Good News For a Bad World - Studies in the Gospel of Mark - 6
Mark 1:15-28 (2)
Last time we discovered that Mark chapter 1 was perhaps the busiest passage in all the Bible. We see Jesus in so many different lights. He’s the Messiah, the anointed and promised One. He’s the beloved and well pleasing Son of God. He’s the victor who triumphs over Satan. He’s the greatest and simplest preacher ever. And He’s the Leader who takes and shapes a most unlikely team to shake and change the world.
To begin with today, it’s JESUS THE TEACHER.
Verses 21-23. We find ourselves WHERE? In Capernaum. Capernaum was the headquarters of Christ’s whole operation. It was the base for His early ministry.
Ok then, He’s now in Capernaum and it’s the Sabbath. It’s Saturday morning and so He heads off to the Synagogue. And an opportunity comes His way. He’s given the opportunity to speak. And He takes it.
Note that. Jesus is on the look out for and responds to God given opportunities.
And as He starts to teach, everyone’s mesmerised. They can’t believe it. They’ve never heard anything like it before.
You see they were used, every week, to some boring, rambling Rabbi, expounding what some other Rabbi thought about some other Rabbi’s thinking. That was the norm. That was how it was. Week in, week out, month in, month out, for ever and a day.
BUT not this day. It was different. Jesus spoke with power and authority. There was a Divine stamp on this teacher and His teaching. It was as if God Himself was speaking. WOW!
Jesus was a Teacher. He came to declare the Word of God. He came with a message.
Listen. We must not minimise or dilute or lessen the importance of Bible teaching. If we lose sight of that we’ve lost it and we’re in TROUBLE.
Alright. Jesus the Teacher.
Lastly JESUS THE KING.
Verses 24-28. Earlier we discovered that Jesus took on Satan. And there was only one loser and it wasn’t Jesus. He won hands down. Now we find there’s this confrontation between Jesus and these demons. They’re called unclean spirits as opposed to God’s HOLY Spirit. These are wicked, unclean, evil spirits.
And here’s this poor man. He’s possessed with a demon. And whenever he finds himself in the presence of Jesus, the demon inside him reacts. He screams “Leave us alone.”
Notice, in verse 24, this demon, or should I say these demons, because there’s more than just one. These demons know exactly who Jesus is. “You’re the Holy One of God!”
Do you see that? The forces of hell and darkness, when they come face to face with Jesus, understand precisely who He is.
Later on in the Bible we’re told that, “ … the devils actually believe and tremble … ” Of course, they don’t have saving faith. BUT they certainly believe certain facts about God and about Christ, so much so that they shake and shiver and tremble with fear. And rightly so.
Alright then, Jesus speaks and He speaks with the thunder of command and Kingly authority. Verse 25 “Be quiet! …” Its the term be muzzled! Silence! Be quiet!”
And immediately Satan’s demons have to bow in submission to the Sovereign voice of Jesus.
Well, there’s a final wrestling, in verse 26. The few final tokens of struggle. The demons give one last wail. It’s their swan song and then they leave.
And the people are dumbstruck and dumbfounded. They’re amazed (in verse 27). Jesus proves He has power over demons and devils and Satan. He’s the King.
I don’t know if you’re like me. BUT if I’m reading a book I just can’t wait to find out what happens in the end and so sometimes I take a sneaky look at the last page. Have you ever done that?
I want to remind you that if you take a look at the end of the book you’ll find that Jesus is not only the Messiah and the Son and the Victor and the greatest preacher and teacher ever and the best ever leader. Best of all He’s the King of all kings and the Lord of all lords. And we bow before Him and worship.