is the way, this is what I say, he did not quote from the Jewish Scholars was the normal custom.  Quote one rabbi after another rabbi.  The oral law, traditions. 

Mark 7:5-9 Then the Pharisees and scribes asked Him, "Why do Your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat bread with unwashed hands?" 

(6)  He answered and said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written: 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts is far from me.  (7)  and in vain they worship me, teaching me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.'   

(8)  For laying aside the commandment of God, you hold the tradition of men— the washing of pitchers and cups, and many other such things you do."  (9)  He said to them, "All too well you reject the commandment of God, that you may keep your tradition. 

This is one of the many reasons I do not like to quote very often from other men, their books and other religious leaders.   

They may use 2 or 3 verses in an hour sermon and end up teaching like the Pharisees and scribes and not really teaching what the Scriptures really say.  They give their own views of the Word.  I will listen to them and take what is related to the Scriptures and work it into a message.

Not as the scribes: 

They quoted other rabbis and felt their function to be expounders of the traditions which they made a millstone around the necks of the people. By so doing they set aside the word and will of God by their traditions and petty legalism 

Mark 7:13 making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."

Christ's teaching differed from that of scribes and Pharisees because He did not lean on the wisdom of other teachers and rabbis. His authority came from the Father and Himself. 

I try to make my authority and messages come from Jesus our Creator and from what He teaches from the Word, the Scriptures.  

Jesus the Messiah is the only person in history who has the right to speak that way. 

(23)  Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out,  

In the synagogue?  What cause the demon to cried out? 

Was it probable that this man was fine at times, or he would not have been admitted into the synagogue. When there, one of his fits came on, and he suddenly cried out, this was the Messiah? 

The New Testament plainly teaches that demoniac possession was a real and actual possession of the soul by a fallen spirit. (Luke 4:31-37) 

The term unclean (Gk. akathartos) bore special meaning to the Jewish mind. The OT frequently distinguished between what was lawful and unlawful, accepted and rejected, and therefore may mean ungodly. “Demon” is a designation used interchangeably with unclean spirit. 

(24)  saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!"   

Here is our answer why the demon said, “he cried out” 

What have we to do with You: This is a common Jewish way of saying, "Do not trouble us."  Nothing in common between the demon and Jesus. 

Note “we.” The man speaks for the demon and himself, double personality.

Did You come to destroy us:  An admission that Christ came to destroy or remove the devil and his works.  

I know who You are: The demon made a better confession that most of the Jews. 

I know who You are—the Holy One of God!"   

Evil is not to be left alone. Note the plural pronouns, us, we, meaning more than one. 

Important:  Jesus as of this time has not declared who he is to the public, but the demons recognize who he is. 

(25)  But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!"   

First recorded miracle performs in the Gospel of Mark, casting out a demon. 

Jesus rebuked him, the demon: Jesus refuses to accept at his mouth even so much as an acknowledgment of His own Divine claims 

Jesus did not once address the man. His conversation was with the evil spirit, proving that it was not a mere disease or mental derangement - for how could the Son of God talk with “disease” or “insanity?” - but that he talked with a “being, demon. There are, therefore, evil spirits, and those spirits have taken possession of human beings 

Be Quiet:  But it is a more vigorous word, “Be muzzled” like an ox, or shut your mouth.  

Still and Be Quiet:  phimoo= “Be muzzled!” Jesus rebuked the demon: Jesus would use the same terms when still the storm, when Jesus rebukes the storm. 

Mark 4:39 Then He arose and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace, be still!" And the wind ceased and there was a great calm. 

Cried with a loud voice. The act of the demon, not a cry of pain  Luke adds that the demon ‘hurt him not.’ 

Luke 4:35 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" And when the demon had thrown him in their midst, it came out of him and did not hurt him. 

(26)  At this, the unclean spirit shook the man, cried out with a loud voice, and came out of him.  

The whole account shows that there was a real possession by an evil spirit. 

Shook the man:  loud voice:  

The demon was required to obey -  not because he chose - he exerted his last power, inflicted all the pain he could, and then bowed to the Son of God and came out. 

Never was there a person possessed by an unclean spirit who did not suffer  some type of convulsion,  

Cried with a loud voice, he came out of him; against the demon, as his loud cry showed, and being required to it by a superior power. 

