Thinking Biblically

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Tag: demons

Disciples Advance the Kingdom – Mark 6:7-13

July 17, 2023 /

Sermon Video

We know that as disciples of Jesus we are to seek to advance the kingdom of God (Matt 6:9-10, 33). But how do we do that? So far in Mark, Jesus’ disciples have not had a lot of hands-on action. In today’s text, we see Jesus releasing his disciples for a time of ministry.

Last week, we saw Jesus rejected at Nazareth. The people of Nazareth took offense at Jesus, for they perceived him to be insignificant for God’s kingdom work. In today’s text, we see that Jesus’ disciples should expect rejection as well.

BIG IDEA: Even in the face of rejection or death, disciples of Jesus advance God’s kingdom through word and deed.

Sermon text: Mark 6:7-13

1. Disciples advance the kingdom under the authority of Jesus (v. 7)

7 And he called the twelve and began to send them out two by two, and gave them authority over the unclean spirits.

Jesus “gave them authority over the unclean spirits.” I’m going to talk about unclean spirits at the end, but for now I want to say that we go under the authority of Jesus (Matt 28:18). We are ambassadors for Jesus.

2 Cor 5:20

Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

Jesus was training these men for ministry and thus multiplying himself. In the same way that Jesus knew his earthly ministry would have an end, all our ministries will an end.

Knowing this, pastors should be raising up pastors (2 Tim 2:2). Mature men and women should be teaching the next generation how to live for Christ (Titus 2:1-10).

There are really four steps in discipling someone. For instance, consider Bible study.

  • You study your Bible; your disciple observes and asks questions.
  • You study your Bible; your disciple does as well.
  • Your disciple studies his Bible; you study as well.
  • Your disciple studies his Bible, you observe and give feedback.

2. Disciples advance the kingdom as a team (v. 7)

He sent out the twelve “two by two.”

Ministering as a pair was safer and wiser than going alone and it provided much needed fellowship.

Eccl 4:9-10

9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!

The law required two witnesses to verify a matter.

Deut 19:15

“A single witness shall not suffice against a person for any crime or for any wrong in connection with any offense that he has committed. Only on the evidence of two witnesses or of three witnesses shall a charge be established.

We need others in the church! God saves people to gather them.

3. Disciples advance the kingdom by committing to the mission (vv. 8-9)

8 He charged them to take nothing for their journey except a staff—no bread, no bag, no money in their belts— 9 but to wear sandals and not put on two tunics.

The disciples were to be totally committed to their mission, not tied down with worldly concerns. We’re told in the text what Jesus permitted them to bring and what he forbade them to bring.

They were to take a staff. A staff was used for protection against robbers and wild animals and for maintaining balance while walking on rough terrain.

They were not to bring a bag. They were not to ask for money. In New Testament times, some Gentile philosophers would live on the streets and beg for money. The approach of the disciples is in stark contrast to the prosperity preachers of our day who beg you to send them money and to send it often.

Jesus wanted the disciples to see that God would provide for them (Phil 4:19). There would be those who were receptive to the message who would give them a place to stay (v. 10).

The disciples were to only bring one tunic. In the ancient world, travelers would often sleep outside and the purpose of the second tunic was to protect them from the weather. Jesus was telling his apostles that the need not worry, for they would be sleeping indoors in receptive homes.[1]R.C. Sproul, Mark, 115.

This seems to be a direct application of Jesus’ teaching in Matt 6:25-34. The disciples were not to worry about what they would eat, drink, or wear, but to seek his kingdom first as they trust God to meet their needs (Matt 6:33).

In summary, the disciples were to travel as light as possible. The minimal provisions were meant to bring about maximum faith.[2]R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, 135.

Interestingly, the four items Jesus told the 12 to take (belt, sandals, staff, tunic) are identical to what God told the Hebrews to take on their flight to Egypt (Exo 12:11).

Like the disciples, we are to travel lightly in this world. The more stuff we own, the more time we spend managing it. The more time we spend on our stuff the less time we have to advance the kingdom of God.

4. Disciples advance the kingdom despite rejection (10-11)

10 And he said to them, “Whenever you enter a house, stay there until you depart from there. 11 And if any place will not receive you and they will not listen to you, when you leave, shake off the dust that is on your feet as a testimony against them.”

If you have ever sought to share the message of Jesus, you know that the gospel will be received by some and rejected by others. This is exactly what we see in vv. 10-11.

As they ministered from place to place, they would encounter both hospitality and hostility.

As we minister for Jesus, we will encounter both hospitality and hostility.

In v. 10, Jesus tells the disciples to accept the hospitality that was offered and to stay there until they departed from the area. By doing this, the disciples would not dishonor the home by accepting more comfortable provisions.

