Sep '22
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Scripture
Mark 1:21-28
Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God.”
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
And they were all amazed, so they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
Devotional
Consider two different churches. Each Sunday churchgoers dress in their Sunday best and go to Church A. As they enter the church, they walk past rows of candles with encouraging quotes. Some of the candles are lit, and others await being picked up and lit in prayer. The floor across the room is covered with yoga mats. A shelf decorated with various crystals hangs above. The sanctuary is decorated with rainbow flags and a corner for incense and meditation is set apart. The bell chimes outside and the show begins as hip songs are redirected for worship. As the room quiets an inspirational sermon about finding your authentic self, loving your neighbor, and helping them find their authentic self begins. Those who came to the service leave reassured and happy.
Now consider Church B. The churchgoers wear what they feel comfortable and confident in. Sometimes they wear suits and dresses and other times they’re in shorts or yoga pants and t-shirts. These people spend time together in communion with God wherever they are allowed to meet. They’ve met in a school auditorium, a parking lot, and even a bar. They sing and worship God together. When the sermon begins, they feel challenged by what is taught. The church intentionally walks through books of the Bible and talks about concepts that make the people squirm in their chairs. When they leave Church B, they feel convicted to question their point of view and at the same time, cannot deny joy in their heart.
Which of these churches is bowing down and submitting to God’s Authority?
In this month’s scripture, we see Jesus’ authority as God on full display. As we examine Mark 1:21-28 we will uncover the authority Jesus has and what this means for Christians.
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Mark 1:21
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.
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Jesus has called his first four disciples, and the first thing he does after arriving in Capernaum with them is go to church and begin preaching. While it seems crazy, or perhaps even comical, to us that Jesus walked into a church and began teaching without invitation, it was actually within the norms of the time. Historians believe that at this point, Jesus would have been known and recognized as a teacher. As such, he had man’s authority to walk into a synagogue and be a visiting teacher.
To help put this into perspective for you though, consider your profession. Maybe you’re a student, a doctor, a teacher, a plumber…whatever it may be, imagine going on vacation, walking into a building aligning with your profession and beginning work. You know your purpose, you know what you are meant to do, and you don’t stop to ask questions. You just begin. This is what Jesus did. He knew what God the Father asked of him, he knew his purpose, and he didn’t waste time asking for permission. He traveled, he found broken and lost people, and he preached. Yes, historical and cultural norms gave him man’s permission to do this, but even if they hadn’t, I do not doubt that he would have continued on the only authority that matters - God’s.
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Mark 1:22
And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
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Mark 1:27
And they were all amazed, so they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
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We don’t know how Jesus taught on this particular day in Capernaum. What we do know is how the people reacted to his teaching. We know that they reacted in a way that was in line with parts of scripture where we do observe Jesus’ words. When Jesus taught, he taught boldly; filled with confidence, authority, and absolute trust in God’s truth.
The people were amazed at how Jesus taught because the scribes and teachers they were used to hearing tended to quote man rather than God. Much like some of our churches today, they taught timidly to not upset the people. The scribes taught from the Old Testament and man’s perspective. Jesus taught of the Old Testament, and God’s truth while creating the New Testament. Jesus taught with no apologies or catering to the world; just pure, good, authoritative truth.
Jesus is our living, breathing, walking example of how we can live in God. If we believe that Jesus Christ is God incarnate and if we trust that he lived a pure and blameless life, then we can conclude that we should strive to live as he lived. What does this mean for us in this context then? We should share the gospel boldly, unapologetically, and with the authority given to us by God.
Consider the two churches presented at the beginning. Which church is teaching as the scribes taught and which church is teaching as Jesus taught? Before you start casting stones, consider which is easier: teaching in line with the world or in line with God? One way leads to a sense of belonging, and the other can lead to feeling isolated. One leads to man’s approval, the other leads to man’s disapproval or even hatred. If we teach as the scribes taught, we will easily be accepted by man but discarded by God. If we teach as Jesus taught, we will easily be accepted by God but discarded by man.
I share this not to deter you from sharing the truth, but to remind you that the road is hard. To help you understand why it's so much easier to stray away from God than to choose him with everything you have. I remind you that the road is hard so you can sympathize with those you find astray.
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Mark 1:23-25
And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God.”
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
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There have been times in my life when I couldn’t shake the feeling that satan was trying to push his way into my life. Sometimes I’d feel the presence of darkness, a slight creeping fear momentarily sweeping over me. Other times, I’d lie awake at night, battling depression and anxiety as dark figures swirled across the ceiling.
I don’t know how old I was the first time the dark figures appeared on my ceiling during the night to prey on my fears and hold me paralyzed. What I do remember is telling my mom about it in the morning and learning that Jesus had given us the authority to send them away. The next time the dark figures came lurking and sulking across my ceiling, I mustered all the courage I could and whispered “In the name of Jesus Christ I compel you to leave.” The swirls got a little lighter, I compelled them again in a louder voice, and they vanished. I went to sleep on a prayer that night. Ever since then, when the dark figures come, I know I can drive them away with the power and authority Jesus has shared with me. I spend the rest of my waking moments in prayer asking for deliverance.
In Mark, we see a man who is filled with an “unclean spirit”. An unclean spirit refers to an evil spirit, a demon, and/or a follower of satan. This is a man who has been filled with the hate and evil of a fallen angel and is appalled to see Jesus in the synagogue. And so, he does the only thing he can do against the King, he speaks loudly to create fear and doubt amongst God’s people.
Look at what the demon says through its host:
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Mark 1: 24
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One of God.”
