Mark 1:21-34

Jesus Drives Out an Evil Spirit

21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil[e] spirit cried out, 24"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!"

25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Jesus Heals Many

29As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30Simon's mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told Jesus about her. 31So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33The whole town gathered at the door, 34and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.



BACKGROUND READING:


Luke 4:14-44



Dig Deeper

Authority and tradition were important concepts in Jewish society. The source of one’s authority was something that was of vital importance, especially to the official teacher of the law. Along comes this son of a carpenter that is telling people how the kingdom of God will be and how it will come about. This was a topic of great interest to all of the official teachers of the law, and now this unrecognized teacher is teaching new things, apparently on his own authority. The priests and scribes were the official teachers, along with the Pharisees, who were the self-appointed, but highly respected guardians of Jewish law and traditions. None of these teachers, though, would dare teach on their own authority. They would all say something like, ‘Moses said’, or ‘Rabbi so-and-so said’. Jesus didn’t do that though, and it turned heads. He quietly spoke with a quiet confidence and authority all his own.


The official guardians of the Jewish religion refused to recognize this authority that he was exhibiting. In fact, it was usually the most afflicted members of the society that seemed to have no problem recognizing both Jesus and from where his authority came. Mark points out repeatedly in the opening chapters of his book that those who were the most afflicted and those who had been possessed by demons, were the ones who recognized Jesus first. The demons that had come to be in control of these individuals knew immediately who Jesus was, but he did not want them to announce yet who he was. Whoever came to Jesus, whether a demon possessed individual, a woman with a severe fever, or people with any other kinds of sicknesses, they all thronged to Jesus, and he dealt with them all with the same gentle, but effective authority.


Because of this, Jesus began to attract large crowds of followers. The fact that he was drawing large crowds would have been a big enough threat, in itself to the authorities, but there was more to it than just that. Jesus had begun an all-out assault against the forces of darkness, evil, and destruction, forces that were crashing in on and crushing the people of Israel. Jesus came as the one with the authority to show these people to safety. He was not so much like a fireman or policeman, but more like one who takes authority in a crisis and begins to lead others to safety, knowing that his actions will cost him his own life. The demons would take their final shot against Jesus at the Cross, challenging his authority for the last time. But it was at that very moment of his death, that he proved his own authority over them and all the forces of evil and destruction.


The authority that Jesus was demonstrating caused great fear among Jesus’ fiercest opponents. They had already decided that his message was far too radical and different, and so, could not be from God. Once they had made that decision, they were backed into a corner when they saw his miraculous healings, his exorcisms, and the fact that he taught with such authority. If it was not from God, which they were convinced it could not be, then from where did his authority and power come? This is the question that the Jewish authorities began to ponder. It is though they had already determined that 2 plus 2 could not equal four, and then began the job of figuring out what the answer must be.



Devotional Thought

Our world is still mired in darkness and evil and is looking for someone with the same kind of healing authority that Jesus demonstrated in his day. Because of the work of Christ, however, these same shrieking forces of evil do not have power and authority, they only have fear and intimidation? How can the church provide the same voice of gentle authority that Jesus brought in his day? How can you bring this same voice of gentle authority to the people in your life that are locked in darkness?