(27)  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."  

They were all amazed: The members in the synagogue were shaken up.  

The individuals who met for worship were in the synagogue and were astonished, not only at his doctrine, as before, but at the miracle and power in casting out devils: 

They questioned among themselves. Only a miracle could produce this effect. The people began to think and argue for themselves, not to ask the scribes.

“New doctrine,” “It’s new teaching with authority behind it,” with authority commands even the unclean spirits 

Obey Him:  But the most astonishing thing of all is that the demons “obey him” 

They not only observed the authority with which he delivered his doctrine, but the authority with which he cast out devils, by a word speaking; he not only commanded them to come out, but they immediately came out; 

It was done by a word. Jesus did it in his own name and by his own authority. This proved that he was superior to all the unclean spirits.  

Mark gives special prominence to Christ’s power over demons. 

(28)  And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.  

Word of mouth, how fast does it spread about what Jesus did? 

Jesus did not welcome this type of notice lest it created problems with both the Jews and the Romans... 

The region around Galilee:  Not the regions adjacent to Galilee, but the adjacent regions of Galilee 

They had no telephones, telegraphs, newspapers or radio, but news has a interesting way of spreading by word of mouth. The fame of this new teacher went out “everywhere.”  

Word of mouth to word of mouth, how the message can change. 

Jesus Heals Many 

(29)  Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.   

On the Sabbath Day. 

With James and John. Mark alone mentions these individuals. 

Originally these disciples lived in Bethsaida. It may have been after Simon’s marriage that he moved to Capernaum, possibly to share the home of his wife’s mother. 

(30)  But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a (high) fever, and they told Him about her at once.   

Lay sick with a fever.—Was on a bed with a burning fever. Off and on fever, is often fatal, are common diseases then. 

Luke 4:38 Now He arose from the synagogue and entered Simon's house. But Simon's wife's mother was sick with a high fever, and they made request of Him concerning her. 

A very violent one, which threatened with death, and must be very dangerous to an old person 

at once (anon) – immediately 

Peter was married and both he and Andrew lived together in “Peter’s house” with Peter’s wife and mother-in-law 

Did you realize, later, Peter’s wife accompanied him on his travels     

1 Corinthians 9:5 Do we have no right to take along a believing wife, as do also the other apostles, the brothers of the Lord, and Cephas?       

They tell him of her — naturally hoping that His compassion and power towards one of His own disciples family member, would not be less compassion displayed than towards the stranger in the synagogue 

(31)  So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and

immediately the fever left her. And she served them.

Jesus completely healed Simon Peter's mother-in-law. Not only did the fever leave, but her strength was renewed so that she served Jesus and His followers.  Preparing their Sabbath-meal. 

He went into the room where she lay, and took hold of her hand 

Jesus took her by the hand.” Mark also notes where Jesus takes them by the hand:  I personally believe Jesus likes the personal contact. 

Jairus’ daughter:

Mark 5:41Then He took the child by the hand, and said to her, "Talitha, cumi," which is translated, "Little girl, I say to you, arise." 

The Blind man

Mark 8:23 NKJV  So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything. 

Demon possessed child:

Mark 9:27 But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. 

Picking up the child:

Mark 9:36-37 Then He took a little child and set him in the midst of them. And when He had taken him in His arms, He said to them,  (37)  "Whoever receives one of these little children in My name receives Me; and whoever receives Me, receives not Me but Him who sent Me." 

Peter also used his hand:  

Act 9:41 Then he gave her his hand and lifted her up; and when he had called the saints and widows, he presented her alive. 

We need to take people by the hand, handshake?...Mark emphasis doing this.  Service. 

Lift her up; to sit upright in the bed, who before was laid along upon it, so weak as not to be able to turn herself, much less to sit erect by any assistance whatever: 

Immediately the fever left her: there was not the least symptom of it, nor none of the effects which it usually leaves;  

She served them:  she immediately arose from the bed, and put on her clothes, being at once in perfect health and strength; and, in gratitude to her Savior and physician, she assisted in preparing food for him and his disciples, and served at table to them. 

We will continue with verse 32 next time.