Mark 1:21-28 (NKJV) Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He 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.
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!”
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.
The parallel passage is Luke 4:31-37.
V21 “Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.” Jesus was a faithful and law-abiding Jew. He kept Mosaic Law flawlessly (2 Corinthians 5:21, 1 Peter 2:22 (Peter was with the Lord Jesus for over 3 years in private and public), and 1 John 3:5). As we read through the Gospels, we become aware of what a great teacher Jesus was, is, and always will be.
V22 “And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” His teaching was so good, so true, so convicting, so encouraging, etc., that the people were astonished. The scribes must have been greatly inferior as teachers. Jesus is the supreme in various categories as speech, leadership, education, medical, counseling, legal, etc. He is the King of kings and Lord of lords, that is, supreme.
V23 “Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out…” Interesting that the place of local worship had an attender who was demon-possessed. Demons have a number of titles as unclean spirits (defiled, sinful, abhorrent to God). His authoritative word is all that is needed to cast them out of people. The demon, in fear, screams out a message.
V24 “…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!” Quiet the confession from such a rebellious spirit. He shouts 3 things: 1) “What do we have in common?” 2) Did you come to destroy us? 3) the Holy One of God (2 Kings 19:22, Psalms 16:10, Psalms 78:41, Isaiah 5:24, Isaiah 41:14, and Ezekiel 39:7). The Greek word for “destroy” is (G0622) ἀπόλλυμι apollymi, which means to destroy with strong force. It does not mean that they would be annihilated. If it did, they wouldn’t care so much, but an eternal destroying is torment. This demon, in my opinion, shows great fear. Barclay (beware) writes: “There were many exorcists who claimed to be able to cast out demons. So real was this belief that by A.D. 340 the Christian church actually possessed an Order of Exorcists. But there was this difference–the ordinary Jewish and pagan exorcist used elaborate incantations and spells and magical rites. Jesus with one word of clear, simple, brief authority exorcised the demon from a man. No one had ever seen anything like this before. The power was not in the spell, the formula, the incantation, the elaborate rite; the power was in Jesus and men were astonished.”
The “Holy One of God” is a title of Jesus, God the Son from eternity. Jesus is His birth name; Christ is His title as Messiah (in Greek). Compare Psalm 16:10, Psalm 89:18, and 1 John 2:20.
V25 “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” Jesus wanted no recognition or honor from demons, so the only response Jesus gave was a rebuke, “Shut up and come out of him.” The demon indwelled this man and controlled him.
V26 “And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.” The unclean spirit should have immediately come out, but showing his rebellion caused a seizure and screamed. The demon had no choice but to come out. “For yours (Father) is the kingdom, the power, and the glory.”
V27 “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.” They were in shock that this man could do such things. Wouldn’t this display of authority and sovereign power cause the people to repent and recognize Jesus as the Messiah? This is not a new teaching. Compare 1 Samuel 16:18-23 and Luke 11:19 (already practiced by the Jews before Jesus).
V28 “And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.”
We learn:
- About Jesus’s power and authority.
- About Jesus’s mercy (He freed the man from demonic control).
Questions:
- Are we amazed when God answers our prayers?
- Are there people in our churches who have similar problems?