Mark 1:21-28 GOD’S WORD Translation
Jesus Forces an Evil Spirit out of a Man
21 Then they went to Capernaum. On the next day of rest—a holy day, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teachings. Unlike their experts in Moses’ Teachings, he taught them with authority.
23 At that time there was a man in the synagogue who was controlled by an evil spirit. He shouted, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus from Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 Jesus ordered the spirit, “Keep quiet, and come out of him!” 26 The evil spirit threw the man into convulsions and came out of him with a loud shriek.
27 Everyone was stunned. They said to each other, “What is this? This is a new teaching that has authority behind it! He gives orders to evil spirits, and they obey him.”
28 The news about him spread quickly throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
The Word of God for the Children of God.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Babe Ruth was the great home run hitter for the New York Yankees baseball team.
During one particular at-bat, the umpire, called Ruth out on strikes.
There was a stunned silence in the stands. Ruth turned to the ump and said, “There are 40,000 people here who know that last one was a ball.”
The umpire replied, “Maybe so, but mine is the only opinion that counts.”
We live in a world of thousands of opinions.
Whose opinion counts?
Who has the authority that matters?
There are experts in every field imaginable, some of whom say conflicting things.
There are authoritative figures in command of those many imaginable fields and they have the authority to give commands, to promote and also to punish.
How well did we listen to the voices that said we should wear masks?
Or how well or better did we listen to the voices that told us wearing a mask is ineffective in spreading COVID – 19?
Do we listen to the authorities, the voices telling us climate change, is real and we need to act immediately, preferably sooner, if we hope to save our planet?
Or how well do we listen to the “authoritative” voices that debunk the idea of climate change as a hoax?
Who is in charge of the truth of these matters and who do we listen to when so many allegedly, or obviously smart people just espouse differences of opinion?
Who do we look to as our authority?
So when a person (like any of us in the room) has a difficult decision to make during a stressful time in life… like their marriage, personal finances, personal or professional conflicts or whatever, who do they listen to? Oprah? Dr. Phil? “Dear Abby”? Parents? Friends? Pastor? the Judge? Whose opinion counts?
When I’m deciding which movies I’ll see or preferred TV programs I’ll watch who do I turn to? Celebrities? Promos? Word-of-mouth among my friends?
Whose opinion counts?
When I am trying to decide what books I would like to read, who do I ask for a good review?
The New York Times Bestseller List? Good Reads? Amazon Book Reviews?
If I were making decisions about how to start a business or advance my career or handle a sticky situation at work—where do I get direction? Mentors? Fast Company or Forbes magazines? Pod Casts? TED Talks? United States Congress?
Who’s my authority? Who do I listen to?
In our text today, Mark 1:21-28, we read of some people, who though living in a different time, shared all of our same concerns and were pleasantly surprised to discover a person who had genuine authority and could answer their questions.
In our Gospel Narrative, there were people who were attending a service in their local synagogue and Jesus Christ just happened to be the teacher that morning.
From the Biblical account this is my first observation:
Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum.
When the Sabbath day came he went into the synagogue and began to teach.
The people were amazed at his teaching for he taught with real authority – quite unlike the teachers of religious law. Mark 1:21-22
At the time there was no resident teacher at any synagogue.
The teaching was done by lay-people.
A coordinator or facilitator supervised the services and scheduled the speakers.
Word had spread wide about Jesus, because he had been doing a lot of preaching throughout area.
When he came to Capernaum, they immediately invited him to be the speaker for as many times as he wished.
Verse 22 tells us that the people were blown away by his teaching.
Amazed – they didn’t know what to make of it.
His words had authority.
The scribes or teachers of the law knew the Jewish teachings of the elders.
They knew the different biblical interpretations that had come down through the centuries.
They could tell you, “Rabbi so-and-so said this.
But Rabbi such-and-such thought it meant this instead.”
They could teach you the options, but they couldn’t decide among them.
All they could do was repeat the traditions of the fathers long ago.
But when Jesus taught, he spoke with a certainty that came straight from God.
His words had authority.
They had the ring of truth.
And the people said: This is different than what we’re used to.
He’s not like the scribes or teachers of the law.
His words have an undeniable irrefutable authority.
When Jesus comes on the scene, something new happens.
Our hope, our longing for change, takes on a radically different shape.
On the sounds of His words, on His authority behind them, the hurting people, sinful temptations, human brokenness, disease are confronted with authority.
The people in this Gospel story recognized Jesus’ authority in regard to two specific things: his teaching and his power over impure spirits (demons).
There was something about Jesus that made him different from all of the other religious teachers of his day.
In fact, this is the first thing mentioned in Mark’s gospel about Jesus’ public ministry: it was a ministry of authority – the authority of God and not of man.
Without any exception, we long to witness the authority of Christ confronting diseases, financial hardships, broken friendships, injustices of all kinds today.
But we do not pause as often to consider the spiritual dimensions of our suffering.
The apostle Paul reminds us that “our struggle is not against flesh and blood” (Ephesians 6:12).
Rather, we contend with demonic powers that want every single one of us to continuously think that all our circumstances, not our hearts, are the problem.
It’s worth noting that Jesus’ teaching, not just his healing, triggered a reaction from the crowds.
But “being amazed,” by itself, is not a response to authority.
Jesus’ teaching demands either submission or rebellion-He calls us to bring our hurts, our diseases, and our hearts under his authority.
How will we respond?
How do we typically respond?
