Mark 1:21-28. This sermon was preached by Pastor Marty Bonner on February 24, 2019.
Having introduced us to Jesus, Mark goes on to give evidence of the powerful things that Jesus did while he ministered on this earth. This is important because we need to recognize that, though Jesus was smart and spoke in a way that amazed people, the biblical authors highlighted his power over his talk. Paul references the effect of this reality in 1 Corinthians 4:20, when he says, “The Kingdom of God is not a matter of talk, but of power.” (NIV)
If we only have fine sounding words to offer people then we might as well hang up our hat now. At some point, they will come to realize that they need real power. Yes, knowledge is power, but not all knowledge can set you free from the bondage of sin and hurts that so easily entangles us. Even knowing the Scriptures is not enough to break the bondage of sin. We must have a living relationship with Jesus, who alone has power to break every fetter!
Jesus focuses his ministry in the northern part of Israel for several reasons. The more he ministered in Jerusalem the quicker the authorities would want to kill Him, and God had a particular timing about all of this. Another reason is that it was symbolic of God’s care and heart for those who need help. Jerusalem represented the best of Israel in the natural. All the political and religious leaders were there. Compared to Jerusalem, Capernaum represented the country bumpkins. Jerusalem represented riches and knowledge, whereas Capernaum was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee and would not have the greatest teachers in the land. Those who know they are poor are quicker to receive than those who think they already have everything.
So Jesus goes into the synagogue of Capernaum on the Sabbath. The Sabbath was the day of rest, which corresponds to Friday evening to Saturday evening. The people of Israel had developed the habit of gathering in buildings in order to worship God, to hear the Word of God read and to have it explained. The concept of a synagogue developed at some point after Israel’s exile into Babylon and subsequent return to the land. Before this time, their religious life was mainly at the Temple, where they worshipped God and offered sacrifices. With the temple destroyed in 586 B.C., they had to wrestle with continuing to worship. Thus the concept of synagogues that focused on teaching was born. In fact, early Jewish Christians called their gatherings synagogues as well. However, the term “Church,” that had been used by Jesus, later became the main word to describe Christian gatherings. So this is much like a Jewish Church service in its function.
The fact that the leaders of the synagogue let Jesus teach says something. He was not a rabbi who had learned under the rabbis of the day. Normally this would preclude him from being able to teach. Yet, the prophet, John the Baptist, had gone on record that Jesus was God’s anointed one, the Messiah. Thus the talk had preceded Christ and the people were eager to hear from Him.
We are told that the people were astonished because he taught “as one with authority.” It may be easy to read into these words that Jesus was cocky and arrogant. However, the emphasis is the contrast between how Jesus taught and how the scribes taught (who were men trained in the religion of Israel). The scribes normally taught by referring to different views of the great rabbis from the past and the present. They basically were relaying what others had said and those great rabbis often disagreed with each other. Though we do not have a text of this teaching, it is safe to say that Jesus did not quote any authorities to substantiate his interpretation of the text. Jesus is “acting as if” He is the authority on the subject. Of course, that is because He actually is. Knowing who Jesus is, we can recognize that He is the most qualified man of all history who could give authoritative understanding on what passages of the Bible meant and what God intended us to understand from it.
Today, we need to be careful that we do not make either of two mistakes. One, we can forget that we have received authoritative understanding on what passages of the Bible meant and why the Law of Moses was given. These were given by the true author of the Bible, God Himself, and those who He personally trained. Two, we can use the authority of Jesus in order to teach things that He and His apostles did not teach. Confidence is not good if it is placed in the wrong thing, but when it is placed upon the right thing, or right person, then it is a good thing. We can confidently proclaim the teachings of Christ and His Apostles, but we should never become arrogant and take to ourselves a confidence that sees the authority of Jesus as something that has been handed down to us. Jesus is still the authority. Paul Himself said in Galatians 1:8 that even if the apostles were to teach a gospel that was other than what was originally given, they should be considered cursed by God and rejected. We must never forget this truth.
At some point in the teaching of Jesus a man with an unclean spirit cries out and interrupts the meeting. It doesn’t seem that he had been brought to the meeting in order to be delivered, but it is possible. Sometimes a person who is demon possessed may retain their faculties most of the time. Depending on the situation these demons will “manifest” or show their presence from time to time. The Gadarene demoniac seems to have been under constant “manifestation.” He was never in his right mind and people could not interact with his human psyche. Whereas others have demonstrated varying amounts of self control with times in which the spirit takes control, or manifests.
