Mark 1:21-45
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Mark 1:21-45
Mark 1:21-45
Back in April we started the book of Mark, and we talked about being fishers of men. This book is probably written by John Mark, a companion of Peter while he was in Rome.
We think that, because this gospel is unlike all of the other Gospels. Each of the other gospels start with a genealogy or a story that links Moses to Jesus. This book isn’t written to the Jews, it’s written to the Gentiles.
What’s the difference between Jew and Gentile? Jews are direct descendants of Abraham. Gentiles are anyone who is not a Jew. What’s another difference between us? Jews think a savior is coming for them. Gentiles don’t know why they would even need one.
We Gentiles are simple folk, aren’t we? We don’t need a whole lot of explanation on things...just hit us between the eyes with the story. The book of Mark seems to come at a breakneck pace. Almost like you would think Peter was preaching it.
Peter wasn’t the most eloquent of speakers, was he? What do we know about Peter? Did he put his foot in his mouth? Did he ever do anything that the Lord didn’t approve of?
Have we ever done anything like that? Been too boisterous? Do any of you know what that word means? It means rash, rowdy, right? Have you ever put your foot in your mouth? For the Lord?
I have. I’ve opened my mouth thinking I was doing the work of the Lord, only to find afterward, had I kept my mouth shut, or said something different, the Lord would have been glorified.
I find I’m like Peter a lot. That’s how we learn, though, and the Lord is gracious to let us learn the hard way. It’s the best way for us to learn though. We feel foolish, but that should motivate us.
Peter learned, thru lots of trial and error, that the best way to speak to these Gentiles was to tell them to begin with about Christ’s mission here on earth.
Who was Jesus? Mark 1:1
1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.
He was tempted like us, and conquered that temptation to save us:
12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 And He was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted by Satan, and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered to Him.
Then Jesus mission was established: Mark 1:14-15
14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.”
And finally, who is this person in front of these people, and what is his mission?
16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him.
Peter wastes no time setting up his mission, which should be our mission, right: Who Jesus is, what He did we can’t do, and who we are and what our mission is. Short, concise, and to the point.
The rest of this book is not: This is what I did as I chased after Jesus. Isn’t that how we spend our time when we make disciples? We tell stories of who we were, what we did...how funny it was.
The rest of the book of Mark is not: This is who I am in Jesus. The rest of this book is: This is who Jesus is, and why I follow Him. Event, after event of how Jesus changed hearts and minds, miracle after miracle, parable after parable, lesson after lesson. Peter gives an account of his training.
Sharing our faith should knit hearts together as we walk after the King. Follow me as I follow Jesus. The people around you are there to hold you accountable, to lift you up when you fall, and encourage you to be better.
Establishing where this story takes place, prepares us for where we are today, among the gentiles of our world today. This world clamors for signs, Jesus gave the people of His time signs. How can we use these signs to reach today’s world? Let us dig into the Word today, and find out how we can use this passage with the people around us to show them The Way.
After Simon, Andrew (actually it was Andrew, then Simon) James and John were called...
21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He (Jesus) entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Who was astonished? The religious leaders. He spoke as one having authority. They didn’t know who he was. He didn’t just read, the scribes did that. Who were the scribes? They were the scholars of the day. They were the ones who made every scroll.
They were bookworms. We use terms like book smart and street smart today, what do those terms mean? A book smart person knows what they read in the books and that’s about it. They have knowledge, but wisdom is lacking.
A street smart person reads a room, not a book. Book smart people make great scientists. Street smart people make great first responders.
These scribes knew what the Word said. Jesus knew what the Word meant. Just like we were teaching thru Exodus, Moses told Israel this is what we’re going to make. Jesus says: Every part of the tabernacle testifies of Me! Every piece of material, every covering, every thread, every stone, every plank. It all has meaning.
So often, when we read thru scripture, we read the words, but the meaning is lost. Here’s some advice for you, before you read anything in your Bibles, pray: “Lord, show me Jesus in these passages.” That will help bring the meaning out to you. If you’re looking for Him, you’ll find Him all over the place.
What happened next?
23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 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!”
