Mark 1:21-28

RECAP

Mark 1:1-8: First we spoke about the introduction of Jesus by John Mark as the Christ, the Song of God. We spoke about what that means to be the Christ and Song of God. We then were introduced to John the Baptist. He’s this kind of weird dude who walks around in camel’s with a leather belt eating locust with wild honey. We talks about who this John guy is and why He was baptizing. What did he mean that he was baptizing with water and one is coming who will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.

Mark 1:9-15: We saw the baptism of Jesus Himself. We talked about how the trinity (God the Father, Jesus the Son, The Holy Spirit), were all three present at the baptism of Jesus just as they were all three present at the creation of the world. (Creation & Redemption). We spoke about within that the benefits of learning about the Trinity and how it teaches us to be less selfish. And to live in conjunction with others.

Mark 1:16-20: we talked about Jesus calling His disciples. How He is the one who calls us to give up our lives to put on this new identity to be His follower. We spoke about the difference between false religion and the Gospel.

Today we’re continuing in the Gospel of Mark and will be reading Mark 1:21-28.

So let’s dive into this tonight...

Mark 1:21–28 ESV

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

When you think of what we just read… it’s pretty much sounds crazy.

Imagine being one of Jesus’ disciples who had just been called to follow Him recently. One day on a Sabbath Jesus is asked to come and teach at a synagogue because He has been recognized as a different teacher, but a teacher nonetheless.

So You all go with Him to also listen to His teaching.

Well… the dude teaches with this AUTHORITY that nobody has heard of. (We’ll get to that)

But then something else happens. We have this straight up exorcism performed by this same guy we decided to follow a few days ago! WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON??

The point of this story in scripture tonight students is simple… Its AUTHORITY.

Jesus teaches with this UNIQUE AUTHORITY.

Jesus has authority that is given to Him by His Father (Mark 1:9-11) over two parts…

1. Over the temporal (worldly affairs, secular)

2. Over the supernatural. (Things outside of this world.)

Authority over the temporal (worldly affairs/secular).

Mark (1) Teaching in the Synagogue and Exorcising an Evil Spirit (1:21–28)

It was a common practice for visiting teachers to be invited to read the Scripture and/or speak, a custom from which Paul as well as Jesus benefited. That Jesus was invited to speak indicates he had already established a reputation as a teacher and that this was not one of the first events in his ministry. Jesus was recognized as a teacher even by his opponents (cf. 12:19), although there is no evidence that he had received any formal training. Certainly he was not a typical rabbi.

We read that they go into Capernaum and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus goes to teach in the synagogue. And the Bible says that they were ASTONISHED at His teaching.

That’s kind of interesting isn’t it?

I mean we see amazing things everyday. Especially our my generation and down have had the unique opportunity to be able to see things that happen around the world that are amazing. But how many times have you seen something truly astonishing?

That’s what the Bible says these people saw in the event of Jesus teaching.

Mark 1:22 ESV

22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

The only possible standard to compare this to is that of the scribes. Dayton why is a scribe?

The Gospel according to Mark (The Authority of Jesus (1:21–28))

In the first century, before the advent of universal education and literacy, there was a great demand for scribes throughout the ancient world, and especially in Judaism where the written code of the Torah regulated Jewish life. The Hebrew word for scribes, sopherim, has to do with counting, reckoning, and keeping written documents, thus providing an initial understanding of the functions of a Jewish scribe.

The term “scribe” occurs early in the Davidic monarchy for a royal official who was a general secretary and recorder (2 Sam 8:16–17; 20:24–25; 1 Kgs 4:3). In postexilic Judaism the word “scribe” came to designate an expert in the Torah, of whom Ezra was the first in an illustrious line (Ezra 7:6, 11). The importance and fame of scribes grew during the Hasmonean period when Hellenistic ideals began to rival Torah-learning among the Jews.

Scribes were, first of all, experts in the Torah who were capable of issuing binding decisions on its interpretation. Scribal knowledge of the Torah, and the means by which it was attained, were often regarded as esoteric enlightenment, and hence the more authoritative. With the growth of the synagogue, scribes became, secondly, teachers of the Torah, whose reputation was honored by the title “rabbi,” meaning “my great one.”

Now, these SCRIBES were people who would quote and give some interpretive answers. Their authority was mainly brought down from A “TRADITION OF ELDERS” (7:8-13).

But Jesus… His authority was different....

The Gospel according to Mark (The Authority of Jesus (1:21–28))

The word that Mark uses of Jesus’ authority, exousia

The Gospel according to Mark (The Authority of Jesus (1:21–28))

exousia is used more often than not of supernatural powers and authorities, especially of God and God’s works

The Gospel according to Mark (The Authority of Jesus (1:21–28))

In Mark exousia occurs nine times, six with reference to Jesus (1:22, 27; 2:10; 11:28, 29, 33) and three with reference to authority conferred by Jesus on the apostles (3:15; 6:7; 13:34). Every instance of exousia therefore reflects either directly or indirectly the authority of Jesus. Mark’s use of this defining term at the outset of Jesus’ public ministry establishes his authority over the highest authorities in both the temporal realm, as represented by the scribes, and the supernatural authorities, as represented by the demon in 1:23ff.

Jesus didn’t rely on other teachers. He had no quotes. Again and again in the gospels Jesus says, “You’ve heard that it was said…but I say to you.” He spoke not in secondhand quotes but with firsthand authority.

As Tim Keller says, “He didn’t just clarify something that they already knew, or simply interpret the Scriptures in the way the teachers of the law did. His listeners sensed somehow that he was explaining the story of their lives as the author, and it left them dumbfounded.”