The phrase that is used in this passage is “unclean spirit.” What is an unclean spirit? Unclean is another way of saying evil or bad. It is a reference to the spiritual defilement that sin and rebellion against God brings to a being. Therefore this spirit is sinful and in rebellion against God. In that sense we could say that the Devil and his angels are also unclean spirits. This would be true technically, but the phrase never seems to be used of the Devil and his angels (fallen angels). Much speculation and dogmatic ideas have been put forth from then to now. However, the Bible seems to equate unclean spirits with evil spirits and demons. There are different beings within the spirit realm and there are hierarchies within the spirit real as well. Thus we cannot be completely sure what exact “species” (for lack of a better word) demons or evil spirits are. They may just be lower level beings that rebelled with the devil and his angels, or they may be something else. However, we can be confident that the Bible has told us what we need to know. We do know that demons, or unclean spirits, appear to be restless until they are able to control a human being to some varying degree. How do they get this control over humans? They are not “spiritual ticks” that happen to fall on people. Rather, they are able to get control and influence through the activity of the person who has connected to the spirit through some form of spiritual arts (divination, séance, occult rituals, and basically anything promoted by these spirits to get control). Christians should not be enticed by t he so called knowledge that spiritists of any sort promise to give to them because these spirits cannot be trusted. They resist God and hate mankind.
At this point, I should point out that it is easy to make the mistake of seeing all mental problems as demonic, and the opposite mistake of seeing all such problems as only a physical problem of the mind. Unclean spirits are real, but they are not the only reason why people have ailments.
It is clear from this passage that the unclean spirit is afraid of Jesus. This is notable because it was not common for demons to show any fear in the presence of people, quite the opposite. Thus, this is astounding to the people watching. The spirit is afraid and Jesus is not. By following the text, we can see some of the fears of the spirit. First, it wants to be left alone. If fears that Jesus is going to interfere with its control on this human (and for good reason). It also asks if Jesus has come “to destroy us.” Since there is no sense that multiple spirits are involved, this seems to be the same fear that the legion of demons in the Gadarene demoniac. The unclean, demonic spirits know that there is coming a time when they will be evicted from this earth and put in the Lake of Fire. Thus, they are afraid of that coming destruction. Third, it is afraid because it knows exactly who Jesus is. It refers to Jesus as “The Holy One of God.” It is a phrase that refers to God’s Anointed One who is beside Him in the heavens, but would come to earth one day.
At this point, Jesus commands the spirit to be silent and to come out of the man. We do not want to make a big deal out of the fact that the demon calls Jesus the Holy One of God because the spirit is a tainted witness. He can’t be trusted either way. The testimony about Jesus is an important theme in the Gospels. They emphasize that the Father and the Spirit witnessed or testified that Jesus was the Messiah. They also emphasize that John the Baptist, the greatest prophet of that time, had testified that Jesus was the Messiah. Then lastly, we have the testimony of the words that Jesus spoke, the life He lived, and the powerful miracles He did. Jesus had very strong testimony from far better sources than to let demons give testimony. Demons are liars and as such, you cannot know when to trust what they say and when it is a lie. If we believe Jesus is God because a demon says so, then we are on shaky ground.
In the exorcism that occurs we do not see Jesus doing any rituals or reciting a mantra, as were common in those days. He simply commands the unclean spirit to come out of the man. The power of Jesus is not in ritual knowledge and magical arts. Rather, His power is in the authority of who He is and the position that He holds. Jesus has a position that is above all beings on earth or in Heaven, save the Father. Though this spirit had “legally” gained entry to this human, Jesus had come to set the man free. Thus, one command from Him was enough to send the demon packing. Even in cases where one has consciously and willingly chosen things that ail them, there is hope that Jesus will set them free. Many people today are stuck in things that they know they chose, but Jesus has come to offer us freedom.
We are told that the unclean spirit leaves with a convulsion and a cry. This seems to be one last fit of resistance and protest from the demon at having to leave. Of course, the real challenge is to remain free of the spirit. The man’s life needs to change, if he is not to fall prey to another or the same unclean spirit.
The people watching this are amazed at how easily Jesus does this. They are flabbergasted that he could make an unclean spirit leave with a simple command. No rabbi had demonstrated such power in all their experience.
As believers today, Christ has given us power over the enemy as well. Yet, we must remember the lesson of the seven sons of Sceva in Acts 19. They attempted to cast out a demon by saying, “We cast you out by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” The spirit then responded, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know, but who are you?” The authority that Jesus gives to us is not some special power that we hold in and of ourselves. It is always His authority. By their own testimony, the sons of Sceva did not really know Jesus. When we really know Jesus and have a relationship with Him, then and only then should we confidently stand in opposition to such unclean spirits when they manifest.
Praise God that we need not fear any evil spirits no matter what station they hold on the other side. It is our relationship with the All-Powerful One that protects us and gives us strength. I pray today that you will not so easily scoff at the power of Jesus as mere tricks in an age when people were ignorant. If Jesus were too walk into our mental institutions today and with a mere command give someone their sound mind, who would we rely upon to give an accurate description of what happened, Jesus or the psychiatrists who are often unable to do anything with schizophrenia? Again, I am not saying all mental illness is demonic. However, I am saying that regardless the problem, whether they need healing or freedom from an unclean spirit, Jesus has the power to set us free!