Mark 1_21_28 Exegesis

Mark 1:21-28 Exegesis Luke 4:31-37

Jesus’ authority over doctrine Vs. 21-22

Mark 1:21-28 is a continuation of the previous six verses, Jesus came into Galilee preaching the Gospel of God saying that the time has been fulfilled the kingdom of God is at hand (God has visited Humanity in the person of Jesus), repent of your sins and believe the Gospel (good news) of God. He called four disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John for the purpose of making them disciple makers then they went into Capernaum.

Capernaum was a city on the northern shores of the Sea and Galilee, a city whose economy depended on fishing, farming, and some other small industry. It was located on the major trade route which connected Syria and Egypt; therefore Capernaum was a strategic location for Jesus to make His headquarters during His Galilean ministry. Capernaum was the home of Peter, Andrew, Matthew, and possibly James and John.

The record of our text takes place on a Sabbath day which is the Greek word Shabbat which means “to cease” (Bring an end to, stop) or “desist” (stop doing something). Its literal meaning is to cease from all work. The Sabbath day is holy to God by His resting after six days of creating it is also viewed as a covenant between God and man and is a foreshadowing of the eternal rest He has promised His children. God commanded the Israelites to keep this day holy (Ex. 20:8) and to use it as a time of reflection of His deliverance of Israel from Egyptian bondage (Deut. 5:12-15).

On this Sabbath day Jesus entered the synagogue which was a place of local worship (not to be confused with the place of sacrificial worship, the Temple) and began to teach. Teach or teaching is used multiple times in this text (4x). Teach is the main verb in verse 21, it is the Greek word didaskō which means to provide instruction. The text leads us to believe that as Jesus entered into the synagogue He immediately began to teach. It must be understood that synagogues were lead by a layman along with an attendant (Mark 5:22, Luke 4:17,20), it was customary for respected visiting teachers to lead worship. Most Synagogue worship services began with reciting the Shema then a reading from the Law and the Prophets, a sermon (Luke 4:32), and then a benediction. Luke 4:16-21 gives us an example of what a 1st century synagogue service looked like. Jesus began to teach with the invitation of the “ruler” of the synagogue and the handing of the scroll by the attendant.

As Jesus taught, the people were amazed at His teaching because it had great authority. Amazed it translated twice in this pericope. In verse 22 in is the Greek verb ekplēssomai which means to be greatly astounded. Mark is painting a picture of the audience struck out of their senses by a strong feeling of fear, wonder, or joy. ADD ILLUSTRATION.

The people were accustomed to hearing the Scribes teach who regurgitated what other rabbis said. These experts and judges of the Law expounded the traditions of their fathers which laid millstone upon the necks of their listeners. They made false interpretations to prove their self-righteousness while neglecting spiritual reality. There are examples of these discourses preserved in the Jewish Talmud, they were a dry, dull, and disjounted collection of comments about every conceivable problem in the History of mankind. They always quoted the rabbis before them but Jesus spoke with the authority of truth, the reality and freshness of the morning light, and the power of God’s Spirit.

We do not know exactly what Jesus said but it is safe to say that since Jesus came to seek and to save that which was lost (Luke 19:10) that Jesus pointed the people to Him their Messiah. We see an example of Jesus teaching in the synagogue of Nazareth, He read from the Scroll of Isaiah what we now know to be chapter 61:1-2, “The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because He anointed Me to Preach the Gospel to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release of the captives, and the recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are oppressed, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD.” Once Jesus read this text He stated “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” (Luke 4:16-21).

What we do know is that unlike the Scribes whose authority came from their academies Jesus’ authority came from Himself. Authority, is the Greek noun, exousia which means power to rule. The Power of God was upon Jesus because He was the anointed One of God, the Messiah, the Servant of God sent from heaven, God cloaked in humanity. One can only imagine the intense truth and the authority of the Word of God expounding the word of God.

Too often we find ourselves listening to man’s interpretation of God’s Word, as saints and students of God’s word our job is to discover God’s intended meaning and apply it to our lives. Too many times over the course of History God’s word has been interpreted in ways that God never intended (over spiritualized deep allegorical secretes) and it lead to dark times and people with dark hearts. While there may be many applications there is but one meaning and that meaning is the willed intent of the author, and we know who the author is, Jesus! Jesus is the authority on all doctrine and His Word is the final authority on doctrine and deed!

Jesus’ authority over supernatural beings Vs. 23-28

Jesus was not a man who merely spoke, in fact Mark’s Gospel emphasizes His actions, because his audience didn’t care so much about what a servant taught but what he wrought. Remember. Mark is portraying Jesus as God the servant. As Jesus taught and as the people were amazed a demon possessed man interrupted the service.

Mark uses the Greek Adjective, akathartos which means impure to describe this poor man’s state. Notice what is said, “what do WE have to do with you, have you come to destroy US?” The man uses plural pronouns then he uses the singular pronoun “I know who you are.” This shows the distinctive separation between the man possessed and the demon that is possessing as he speaks for both himself and the Demon. Demon possession is a real and terribly frightening thing; those possessed by demons can be violent and have supper natural strength. But it is a great truth that for Christians a demon may attack but they can never possess because we are sealed by the Holy Spirit of God (Eph. 1:13).

