How To Start A Ministry (Mark 1:14-28)

1. The sacrificial servant begins His ministry with the preaching of the Good News (14-15).

1:14. Jesus now began his public ministry in the province of Galilee. Palestine had three major provinces. Galilee was the northernmost province. It contained beautiful lakes, forests, and mountains. Most of Jesus’ ministry was conducted in this province. Jesus embarked on what is called his early Galilean ministry (1:14–3:12).

The beginning of Jesus’ ministry is related to the imprisonment of John the Baptist. Mark does not give us the events that took place after the temptation of Jesus and the imprisonment of John. The other Gospel writers fill in those details. Mark concentrated on the work of the servant, so he pointed out that John’s work of preparation had ended by his imprisonment and the ministry of Jesus was now to begin.

Jesus began his ministry of service by proclaiming the good news of God. The good news is both from God and about God. This good news is the gospel that brings forgiveness, restoration, and new life. Men and women have been longing to hear such a message. Now they not only hear it but actually encounter the One who is able to deliver it.

1:15. The phrase the time has come shows the exact timing of God. Jesus was saying that the critical moment in history had arrived. God was about to act decisively by bringing redemption and restoration to his people through his servant, Jesus.

Jesus’ message was that the kingdom of God is near. The kingdom of God was central to Jesus’ teaching. The kingdom of God was simply the rule of the Messiah on earth. This had been promised in the Old Testament (e.g., Exod. 15:18; Ps. 29:10; Isa. 43:15), and the Jewish people had longed for it. The kingdom “is near” because Jesus, the ruler of that kingdom, has now arrived. Yet, the only way into that kingdom is to repent and believe. John had already been preaching for the people to repent, but Jesus added the word believe. Only through “repentance” from their sinfulness and “belief” in the good news (i.e., the gospel of Jesus Christ) would they enter the kingdom. Jesus was presenting an urgency about the nearness of God’s kingdom and the need to act decisively.

2. The sacrificial servant begins His ministry by forming a team to help Him preach the good news of the kingdom (16-20).

1:16–18. Jesus’ task was to gather around him a community whom he could teach so they might be sharers of this good news. Jesus, after his resurrection, would commission his disciples to carry the gospel “unto all the world.” He began the preparation of his disciples to carry out that commission.

Jesus was walking by the Sea of Galilee. The Sea of Galilee is a beautiful fresh-water lake. Fed by the waters of the upper Jordan River, it is seven hundred feet below sea level, fourteen miles long, and six miles wide. It was also called the Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1) and the Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1; 21:1). In Old Testament times, this lake was known as the Sea of Kinnereth (Num. 34:11). Most of Jesus’ teaching and miracles were performed in this area.

A lot of fishing took place at this lake. Josephus, a famous historian of the Jews, recorded that up to 330 fishing boats sailed this lake. Among those who fished this lake for a livelihood were Simon and his brother, Andrew. Jesus called Simon and Andrew to Come, follow me. Mark says nothing of a previous encounter of these two disciples with Jesus. These men may have been followers of John. Perhaps they were encouraged by John to follow Jesus. Also, they may have been in the crowd when Jesus was preaching.

Jesus declared that he would make them fishers of men. This phrase was a metaphor used by the Old Testament prophets for the gathering of people for judgment (Jer. 16:14–16; Amos 4:2). Jesus was calling Simon and Andrew to the urgent task of rescuing people from the impending judgment implied by the coming of the kingdom in the person and work of Jesus. This urgency demanded a response. The phrase at once indicates that urgency. Leaving their nets showed their willingness to make a total commitment as disciples of Christ.

1:19–20. Jesus extended the same call to James and John, who were known as the sons of Zebedee. The price of discipleship is further illustrated in their actions. They not only left their livelihood; they also broke family ties and tradition by leaving their father.

3. The sacrificial servant begins his ministry of service by preaching with authority and proving this authority by casting out a demon (21-28).

1:21. Jesus and his team entered a small city called Capernaum, located on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee. This city was probably the home of Peter, Andrew, James, and John, his new disciples. Capernaum became a major site for Jesus’ healing and preaching ministry—a kind of base of operations for his Galilean ministry. The Sabbath was set aside as a day of worship and rest. The people would gather at the synagogue for prayer and exposition from the Old Testament Scriptures. Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach. A Jewish custom permitted visiting teachers, like Jesus, to preach by invitation of the leaders of the synagogue.

1:22. The people were amazed at Jesus’ teachings. His teachings were different because he taught as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. The scribes were professionally trained scholars who applied and interpreted the law. The difference between Jesus’ teaching and the scribes was that the scribes never gave an independent opinion. They always quoted other experts such as “rabbi such and such” to back up their interpretations of the law. Jesus did not quote any source. He was the ultimate authority in and of himself. Jesus taught with authority that came straight from God.

1:23–24. The synagogue service was interrupted by the cries of a man who was possessed by an evil spirit. Immediately Jesus was opposed by Satan. This was a key event because Jesus had the opportunity to show his authority over the power of Satan. The term “evil spirit” means that this man’s personality had been damaged to the point that the core of his being was under the control of a demon.

The question What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? shows that there was more than one demon in the man. There must have been several demons possessing this man and causing him to cry out. The demons also clearly recognized the authority and mission of Jesus. The demons seemed to know that Jesus’ preaching brought judgment. If one did not respond to Jesus’ preaching, then judgment would occur.

The use of Jesus’ name by the demons and his title the Holy One of God is believed to be an attempt by the demons to gain control over Jesus. It was widely believed that by uttering one’s name, an individual could gain power or control over that person. The demons seemed to hope to do this with Jesus.

1:25–26. Those who could cast out demons, called exorcists, would usually identify themselves by name to some deity or power and then pronounce some authoritative phrase to cast out the demon. Jesus needed no magical formula to exorcise the demon. He was the ultimate authority. He ordered the demon to be quiet. At this authoritative word of power, the evil spirit convulsed the man, then left him with a shriek.

1:27–28. The people were amazed once again. In fact, they said, What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! They had never experienced such power and authority. Jesus’ authoritative teaching was backed up by authoritative action. Jesus’ authority was inherent within himself. As usual, Jesus’ teaching not only generated great discussion but caused his fame to spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.