What does Jesus mean when he tells the disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a testimony against those who reject the disciples (v. 11)?

In biblical times, proper hospitality included offering water for guests to wash their feet. Thus, the fact that the disciples have dust on their feet shows that they were rejected.

Additionally, sometimes pious Jews would shake the dust from their feet after passing through Gentile cities to show their separation from Gentile influences and practices. Basically, they were leaving the dirt behind as they entered a more holy place.

Jesus was telling his disciples that if they were faithful, there was no blood on their hands. Those who rejected the message made a choice to reject Jesus and the conscience of the disciple is clear. The removal of dust from the feet was an act that was meant to make those who rejected the message to reconsider their decision.

This command of Jesus should remind us as disciples to not be overly discouraged by rejection. We know that we will be rejected by the world (John 15:18).

John 15:18

“If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.

Our job is not to convert people, but to be faithful to Jesus and what he has called us to do, which is to share the gospel with the lost and to baptize and disciple the saved.

When Jesus told the disciples to shake the dust off their feet, he was making it clear that the listeners were responsible for how they responded to the gospel.

Those that reject us, and our message of the gospel have really rejected Jesus.

5. Disciples advance the kingdom by preaching repentance (12)

12 So they went out and proclaimed that people should repent.

When Jesus called the disciples, he told them that they would become fishers of men (Mark 1:17). In v. 12, Jesus told them to “proclaim that people should repent.”

That is what we are called to do as well. We are to proclaim the gospel, the message of the kingdom. We are to call people to repent of their sin—to repent from living their lives for self and apart from God’s authority. We call them to repent of trusting in their own righteousness and to embrace the righteousness of Christ. We call them to trust in the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

If you’re here this morning and you have not trusted in Christ, then repent of your sinful way of living and embrace the person and work of Jesus Christ.

Our message is not simply “come to church” or “live your best life now.” Our message is the gospel of Jesus Christ!

6. Disciples advance the kingdom by meeting physical needs (13)

13 And they cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.

In other words, we care about the whole person. We don’t just want to see someone saved. We want them to be made whole.

We want them to know Jesus and then we disciple them to follow Jesus. We have to disciple them in all of life so that they can be useful to Jesus. It is hard to advance the kingdom of God when you are worried about paying your bills. So, we may need to help people get their material, physical, and relational lives in order that they may spiritually advance the kingdom of God.

We see in v. 13 that the disciples “cast out many demons and anointed with oil many who were sick and healed them.”

Oil (usually olive oil) was often used in biblical times as a medicine (cf. Luke 10:34), but here the anointing probably serves as a symbol of the presence, grace, and power of God. Anointing the sick is elsewhere prescribed only in Jam 5:14.

Do we as modern-day disciples of Jesus have power to cast out demons and heal the sick? There is a lot of debate on this topic. There are people on both sides of the debate but the main question that is tossed around is this: are miraculous spiritual gifts (tongues, healing, prophecy) still active today?

I for one, as your pastor have never cast out a demon or healed anyone. Nor do I know anyone personally that has claimed to have performed exorcisms or healings.

Of course, charismatics (those in Pentecostals and Assembly of God churches) would argue yes. Most Baptists would say that the miraculous gifts of tongues, prophecy, and healing have ceased. I would put myself in this camp. I still believe that God can and does perform miracles, but I do not believe that anyone has the gift of tongues, prophecy, or healing and can summon them on command.

I don’t have time to exhaust the argument today, but the short version is that the primary purpose of signs and wonders was to give credibility to Jesus and his apostles (John 3:2). As you read Scripture, you’ll see that miracles are clustered at key points redemptive history (the Exodus, Jesus’ ministry, Pentecost). Now that the church has God’s authoritative words in the Scriptures (2 Tim 3:16-17), signs and wonders are no longer needed to build up the church.

Thus, there is no longer a need for apostles and prophets today since we have the apostles’ teaching written in God’s Word. Therefore, since there are no modern-day apostles or prophets, there are no people alive today who have God-given authority to perform miraculous gifts on command.[3]For more, see Spiritual Gifts: What They Are and Why They Matter by Thomas R. Schreiner.

I would argue that miracles are possible, but not normative. Remember, the primary reason that Jesus came was to preach the gospel (Mark 1:15, 38).

We want to see lives changed for eternity. We should be serving nonbelievers and sharing the gospel with them. Like these disciples, if we are ministering in the name of Jesus then we will see God at work.

If we as a church rarely see anyone come to faith to Christ, perhaps it is that we are not sowing broadly the seed of the gospel.

Friends, let’s follow Jesus’ instructions for advancing the kingdom of God!

