On Line Bible Study - For the week November 17-23, 2008
Lesson 362
Mark 1: 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 evil 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!"
Recently my wife and I had the occasion to spend time with our 8 month old grandson. Jonah is seeing so many things for the first time. Isn't that one of the reasons why it is interesting to watch little children? They are constantly in the process of discovering. They are amazed.
The message of Jesus is presented by Mark as being both urgent ("Just then . . .") and amazing. "They went . . . Jesus went . . . Come out! News spread quickly . . ." Both the speed at which word got around (" ...news spread quickly over the whole region . . .") and the authority of Jesus create amazement for the people.
Have you been recently amazed at some inexplicable event in your life? How long has it been since you have been amazed? Mark is letting us know that Jesus moves quickly, with authority, and in ways that are completely contrary to the ways of the world - or, put another way, he is amazing!
Also, an important point in the above passage that must not be lost - notice that the evil (might be better translated "unclean") spirit testifies to who Jesus is - The Holy One of God. This awareness will cause a shaking of our world! We read again in verse 34 that Jesus quieted the spirits because " . . .they knew who he was . . ."
While we will have to deal with the "messianic secret" later in this chapter, right at the outset Mark wants us to know that the evil spirits know who Jesus is. The unspoken question is this: Do we?
More of Mark 1 next time.
Mark 1: 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 evil 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 evil 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 evil spirits and they obey him." 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Recalling the sense of urgency that we spoke of in Lesson 361, as Chapter 1 continues we add amazement to the urgency.Recently my wife and I had the occasion to spend time with our 8 month old grandson. Jonah is seeing so many things for the first time. Isn't that one of the reasons why it is interesting to watch little children? They are constantly in the process of discovering. They are amazed.
The message of Jesus is presented by Mark as being both urgent ("Just then . . .") and amazing. "They went . . . Jesus went . . . Come out! News spread quickly . . ." Both the speed at which word got around (" ...news spread quickly over the whole region . . .") and the authority of Jesus create amazement for the people.
Have you been recently amazed at some inexplicable event in your life? How long has it been since you have been amazed? Mark is letting us know that Jesus moves quickly, with authority, and in ways that are completely contrary to the ways of the world - or, put another way, he is amazing!
Also, an important point in the above passage that must not be lost - notice that the evil (might be better translated "unclean") spirit testifies to who Jesus is - The Holy One of God. This awareness will cause a shaking of our world! We read again in verse 34 that Jesus quieted the spirits because " . . .they knew who he was . . ."
While we will have to deal with the "messianic secret" later in this chapter, right at the outset Mark wants us to know that the evil spirits know who Jesus is. The unspoken question is this: Do we?
More of Mark 1 next time.
posted by Mark D at 5:16 PM
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