So when we open the Bible and hear the teaching of Jesus, we encounter not just another good, moral teacher but the author of life itself. As Jesus spoke in the synagogue, he spoke as the author of their very experience!

His authority reached far beyond the pulpit, it reached their hearts. He knew what was going on inside each of them.

And inside of one of them was something far more than appeared on the surface. There was evil lurking, and the call to repent and believe, the drawing near of the kingdom of God became too much. The authoritative teaching of Jesus was tested.

Authority over the supernatural.

So we read Mark bringing us really the first true test of Jesus’ authority here in verse 23. And we see that something that is even more impressive than Jesus’ authority as a teacher is His authority in the supernatural realm.

Mark 1:23–25 ESV

23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

NOW, In light of this authoritative teaching, who would you expect to be the first to respond? Maybe the synagogue leader? Maybe the long-time congregants? What about a demon?

Now… I realize bringing up demons can be a little weird. It’s a difficult concept for many people.

(QUOTE ABOUT CONCEPT OF DEMONIC PRESENCE.)

Mark ((1) Teaching in the Synagogue and Exorcising an Evil Spirit (1:21–28))

As difficult as the concept of the demonic is for most people today, it cannot be satisfactorily treated as a primitive explanation for various kinds of physical and psychological illness. A better explanation is that there is much less evidence of the demonic today because Jesus won a decisive, although not yet total, victory over it.

Now… we read that this demon inside the man ask this question… “What have you to do with us? Have you come to destroy us?” Many commentators wills tell you this seems more like a statement than a question… the demon knew exactly what was going to happen to him.

(QUOTE ABOUT V.24 QUESTION)

Mark ((1) Teaching in the Synagogue and Exorcising an Evil Spirit (1:21–28))

The second sentence, however, could be an assertion rather than a question: “You have come to destroy us!” The demon tried unsuccessfully to oppose Jesus by employing his name. “Holy One of God” probably is a messianic title. In v. 24 the demon acknowledged the true identity of Jesus (cf. v. 34)—something the disciples were slow to do. In fact, only at the crucifixion did a human being confess Jesus as the Son of God, and he was not one of the disciples (15:39).

I think it’s interesting how in scripture we see that the demons are very quick to acknowledge the true identity of Jesus. While, the disciples are slow to do.

THE SUPERNATURAL POWERS THEMSELVES RECOGNIZE THE MISSION AND AUTHORITY OF JESUS BEFORE HUMANITY.

So when the unclean spirit shouts Jesus’ name, it was an attempt to unveil his identity to defeat him, to cause him to submit. He was saying, in effect, “I know who you are. You can’t fool me.”

I have to admit...If someone stood up in a crowd with many people watching and said, “I know who you are, DAYTON FERGUSON” something in me would pause. I would shudder a little bit. What do they know?

One of our great fears is being found out. As soon as someone says they know me or you, they’re making a claim. That’s what this demon was doing.

But did it work? Did the demon have more authority than Jesus? Was Jesus afraid of being found out? What sin or weakness or insufficiency was there in Jesus that struck fear in his heart? Nothing!

Jesus then expels the demon with AUTHORITY.

Mark 1:25 ESV

25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

Mark 1:26 ESV

26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

Jesus was not a normal exorcist, using another’s authority. Jesus is the authority. The prophecy of Zechariah 13:2 was being fulfilled.

Zechariah 13:2 ESV

2 “And on that day, declares the Lord of hosts, I will cut off the names of the idols from the land, so that they shall be remembered no more. And also I will remove from the land the prophets and the spirit of uncleanness.

God was removing the unclean spirits from the land.

This particular unclean spirit seemed to know what it truly meant that the kingdom of God was at hand. What have demons to do with the kingdom of God? Better fight back now while he has the chance!

But try as he may, the demon’s tactics are no use. He may be powerful, but he’s not authoritative.

Jesus says, “Be silent, and come out of him!” We can see the strength of that statement there in our Bibles. But the original language shows it’s even stronger. What Jesus said would not be considered polite. He said, essentially, “Shut up. Come out of him. I’ve heard enough from you.”

It would hold the authority of a father correcting a wayward child, an officer of the law correcting a criminal, a judge sentencing the guilty. It was a silencing statement, one the unclean spirit was helpless against.

Then, “the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.” The cry was one last attempt at defeating Jesus, but Jesus did not flinch.

The unclean spirit could not get out from under the authority of Jesus. The kingdom of God was at hand. Jesus bound the strong man to let his people free. And he was successful.

Now, that’s just absolutely fascinating.

Even the demons know Jesus and shudder. Even they obey his voice.

It’s proof that Jesus’ authority wasn’t just a claim. He actually had the power he said he had. The kingdom of God truly was at hand. No one else could drive the unclean spirit away.

Mark 1:27–28 ESV

27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

TRUTH: Jesus has the authority to change you.

Maybe you’re here today and wondering what’s going on in your life. Your dreams are fading. Your sin is growing. Your desires as waning. Your hope is lost.

Jesus has the authority to heal you.

Whatever mess you’ve made of your life, here’s the gospel truth: Jesus came to save sinners.

Maybe you can’t imagine offering anything to Jesus but your absolute mess of a life. Okay. Bring it. That’s no problem for Jesus. Jesus Christ came to seek and save the lost. He has authority to heal you!

Martin Luther said, “The life of Christianity consists in possessive pronouns.” It’s one thing to say, “Christ is Lord.” It’s another to say,” Christ is my Lord.” Any devil can say the first. Only the Christian can say the second. What do you say?

What you say to that determines your future. It determines all that ultimately matters in the end.