  • Go in the authority of Jesus.
  • Minister with others.
  • Commit to the mission and trust him to provide for your needs.
  • Expect rejection but keep going.
  • Preach the gospel and call people to faith in Christ!
  • Care for the whole person.

Friends, the church is not a place to sit and learn about Jesus but a people who serve Jesus. As a church, we must raise up disciples who will advance the kingdom for the glory of King Jesus.

When a church loses this focus, and men quit leading, the church is on its way to death. I saw it in my last church and I am seeing it at my current church.

My church (and many others) have plenty of pew sitters and every once in a whilers. But what we really need is disciples who will advance the kingdom of God.

Who is going to help me to win this town for Christ? Who will lead their families?

Who are you this morning?

Are you like Jesus and pray and seek for God’s kingdom to come here on earth?

Are you a disciple who is advancing the kingdom or a religious person checking a religious box?

There is no one emptier than a Christian who is living for him or herself instead of Christ.

References

References
↑1 R.C. Sproul, Mark, 115.
↑2 R. Kent Hughes, Mark: Jesus, Servant and Savior, 135.
↑3 For more, see Spiritual Gifts: What They Are and Why They Matter by Thomas R. Schreiner.

Jesus Delivers the Demonized – Mark 5:1-20

June 26, 2023 /

Sermon Video

In our text last week, we saw Jesus calm the wind and the sea (Mark 4:39). After Jesus calmed the storm, the disciples were fearful, and asked, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?” (Mark 4:41). In Mark 5, we find the answer to the disciples’ question. In Mark 5, we read about Jesus’ power over demons, disease, and death.

Sermon Text: Mark 5:1-20

Jesus Conquers the Demonic (1-13)

They came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. 2 And when Jesus had stepped out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit. 3 He lived among the tombs. And no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, 4 for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart, and he broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him. 5 Night and day among the tombs and on the mountains he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones. 6 And when he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and fell down before him. 7 And crying out with a loud voice, he said, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.” 8 For he was saying to him, “Come out of the man, you unclean spirit!” 9 And Jesus asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “My name is Legion, for we are many.” 10 And he begged him earnestly not to send them out of the country. 11 Now a great herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside, 12 and they begged him, saying, “Send us to the pigs; let us enter them.” 13 So he gave them permission. And the unclean spirits came out and entered the pigs; and the herd, numbering about two thousand, rushed down the steep bank into the sea and drowned in the sea.

1

Jesus and the disciples arrive at the country of the Gerasenes. This area was a village in the area of the Decapolis, a region of 10 cities southeast of the Sea of Galilee. Although some Jews lived in the Decapolis, the population and overall worldview of the region was predominantly Gentile.[1]ESV Archaeology Study Bible, 1441.

2

As soon as Jesus steps out of the boat, Mark writes, “immediately there met him out of the tombs a man with an unclean spirit.” To have an unclean spirit means that this person was was demon-possessed.

Jesus and the disciples probably arrived at night (Mark 4:35). It was believed that evil spirits exercised their greatest power at night. Thus, Mark is setting the stage for ancient readers to feel the suspense of the ensuing conflict.

In vv. 3-5, Mark gives us a picture of the man’s condition.

The demon-possessed man:

  • lived among the tombs. The people of the town, in fear, had driven him out of the town. They feared his amazing strength. The text says that chains and shackles could not hold him.
  • The man had descended into a life of filth, loneliness, and terror. Jews would have considered him unclean for the mere act of touching a dead body, much less living among the dead.
  • Verse 5 says, “he was always crying out and cutting himself with stones.”

It’s very possible that the pig herdsmen were supplying the Roman army with pork. If this is true, then Jesus meets a man with an unclean spirit living among unclean tombs surrounded by people employed in an unclean occupation, in an unclean Gentile territory.[2]James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 155.

1 Pet 5:8

“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”

Satan and his demons had devoured this man. He was living like an animal amongst the dead and cutting himself with rocks. This man was running around naked and was unkempt and dirty. His skin had cuts, bruises, lacerations, scabs, and infections. Satan’s demons completely controlled this man. It is hard to imagine a more miserable existence.

One could argue that this man had it worse than Job. Jesus said this in John 10:10 – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

That’s what Satan wants to do. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy. Satan doesn’t want human beings to love one another. He doesn’t want them to have the abundant life that Jesus gives. He wants to steal, kill, and destroy.

The people in the surrounding area of Gerasenes feared this demon-possessed man with great strength.

Look at vv. 3-4 again:

“This man lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain, for he had often been bound with shackles and chains, but he wrenched the chains apart and broke the shackles in pieces. No one had the strength to subdue him.”

No one was strong enough to subdue him. No one except Jesus. Look at verses 6-8.

