Jesus Drives Out An Impure Spirit - Mark 1:21-28
Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Reflection:
Today we begin to see how through Jesus, the kingdom was at hand. John had prepared the way, and Jesus' first sermon/proclamation was, "Repent for the kingdom of God was at hand." Jesus had called his disciples to a three year apprenticeship, where he would teach them how to live, teach and do the works of the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. So today the first stop they make in their immersion experience is in Capernaum, in the synagogue, where Jews and God fearing Gentiles met. And as they gathered their was a man in their midst who was possessed by unclean spirit. Notice he was not just afflicted by this unclean or evil spirit, but possessed by it. Meaning he had given complete control to the spirit in his soul.
But what Satan had intended for evil, God uses for good, as this gives Jesus the opportunity to show that He not only teaches with authority, but he also has the power and authority over spiritual forces arrayed against humankind. And the people say he doesn't teach as the teachers of the law, but as one with authority. From this we can deduce that it is possible to purport to be a teacher of God and not teach with any authority. And with authority comes power, as the word authority means the power or right to execute. Therefore, today when we say someone has the power of attorney, they have power in legal matters to represent someone else as their agent. And in this case Jesus is the agent of God's will and purpose in His power.
The people recognize this because they have never seen this before. Their religious leaders had tried exorcisms before by somehow charming the bad spirit out. But Jesus commands by authority for this demon to leave. Notice the irony of the fact that the demon recognizes who Jesus is and his authority. He calls him "Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy One of God!" And when Jesus commanded him to come out of him he did. Where the demon went from there we don't know.
So we see Jesus had to first do some cleaning in the synagogue before he could do anything else. Importantly we see Jesus not only teaches, but demonstrates his teaching through action. People could experience the truth he was speaking about right in front of them. Jesus taught both words and works. So a question for us to ask today if we are in a teaching role in our church is: do I teach with authority? Do I incorporate experiences that illustrate the teaching in God's power and authority. Jesus gave us a promise in John's gospel, "You will do even greater things than me." So clearly Jesus meant for us not only to teach with authority, but to act with authority. For our battle today is still against principalities and powers of this present darkness. But the Good News is that just as Jesus had power over these dark forces, so do we in His name. Amen.
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Reflection:
Today we begin to see how through Jesus, the kingdom was at hand. John had prepared the way, and Jesus' first sermon/proclamation was, "Repent for the kingdom of God was at hand." Jesus had called his disciples to a three year apprenticeship, where he would teach them how to live, teach and do the works of the kingdom on earth as it is in heaven. So today the first stop they make in their immersion experience is in Capernaum, in the synagogue, where Jews and God fearing Gentiles met. And as they gathered their was a man in their midst who was possessed by unclean spirit. Notice he was not just afflicted by this unclean or evil spirit, but possessed by it. Meaning he had given complete control to the spirit in his soul.
But what Satan had intended for evil, God uses for good, as this gives Jesus the opportunity to show that He not only teaches with authority, but he also has the power and authority over spiritual forces arrayed against humankind. And the people say he doesn't teach as the teachers of the law, but as one with authority. From this we can deduce that it is possible to purport to be a teacher of God and not teach with any authority. And with authority comes power, as the word authority means the power or right to execute. Therefore, today when we say someone has the power of attorney, they have power in legal matters to represent someone else as their agent. And in this case Jesus is the agent of God's will and purpose in His power.
The people recognize this because they have never seen this before. Their religious leaders had tried exorcisms before by somehow charming the bad spirit out. But Jesus commands by authority for this demon to leave. Notice the irony of the fact that the demon recognizes who Jesus is and his authority. He calls him "Jesus of Nazareth and the Holy One of God!" And when Jesus commanded him to come out of him he did. Where the demon went from there we don't know.
So we see Jesus had to first do some cleaning in the synagogue before he could do anything else. Importantly we see Jesus not only teaches, but demonstrates his teaching through action. People could experience the truth he was speaking about right in front of them. Jesus taught both words and works. So a question for us to ask today if we are in a teaching role in our church is: do I teach with authority? Do I incorporate experiences that illustrate the teaching in God's power and authority. Jesus gave us a promise in John's gospel, "You will do even greater things than me." So clearly Jesus meant for us not only to teach with authority, but to act with authority. For our battle today is still against principalities and powers of this present darkness. But the Good News is that just as Jesus had power over these dark forces, so do we in His name. Amen.
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