www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk
The Gospel of Mark Chapter 1 Part 2 Going to Church 21 - 22 1.21. Then they went to Capernaum. When the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. It was the consistent practice of Jesus to attend the synagogue and the Temple and on this Sabbath being in Capernaum this is what He did straight away. This was most probably the synagogue which Luke tells us the Roman centurion built whose servant was healed (Luke 7: 2 -10). The custom in the meeting was for the Rabbi to invite someone to read and explain the scriptures. So Jesus would have done so at his invitation. 1.22. The people there were amazed by his teaching, because he taught them like one who had authority, not like the experts in the law. This was no ordinary meeting and no ordinary teaching for He spoke to them as one whom not only knew the scriptures but the full truth of them also this the scribes were not able to. The words came forth from Him with life and power and the people were astounded by it and the powers of darkness were stirred up by it.
Demonic Delivered 23 - 28 1.23. Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, It would appear from this verse that the man was a regular attendee at the synagogue and would have been well known. It is the demon within him that cries out and thus makes himself known to Jesus. 1.24 "Leave us alone, Jesus the Nazarene! Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are — the Holy One of God!" The first thing he cries is for Jesus to go and" leave us alone". As there was only one demon mentioned in verse 23, 25 and 26 the "us" here must refer to the man himself and the demon.
"What have we to do with you" that is, "what have we got in common with you?" Of course the answer is "nothing" for Jesus is pure the demon unclean, Jesus is light the demon darkness, Jesus came from God the demon from the devil, and Jesus came from heaven the demon from hell. He addresses Jesus in the first instance by His earthly name "Jesus of Nazareth." He need not have asked if Jesus had come to destroy for he knew that He had come to deliver from and to destroy all the works of the devil (1 John 3: 8). The demon recognized and confessed who Jesus is (James 2: 19) and that He has all power and authority given to Him and that all demons are subject to the Lord and must obey Him. 1.25. But Jesus rebuked him: "Silence! Come out of him!" Note that Jesus did not lay hands on the man or speak to him but to the demon. He did not pray for him but he "rebukes," that is he reprimands the unclean spirit by commanding him to shut up, to be muzzled, and then to come out of the man. 1.26. After throwing him into convulsions, the unclean spirit cried out with a loud voice and came out of him. The demon could not do any other than to shut up and leave the man. This he did by convulsing the man and with a loud screech. It was the power of the Lord Jesus over the demon that caused him to be wrenched away from the man and this was the cause of the convulsion and screeching. The man was set free! 1.27. They were all amazed so that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands the unclean spirits and they obey him." This deliverance caused a great stir among the people for although they had most probably seen the priests exorcising unclean spirits this was the first time that they had witnessed someone having authority over them and casting them out by His word of command. 1.28. So the news about him spread quickly throughout all the region around Galilee. This demonstration of the power and authority of the Lord caused His fame to spread right throughout Galilee. Although the people were amazed and wondered at these things it does not say that they believed on Him.
Simon Peter's House 1.29 - 30. Now as soon as they left the synagogue, they entered Simon and Andrew's house, with James and John. Simon's mother-in-law was lying down, sick with a fever, so they spoke to Jesus at once about her. These few verses tell us a few things about Simon his home and family. From all that is recorded of Simon Peter we see that he is a rough and ready kind of person, often putting his foot in it, here we see him as a tender and caring man. He not only provided a home for his widowed mother-in-law but also for his brother Andrew, so we can assume that the brother’s parents were dead (1 Tim. 5:8). He was also hospitable for he invited Jesus, James and John back to his home for dinner (1 Pet. 4:9, Rom.12: 13). However, things we not well at home and the household were not prepared for
visitors; Peter's mother-in-law had a fever. Although they had known Jesus only for a short time they immediately bring the problem to Him; there does not seem to be any hesitation in this or thought of calling the doctor or anyone else they had faith to believe that He would heal her. 1.31. He came and raised her up by gently taking her hand. Then the fever left her and she began to serve them. Jesus did not pray or speak with her He just took a hold of her hand and she was immediately healed. There are other recorded incidents when Jesus healed and rose from the dead by taking the people by the hand (Math. 9:25). The mother-in-law wasted no time in recovering she helped to wait upon them as many other women would do throughout Christ's ministry.