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It’s immediately noticeable that the evil spirit is filled with fear. The demon does not doubt who Jesus is. He knows Jesus in his true identity and he cannot deny the holiness and power that come with that. It knows there is a day coming when God will strike down satan and all of his followers. He knows that God has the authority and power to destroy him and he is terrified of that reality. In response to the revolting truth that his death is nearing, he speaks words intended to provoke fear in those around him. The evil spirit can do no real harm. It can only try to blind God's children.
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Mark 1:25
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”
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Jesus responded to the evil spirit with the authority of God as he demanded that he leaves the man’s body.
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Mark 1:26
And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.
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When Jesus commands, all of creation has to obey his word. Not even the devil can ignore the supreme authority of our God and Savior.
If Jesus has the authority to cast out evil spirits and share the absolute truth of the gospel, what does that mean for us? How was I able, even as a small child, to command evil to leave me be?
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Mark 3:14-15
And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
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Mark 9:38-41
John said to him, “Teacher, we saw someone casting out demons in your name, and we tried to stop him, because he was not following us.”
But Jesus said, “Do not stop him, for no one who does a mighty work in my name will be able soon afterward to speak evil of me. For the one who is not against us is for us. For truly, I say to you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ will by no means lose his reward.
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Jesus appointed man and woman to be disciples. He calls us all to share the good news of his truth, follow his laws to the best of our ability, repent of our sins, and continue the work of His kingdom. When Jesus calls us and we proclaim God as our own we are given his authority to continue doing his good work.
I can cast demons away from me because I know who Jesus is, I know who I am in my God, and I know that in Him, I have authority. I know that if I stand firm by my God’s side, the devil has no hold on me. He is powerless because my God is all powerful!
Friend, you are invited to have this same authority through God. Do you know Jesus?
Have you accepted him as your Lord and Savior?
Have you repented of your sins, and embraced who God says you are?
Do you bow down to the authority of God and pursue his righteousness?
If so, know that He has shared his authority with you so that you might go forth preaching and casting away evil.
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Matthew 28:18-20
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
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Take a deep breath and reconsider Church A and Church B. I asked you at the beginning to choose which church was submitting to God’s supreme authority. Now is the time to reconsider your answer.
Which church is bowing down and submitting to God’s Authority?
Is it the church preaching what the world teaches as the scribes? Or is it the church that unapologetically preaches God’s truth as Jesus did?
Church A is a conglomerate of the many churches I’ve visited and snuck out the back door of. They’re the churches that I immediately recognized were for the world, not God, and wanted nothing to do with. I’m sad to share that a few years back I actually visited a church much like Church A. Each corner of the church had a different religious or spiritual practice you could use to customize your experience. I was appalled and saddened by how far away from God they had drifted.
Church B is modeled after the church I am proud to call home. It's the church that challenges me, has made me reevaluate what I thought was God’s truth, and pushed me to not only accept godly authority but to pursue it. Church B is the church that knows its place under God’s authority and asks its members to submit to His supreme authority as well. This church is not afraid of angering the world because they are focused on glorifying the God who made it.
Friend, there is a day coming when every being, creature, and spirit will bow down before God whether they like it or not. There is a day coming where no one or thing will be able to deny the supreme authority that our God has. When this day comes, do you want to stand tall, knowing that you pursued the Lord your God with all your heart, mind, and soul? Or do you want to quiver in the shadows, knowing you ignored his authority because his path was harder than the world's?
As you go throughout your month, ask yourself: Do I daily bow down to God’s supreme authority? Ask yourself, when God’s day comes, where will I stand?
Let's Pray.
Prayer
Father God,
I pray that the words of this devotional are in you. That I have been guided by your Holy Spirit as I read, interpreted, and wrote. If I have misspoken Lord, erase my word's from their minds, so that I may not lead your people unintentionally astray.
We bow before you today and ask you to forgive us for how we have sinned. Forgive us for the moments where we choose idols, placed our hope in politics, and ignored your truth for our comfort.
We are sinners. We sin every day in ways that you alone know. Reveal our sins to us, guide us to repent, and allow us to be filled with your holy spirit of forgiveness.
Jesus followed your call to Capernaum and preached with your bold authority to the people. He cast away demons showing that You have authority over all.
Father, we are not worthy of your authority, but you bless us with it all the same. May we know that through you, we are capable of great things. That through You we can move mountains, cast away demons, and boldly share your truth.
I pray that we will become bold, authoritative people who pursue you at all costs. I pray that when satan tries to whisper lies into our ears we will call on Jesus Christ and yell "Be quiet! Go away!".
Father, you are great, you are holy, you are worthy of our affection.
In Jesus name, hear our prayer!
Amen
Bible Study
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Once again consider Church A and Church B.
What was your initial impression of the two churches individually?
Which church did you initially think was bowing to God's authority?
How did this perspective change throughout the study of Mark 1:21-28?
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When you think about the church you are currently attending, do you feel as though it teaches as the scribes did or as Jesus did?
If you are looking for a church to call home, what did this devotional teach you about what to look for?
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There will always be authority figures in our lives. We could fall under the authority of the government, employers, supervisors, teachers, parents, husbands, etc...
At this point who are the authoritative figures in your life? How do you respond to their authority?
Allow your response to the authority of mankind, to give you insight into how you respond to God's authority.
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Mark 3:14-15
And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) so that they might be with him and he might send them out to preach and have authority to cast out demons.
Mark 3:14-15 reminds us that Jesus has shared his authority with us so we can continue sharing the gospel.
Mark 1:22
And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.
In Mark 1:22 we learn that Jesus taught with purpose and authority whereas other teachers taught timidly so as not to upset anyone.
Take a moment and let it sink in that if you have accepted Jesus Christ as your savior, you have received his authority to continue his good work.
How will you choose to respond to this?
Will you begin sharing the gospel for the first time? Will you share the gospel with more authority? Will you become bold in sharing the gospel?
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