It is incredible to note that while the people in their amazement were trying to figure out who Jesus was and wondering where His authority came from, the demon had no doubts. He recognized Christ’s humanity as he called Him “Jesus of Nazareth,” he also recognized Jesus’ deity as he called Him “the Holy One of God.” The demon knew Jesus but had no stake in Jesus because there is no redemption for the fallen angles their future is judgment. The demon acknowledges Jesus as judge as he asks,” have you come to destroy us?” The Bible teaches that there is a place reserved for the enemy, his demons, and those of humanity who are not reconciled to God by grace through faith in Jesus, it is the eternal fire. Then shall he say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels (Matt. 25:41). And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night forever and ever (Rev. 20:10). The demon possessed man feared that Jesus had come to send them to their demise!

Though the possessed man gave testimony to Jesus as Messiah He would not receive the testimony of an unclean spirit and Rebuked the demon, rebuke is the main verb in this portion of the selected text. Rebuke is the Greek verb epitimaō which literally means be muzzled. Illustration. Then he commands the devil to be quite and come out of the man. The demon has no other option but to depart from the man because Jesus holds authority over the supernatural spirits. It is incredible to think of the power a fallen angle possess but it does not hold a candle to the command of Jesus who simply speaks and it must obey. The demons obedience is not willful obedience because we see that he tries to resist, the man is thrown into convulsions and the demon cries out in contempt but comes out none the less! Luke’s Gospel points out that the man was unharmed once the demon departed.

Again, the people in attendance are amazed at this new teaching that had great authority that even the unclean spirits obey Him. The news about this authority spread throughout the country side and Jesus grew in popularity.

Application: The authority of Jesus is seen in this text over the written Word of God as Jesus teaches doctrine that is true and points mankind to Him as the Lord and Savior of the world. His authority is also seen in His spoken Word as He simply commands a demon to depart and it departs. This same word created all that has been created and is the ultimate authority in heaven and earth and under the earth. As we have previously read starting 1:12 Jesus holds authority over temptation, sin, and Satan himself. He holds the authority to preach as He proclaims the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the Gospel. Jesus holds authority over destiny as He calls men to His side and makes them fishers of men. The question that remains is, does He hold authority over you? The answer is yes, but have you bowed your will to His authority over you or are you one of those who stood in amazement scratching their heads wondering where this authority came from. It came from Himself because He is the LORD

We submit to authority every day, whether it is obeying traffic laws or paying for groceries. We submit to the authority as we earn wages at work as we honor our parents and love our spouse. Bowing your will to authorities is a part of everyday life, so shouldn’t we bow our will to the authority who gave us life and wants us to enter into His eternal life, I say so…. Will you today bow your will to the authority of Jesus?

Mark 1:21-28 “The Authority of Jesus”

Intro: When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished.

As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line. “Excuse me,” Governor Herter said, “do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?” “Sorry,” the woman told him. “I’m supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person.” “But I’m starved,” the governor said. “Sorry,” the woman said again. “Only one to a customer.” Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around. “Do you know who I am?” he said. “I am the governor of this state.” “Do you know who I am?” the woman said. “I’m the lady in charge of the chicken. Move along, mister.”

We all find ourselves under authority, whether it is the Government, Employers, Parents, or Elders but there is no authority in this earth such as Jesus. He is the authority over heaven and earth and over the next few weeks we will look at a biblical account of Jesus’ authority on earth.

CPS: Today I want us to take a spiritual inventory and come to the conclusion that we must bow our will to the authority of the Lord Jesus.

Jesus has authority over doctrineVs. 21-22

The Lord’s Teaching (Luke 19:10, Luke 4:16-21)

The People’s Amazement

The Scribes Teaching

The Comparison between Authorities (Jesus/Scribes)

Ill: In my 7 years of biblical academia I was never as astounded as when I took my first Hermeneutics class. In that class I learned who was the determiner of meaning, it was not the reader (what this means to me), it was not the text, but the author and his willed intent. Can you just imagine… the Word of God expounding the word of God!

Jesus has authority over demons Vs. 23-28

The Demons Acknowledgment (Heaven had acknowledged Jesus 1:11 now Hell acknowledged Him)

His Humanity

His Deity

Him as Judge

Matt. 25:41

Rev. 20:10

The Lord’s Action

His Rebuke (Be Quite)

Ill: Rebuke, Greek verb epitimaō which literally means be muzzled. Have you ever seen a dog with a muzzle? He can’t yap or snarl at you. I have friend once that had a yappy dog and he bought him a shock collar, before he placed it on the dog he placed it on himself and spoke, he was shocked, the shock led to a cry and he was shocked again finally he was quite. Though the demon bore witness of Jesus it was not an acceptable testimony because of its unclean source.

His Command (Come Out)

The Demons Obedience

His fight

His departure

Application: The authority of Jesus is seen in this text over the written Word of God as Jesus teaches doctrine that is true and points mankind to Him as the Lord and Savior of the world. His authority is also seen in His spoken Word as He simply commands a demon to depart and it departs. This same word created all that has been created and is the ultimate authority in heaven and earth and under the earth. As we have previously read starting 1:12 Jesus holds authority over temptation, sin, and Satan himself. He holds the authority to preach as He proclaims the time is fulfilled, and the Kingdom of God is at hand, repent and believe the Gospel. Jesus holds authority over destiny as He calls men to His side and makes them fishers of men. The question that remains is, does He hold authority over you? The answer is yes, but have you bowed your will to His authority over you or are you one of those who stood in amazement scratching their heads wondering where this authority came from. It came from Himself because He is the LORD

We submit to authority every day, whether it is obeying traffic laws or paying for groceries. We submit to the authority as we earn wages at work as we honor our parents and love our spouse. Bowing your will to authorities is a part of everyday life, so shouldn’t we bow our will to the authority who gave us life and wants us to enter into His eternal life, I say so…. Will you today bow your will to the authority of Jesus?