Stories of the Rabbi 2

Mark 1:14-38

Review of John’s claim 1:8:

I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Who is the Holy Spirit?

Exodus 40:34-35

1 Kings 8:10-11

The Holy Spirit is God’s presence among his creation. The Holy Spirit dwells in an intimate relationship with Jesus’s followers in the New Testament. Putting your faith in Jesus means you receive the cleansing forgiveness of the cross and the power of the resurrection through the Holy Spirit in your life. It is a return to the first humans’ intimate relationship with God in Genesis 1 and 2 – a repair of that divine relationship.

Vss. 14-15: Initiation of ministry – John leads to Jesus.

· Vs. 14

o When? – After John was arrested – his public ministry came to an end.

o Who? Jesus – his ministry can now commence.

o Where? Galilee – all of Jesus’ ministry is in Galilee, but it is transferred to Jerusalem in chapter 11. No mention of other Jerusalem visits or visits to Samaria. The ministry is no longer in the wilderness.

o κηρύσσω kērussō – proclaim, preach, announce.

o εὐαγγέλιον euaggelion – good news, gospel (old English word meaning “good day or good tidings”).

o Where does this Good news come from? God – not Caesar. Another poke in the eye at the Romans. This word was used to describe announcements made by the Emporers to the people. It is a kingship activity.

· Vs. 15: The theme of Mark’s Gospel – A bold claim

o Time fulfilled – The Jewish people have been waiting for the Kingdom of God to arrive.

o Kingdom of God – God’s presence in the world. It used to be in the Temple (Tabernacle) but is now among the people in Jesus.

§ This would again insult Rome as the Roman Empire would also be considered the Kingdom of god.

o “Is at hand” means it is now here.

o Two conditions to enter into this Kingdom:

§ Repent – just like John’s message, we need to turn back from former ways of living

§ πιστεύω pisteuō – believe, entrust, faith

· in what? The εὐαγγέλιον euaggelion.

Vss. 16-20: Calling the first disciples

· Who? Simon, Andrew, James, John, and Zebedee

o All were fishermen

o All received the command: δεῦτε deute ἐγώ egō – come, come away, follow

o James and John left their father, Zebedee.

o All four had the same reaction εὐθύς euthus – straight away, just then, immediately.

o Disciples usually sought out teachers and applied to follow them. Jesus breaks this mold and calls out those four men. Jesus goes to them.

Vss. 21-28: Demonstration of the Kingdom and Jesus’ authority.

· We have the announcement that the Kingdom of God has arrived, and we have the first four members of that Kingdom. It is now time to see what that Kingdom looks like.

· Who? Jesus, Jame. John, Simon, Andrew, the man, the unclean spirits, and the people in the synagogue.

· Where? Capernaum, in the synagogue.

· Vss. 21-22

o Jesus “right away” (immediately) goes into the synagogue and begins to teach.

§ How was Jesus’ teaching described? – They (the disciples and the people in the synagogue) were astonished (amazed) at his ἐξουσία exousia – authority, power. Control).

· Vss. 23-24

o Again – immediately

§ ἀκάθαρτος akathartos πνεῦμα pneuma – (unclean, impure) spirit.

· The Jewish understanding of unclean or impure relates to evil and/or death.

· A synonym to δαιμόνιον daimonion.

§ The unclean spirits are plural – they are anticipating their doom because they know that Jesus is the ἅγιος hagios θεός theos – Holy One of God = equality to God.

· Vss. 25-28

o Vs. 25

§ Jesus ἐπιτιμάω epitimaō – rebuked – sharp disapproval or harsh criticism because of behavior or actions. Old English means to force back or repress.

§ Orders the daemon

· Silence

· Leave

o Vs. 26 – After a brief struggle, the demon leaves

o Vs. 27 – the reaction – same as vs. 22

§ Jesus teaches about the Kingdom of God and then demonstrates what that Kingdom looks like.

§ The Kingdom of God has authority in the spiritual realm.

o Vs. 28 – Jesus’ fame increases.

Vss. 29 – 34 Demonstration of the Kingdom through Healing

· We see that euthus is used as a transition word between stories.

· Who?

o Jesus

o Simon and Andrew

o James and John

o Simon’s mother-in-law

· Situation

o Simon’s mother-in-law is sick with a fever.

o She would have been considered unclean to the Jewish folks – none would dare touch her.

o Vs. 31 – Jesus holds her hand, and she is healed.

o Instead of uncleanliness – death – moving from the woman to Jesus, Jesus transfers healing life into the woman.

o This healing is a paradigm shift for all involved.

o Vss. 32-33 Healing continues for the whole town.

o Vs. 34 – He healed and delivered them.

o Notice again, demons were ordered to be silent because they knew him. – Why?