Where was Jesus now? STILL IN the synagogue. Jesus is actually interrupted by this spirit, which further exasperates the leaders. Why?
What would we do if someone stood up in this congregation and started spouting off, challenging God? A better question should be, how SHOULD we handle a person like this? It would depend on the situation, wouldn’t it?
What would most churches do? Get security and escort them out, right? Maybe fight with him? Who knows, right? Would it be scary? It sure would. Would it scare the kids? Freak them out a bit? I’m dialoguing here because this is a what-if scenario. It’s real in our world. How should we respond.
Demonic forces surround us everywhere we go. If we don’t see it, we’re either blind, or we’re not doing anything to upset those people. How did Jesus handle this situation?
25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 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.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.
What is this new doctrine? What does that mean? Jesus speaks to that demon and it just comes out of him? See, there was a process to drive out demons that the Jews had, and the Catholics have something similar. I don’t know the process, but there were things they needed to say, and they were unsuccessful most of the time. In fact, in the whole of the old testament, there isn’t a documented case of a demon being driven from anyone. Soothed, yes...but never a person healed from it, as far as I can find.
This was a new doctrine to them...they had never seen anything like this before. This man was in their midst. Luke tells the story like this:
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.
Jesus drove out the spirit, as it was coming out he shreiked and was hurled about. The demon left, but the man was now there. These demons get invited into people’s lives, then they get trapped. The only one who can save them is Jesus. The enemy knows who Jesus is. The HOLY One of God. They fear Him. They know that we are the Lord’s precious creation, not them. Whatever they can do to defile and attack us is on the table.
We need to think seriously, how do we handle a situation like this. How do we show strength and grace? Do we deliver the person from their affliction? Or turn them out in it? Are any of us willing to walk alongside and right a torn soul? It takes effort to do it. Discipleship.
I don’t know how I would handle something like that...I’d have to assess the situation myself. I’m pretty sure some of you know how I would react. I’ve been unwise and dangerous in my interactions with people in the past.
Ultimately, there’s a person in there. Are you willing to go get them? I know what you’re thinking now...this is a stranger, right? Well, What if it was your friend? Your child? Your spouse? Does that change the game? What would you be willing to do to go the them? What did Jesus do? We’re to be like Him, right? Are we?
29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. 32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him.
At Once - the Greek word is used 40 times in Mark’s gospel. Just to keep you in the loop of how quickly this gospel moves along. It was first used in verse 10, then verse 12.
What do we have here in these few verses? Jesus the Teacher, then Jesus the Healer. But there’s something special about this passage. Simon Peter’s mother in law was sick. How sick, do we know? She had a fever...a sniffle, do you think? Oh, you’re mother in law has a sore throat, I can help with that.
Well, the text doesn’t say Jesus healed her...because in verse 34 Mark says Jesus healed many who were sick. That word is therapeuo. What do you think that word means today? Therapy...Jesus treated them, He served them. He didn’t concoct up some magic potion, He treated them with His presence.
What’s the difference between being healed, and being lifted up? That word is egeiro which, let’s see that same word in Mark used again:
5 And entering the tomb, they saw a young man clothed in a long white robe sitting on the right side; and they were alarmed. 6 But he said to them, “Do not be alarmed. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen! He is not here. See the place where they laid Him.
Simon’s mother in law was gravely ill, and Mark will drill home the point 5 other times in this book to hammer home the point that death isn’t the end. See, Jesus wasn’t doing parlor tricks, He was making the broken whole. That’s what He does when we turn from our wicked ways and put our trust in Him.
If we are born twice, we only die once, and we’re healed of every malady. We’re made whole again. The downside of all of that, is there’s one thing we can’t do when we get to heaven. That’s tell people about Jesus. If you die in your inequity here on earth and don’t turn, death and destruction await you forever. There is one way to Life, and that is Jesus. He said it, He meant it, that settles it. Come to Him and be healed.
Where is Capernaum?
Capernaum is on the northwest side of the Sea of Galilee. It’s also called Gennesaret. What does that Hebrew word mean? It means harp. Look at the Sea of Galilee. It looks harp shaped, doesn’t it? Pretty cool if you ask me.