The Evening Healings 32 - 34 1.32 - 33. When it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all who were sick and demonpossessed. The whole town gathered by the door. Following the miracles of the healings in the synagogue and in the home the news spread throughout the whole of Capernaum so that by the evening everybody that was sick or demon possessed was brought to Jesus at the home of Simon Peter. He turned none away but ministered to them. 1.34. So he healed many who were sick with various diseases and drove out many demons. But he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. The meaning here is that Jesus healed many different kinds of sicknesses and diseases and drove out demons from all who came to Him not just some. He would not allow the demons to bear witness as to who He was for they did so by compulsion because of His authority and power and not voluntarily. In these days of grace Jesus Christ waits for the revelation to be given by God and the Holy Spirit to men that will enable them to say with Peter, “you are the Christ” (Mark 8: 29)“. A. Cole says "Demons may well believe but they do not trust."
Secret Prayer 35 1.35. Very early the next morning, Jesus got up and went to a place where he could be alone and pray. After the business of the day before when much power had gone out from Him (Mark 5:30) Jesus arising before anyone else is awake and before dawn has broken takes himself to a secluded place so that He can talk with His heavenly Father in peace and quiet and without any interruptions. From various accounts in the gospels we know that He did this regularly (Luke 5: 16, 6: 12). If our Lord found it necessary to have a quiet time with the Father how much more should we have such times?
He Came to Preach 36 - 39 1.36 - 38. Simon and the others started looking for him. And when they found him, they said, "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus replied, "We must go to the nearby towns, so that I can tell the good news to those people. This is why I have come."
On awaking and finding that Jesus was not there Simon Peter with the others sought Him out as they could not understand why He should seek to take himself away when so many people were seeking Him to be healed. Imagine the disciples surprise when He turns round and tells them that they must go away from all this publicity in Capernaum and go to other places. His purpose in coming into the world was to preach the good news of the Kingdom of God. His mission was to seek the lost and to save the souls of men not only to heal (Isaiah 61: 1, Luke 19:10, John 12: 47). 1.39. Then Jesus went to Jewish meeting places everywhere in Galilee, where he preached and forced out demons. So He departs from Capernaum and preaches in all the synagogues throughout Galilee continuing to deliver those possessed by demons.
A Leper Healed 40 - 45 1.40. A man with leprosy came to Jesus and knelt down. He begged, "You have the power to make me well, if only you wanted to." In this encounter it seems to be that Jesus and the leper are alone which is understandable as no one would go near anybody suffering with this contagious and foul smelling disease. They were completely isolated from society according to the Law (Lev. 13: 46). In approaching Jesus this man was in violation of the Law but Jesus, who came to fulfil the Law, does not rebuke him. He comes to Jesus in all humility and reverence on his knees begging to be healed. He had no doubts whatsoever about Jesus' ability to do so only His willingness. 1.41- 42. Jesus felt sorry for the man. So he put his hand on him and said, "I want to! Now you are well." At once the man's leprosy disappeared, and he was well. With a heart overflowing with compassion Jesus did what no other would dare to do He touched the man and by doing so He put Himself in peril not so much as catching the disease but of being an outcast. A heart that is full of the compassion of Christ will dare to do anything in His Name. Again it is the touch of the Saviour's hand and the comforting and longed for words "I am willing, be clean" and the man is made whole. 1.43 - 44. Immediately Jesus sent the man away with a very strong warning. He told him, "See that you do not say anything to anyone, but go, show yourself to a priest, and bring the offering that Moses commanded for your cleansing, as a testimony to them.� If we had been healed of the Lord the first thing we would want to do after giving thanks to Him is to let everybody know. Jesus however strictly ordered this man not to tell anyone about it. In fulfilment of the Law given through Moses he was to show himself to the priest, who would thoroughly examine him to make certain that he was completely healed of leprosy, and make an offering for his cleansing (Lev.14: 2 - 4). This would be confirmation to the people that he is really healed. 1.45. But as the man went out he began to announce it publicly and spread the story widely, so that Jesus was no longer able to enter any town openly but stayed outside in remote places. Still they kept coming to him from everywhere.
A. Cole says ’"Disobedience to the express command of Christ, even if undertaken from the best possible motives, can lead only to a hampering and hindering of Christ's work". This man did exactly opposite to what Jesus had ordered him to and because of it the news spread like fire so that He could no longer go into any town openly because He could not move for the crowds so He stayed outside in the desert places where the people kept coming to Him from everywhere to be healed or delivered. © Derek Williams 2013 Bible Studies Online UK www.biblestudiesonline.org.uk You may copy, print or distribute our studies freely in any form, just so long as you make no charges. Sign up today for our FREE monthly Bible study magazine “Living Word” Scriptures taken from the NET Bible www.bible.org