The fact that while most everyone hung on every word that Rabbi Jesus spoke… not everyone was impressed by him or pleased by his popularity which leads me to a second observation.
II. Jesus experienced resistance to his authority.
Suddenly, a man in the synagogue who was possessed with an evil spirit began shouting, “Why are you interfering with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!” Mark 1:23-24
Jesus cut him short.
“Be quiet! Come out of the man,” he ordered.
At that, the evil spirit screamed, threw the man into a convulsion, and came out of him. Mark 1:25-26
So one Sabbath, something happened during one of their services that was definitely out of the ordinary.
A man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
“What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him.
The people were all so amazed that they asked each other,
“What is this? A new teacher—one who speaks with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.”
News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
In verse 22 when Jesus taught the people were amazed.
It means they were blown away… astonished.
But in verse 27 where Mark wrote, “Amazement gripped the audience”
The word “amazed” in verse 27 is very different than the word used in verse 22.
Here in verse 27 the word amazement carries with it the idea of fear… that what they had just seen and heard was scary and they did not understand what had happened. It was a bit more than they could handle.
With us, it’s the other way around.
The contemporary thought of a demon actually being in someone, making them do something, sounds strange, even scary, to us-straight out of the “Exorcist.”
We seldom explain anyone’s behavior as being caused by a demon.
But at the same time, we have these unusual phrases that we use:
“What’s gotten into you?” or “What’s come over you?”
We use these phrases when the behavior is something we can’t explain.
It’s an indication that we know something else is seriously going on.
There are times when we come across some, what I think of as big time evil that is beyond our ability to comprehend or explain — evil that’s out of the ordinary, a thousand thousand thousand times far beyond any normal human sinfulness.
Adolph Hitler. Joseph Stalin, Mao, Charlie Manson. Ted Bundy. Jeffrey Dahmer. Brian and Wanda Mitchell… Elizabeth Smart kidnappers. Pedophiles. Rapists.
White collar cheats that devastate your retirement funds.
People like Ken Lay of the Enron Scandal and Bernie Madoff who easily bilked people of all they had conscientiously squirreled away for their retirement….. what kind of “possessed” person finds it in themselves to do that to anyone?
On a lesser scale, we sometimes encounter self-destructive behavior that just doesn’t make sense.
We observe people acting out in anger.
We do not appreciate a mean-spirited person who seems driven by the desire to humiliate or hurt others.
Narcissists and liars are not people we care to hang out with.
Sometimes we shake our heads and wonder, what makes them be like that?”
There is evil that doesn’t make sense.
In our passage today, Jesus shows for the first time his power to do something about evil.
He has absolute authority over the demon.
He simply speaks, and the demon has to leave.
There is no drawn-out ritual to cast the demon out—no incantation, mumbo-jumbo, incense, props, lengthy prayer, no prolonged struggle.
Jesus simply makes the decision that demon will no longer have control, and the matter is settled.
He just gave the order—”Come out of him”—and the demon obeyed. Jesus had authority!
We must come to grips with the authority of God Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit – choose to live accordingly.
I would like to make a third observation.
That was then and this is now and the question for you and me is a simple one…
III. Are we willing to live according to Jesus’ remarkable level of authority?
Amazement had gripped the audience and they began to discuss what had happened.
“What sort of new teaching is this? It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!” And the news spread quickly throughout the entire region of Galilee. Mark 1:27-28
Their amazement has a bit of fear in it.
They’re not sure how to handle this level of authority.
As we ourselves grapple with the implications of this for us, are we prepared for this kind of authority in our lives?
Are we ready for an authority where his word makes it true and his decision makes it happen?
An authority where when he says something, we respond with obedience?
What does Jesus say about how I treat my spouse and family and co-workers and neighbors?
What does Jesus say about what I think about, read and watch and talk about?
What does Jesus say about my professional and business relationships?
What does Jesus say about my personal pursuits?
My goals in life?
What does Jesus say about my personal habits?
Internet use?
Do I just use my own “best” judgements?
Maybe ask ourselves, am I really the captain in complete command of my soul?
There is a point at which we all must decide if we are going to go with our own best effort or choose who will be the ultimate authority in our lives… who is the captain of my life and the commander of my heart and the Admiral of my soul?
If we are at all wise we will recognize our ultimate need for the grace and mercy and guidance of God.
We desperately need to intentionally hear the voice of authority and listen to Jesus and allow the Spirit of God to guide us as we read, study the Word of God.
Jesus has authority.
Not just rank so he can give orders.
Not just power so he can cast our demons or to just obliterate his enemies.
No, Jesus has true divine authority — rank, power, and integrity so that he can authentically subdue and destroy evil.
This authority should not just be admired.
This authority should not leave us spell-bound.
No, this authority should lead us to watch Jesus and learn from his actions, because they are gracious and compassionate as well as mighty.
This authority should make us listen to what he says because Jesus’ words are not only true, but they are also life-giving and liberating.
We should be hyper excited.
Matthew 28:16-20 English Standard Version
The Great Commission
16 Now the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. 17 And when they saw him they worshiped him, but some doubted. 18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
We should go out into the world as we have been commissioned, to teach others all about Jesus, we should obey him, following his example of sacrificial service.
In the name of God, the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit,
Let us Pray,
My dear and precious Father, the one true and living God, please give me the courage to believe and obey the words of Jesus and to follow his example of sacrificial service. Savior Jesus, you rule over all things by your Word and Spirit. Enter our lives with your authority today, in the divine authority of Jesus’ mighty name, I pray. Amen.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 