Jesus would expand his ministry all around this sea. The Sea of Galilee is called a Tributary, say with me Tributary. That means it feeds another body. The Missouri River that cuts our state in half is a tributary of the Mississippi river.
The Sea of Galilee is fed from the Jordan river that flows from Mt. Hermon, down thru here and out into the Dead Sea. Why is the Dead Sea called the Dead Sea? Because nothing can live in it. It’s the lowest point on earth, and the water flows into it and stagnates.
This is a solid representation of our lives here on earth. The water of Life, the water that Jesus says that He gives flows from Him, and should flow thru us. We are then filled with a fresh filling and we are to be poured out. That’s the mark of an accepting soul.
That water can flow into our lives also and not change us at all. We can horde it and be lazy with it. I’ve heard pastors say “I feed a congregation of fat sheep.” What that means is, the people gorge themselves in teaching, but they don’t exercise their giftings. Fellowship isn’t just about being fed. If you find you are in a period of spiritual stagnation, it’s up to you to do something about it. Get on the playing field, get in the game, the Lord has work to do and He doesn’t need you to do it...but He does want you to. Get that water flowing in your life again.
What’s one way you can do that? Well, after Jesus was poured out, what did He do? Glad you asked, the Bible tells us:
35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him.
What does that mean: “having risen a long while before daylight?” Kids, do you love to sleep in? YES YOU DO. Don’t lie in church, we don’t need any lightning strikes. What was Jesus doing here? What is He modeling for us? Most of the Gospels is Jesus modeling how we should live our lives.
He’s teaching us get up early and speak to Me. Be alone with ME. Let your first waking minutes be in MY presence. Jesus the Man, had to go speak to God, the Father. Jesus was fully God and fully man. The man side of Him started every day like this. Up early, let me get about my Father’s business.
We can’t hear His voice if we are surrounded by the noise of our everyday lives. Shut off the headset and the news.Let the water pour into you first thing AND WATCH WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR LIFE.
I’m not saying he’s going to bring a financial windfall, but IF YOU ARE OBEDIENT, I can tell you, things will change, and it will start with you seeing the Lord in more and more things in your life. Change your schedule and watch the Lord cook in your life. That’s all I’m saying.
So, everyone is looking for Him because He beat them all awake, even these fishermen who were always up early.
37 When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.” 38 But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.
Jesus went around the sea and poured himself out. He taught, He healed, he set the captives free.
40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, “If You are willing, You can make me clean.”
A leper, what did leprosy represent in scripture? Jews recognize it as a manifestation of God’s judgement. It usually meant the person had sinned against God grievously.
41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, “I am willing; be cleansed.” 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.” 45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction.
In Numbers, the instructions for handling a person with leprosy were given...never is there a documented case in scripture about them being used. They were to be cast out, alone...and the last thing you would want to do is touch them, because it would infect you as well.
If you had been healed of such a malady, would you tell everyone about the one who healed you? Mark is teaching us who Jesus is, because Gentiles don’t know who He is.
This Gospel is a message in itself. It’s about the suffering servant of our Lord. This first chapter sets that stage...He serves, and He serves, and He serves. He sacrifices all of His time, then His life for us.
At Hills Alive, people were making Gospel bracelets yesterday. Listening to my son make mine, he said (I’m paraphrasing what I heard, probably not exactly what he said.)
This is such a simple example of the Grace of God, to send His only son to fulfill what Adam should have done years ago. By man, sin and death came into this world. Anything we think, say, or do that dishonors God is sin.
God is Holy, and nothing that comes to Him can be unholy. Thru the Blood of Jesus applied to our lives, covering our sin and inequity, scripture says we become His righteousness here on earth, set free from our bondage to this world.
If you died today, where would you go? It’ an important question, eternity is at stake. Will you humble yourself? This leprose man Matthew and Luke say fell on his face before the Lord and worshipped Jesus and said “I want to put my faith in You. Just like the evil spirit, this man says in no uncertain terms “I know who you are, Holy One of God.”
Jesus compassion for us, when He hears our cry, conquers even our death. There is but one way to Heaven.