The man ran and fell down before Jesus. Isn’t that amazing? Remember, the text just said that there was no one strong enough to subdue him. Yet, as soon as Jesus gets out of the boat, this demon-possessed man comes to him and falls before him.

As the man falls before Jesus, the demon immediately takes control of his voice. The demons that possessed this man knew who Jesus was. Look at v. 7 – “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me.”

Look back at Mark 4:41. The question that the disciples asked is now answered by the demons here in Mark 5:7. Jesus is the Son of the Most High God. The demons recognize Jesus’s absolute authority and that is why they force the man to bow down before Him.

I quoted the first part of John 10:10 earlier. Now I want to read the whole verse – “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.”

The demons have sought to destroy this man but Jesus comes to give life. Verse 8 says that Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man.

As Jesus is commanding the demons to come out of the man, he asked the demon in v. 9, “What is your name?” The demon responds, “My name is Legion, for we are many.”

A legion is a contingency of 6,000 Roman soldiers. This man was not possessed by just one demon, but by many demons working together as an evil force. In v. 10, the demon begs Jesus to not send them out of the country.

What happens next has always been a bit of a puzzle for me. Look at vv. 11-13.

The demons ask for Jesus to send them into the herd of pigs instead of sending them away into the abyss. The presence of a herd of pigs this size underscores the fact that this was a Gentile region, for the Jews considered pigs to be unclean according to Lev 11. Jesus gives them permission to enter the pigs and the herd, which numbered about 2000, rushed down the bank and into the sea and drowned.

When Jesus sent the demons into the pigs, this was a visible manifestation of the reality of the exorcism. The people were able to see clearly that Jesus had exorcised the demons from the man and sent them into the pigs. By doing this, Jesus gave the crowd a graphic, visible, and powerful lesson on the level of evil from which the man had been delivered.

This story reminds us of the uniqueness of human beings. Only humans are created in God’s image and can have a relationship with God. Here, Jesus values the life of one man over the whole herd of pigs.

When the demons entered the pigs, the demons drove them to destruction. This is what demons do—they seek total destruction of their host.

Here are some things we can learn about demons from this passage. These are taken from a Christianity Today article entitled “Exorcism 101” by Clinton Arnold:

  1. Demons are real and dangerous. A demon (or many demons) can inhabit and take possession of a person.
  2. Demons can make themselves known by speaking through people and even taking control of their bodies.
  3. Demons are fallen angels and powerful spiritual beings. They can exhibit enormous strength through a person under their control.
  4. Demons can inflict serious personal injury to the one possessed and to others, with the ultimate goal of that person’s death.
  5. Demons can move or be transferred from one host to another.
  6. Demons can resist leaving their host. They may even beg, out of self-interest, for their own well-being.
  7. Demons recognize and are subject to appropriate spiritual authority.
  8. If demonic spirits attempted to resist the incarnate Christ, we can be sure they will also attempt to resist us.
  9. Jesus, unlike the exorcists of His day that used elaborate rituals and incantations, simply gave the command, and the demons were forced to obey.

The man thing that we see in vv. 1-13 is that Jesus has the power to conquer the demonic. As Jesus said in Matthew 28:18, all authority in heaven and earth has been given to Him. In Revelation 20, we see Jesus’ ultimate victory over Satan and the demons as they are cast into the Lake of Fire forever.

If Jesus can exorcise a multitude of demons from this man and give him new life, then what can he do with you? This man had been inhabited by demons and was cut off from society. He had no hope and no future. That is, until he met Jesus. Maybe that’s you today. I don’t know what’s going on in your life, whether it’s drugs, alcohol, pornography, or something else, but Jesus has the power to overcome it. The thief comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came that we can have abundant life in Him.

You see, without Jesus, we would all be in the Lake of Fire forever with Satan and his demons because of our sin against God. We have all fallen short of His glory and broken His righteous commands. Because of this, we need an advocate with the Father, and that is exactly who Jesus is. Jesus came and lived a perfect life of obedience and He died for our sins in our place on the cross. We can have peace with God by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. That is the gospel, and it is good news indeed. Let’s see how the crowds viewed Jesus after this miracle.

In vv. 1-13, Jesus conquered the demonic. In vv. 14-17, Jesus confronts the cautious (14-17).

Jesus Confronts the Cautious (14-17)

14 The herdsmen fled and told it in the city and in the country. And people came to see what it was that had happened. 15 And they came to Jesus and saw the demon-possessed man, the one who had had the legion, sitting there, clothed and in his right mind, and they were afraid. 16 And those who had seen it described to them what had happened to the demon-possessed man and to the pigs. 17 And they began to beg Jesus to depart from their region.

In vv. 14-17, we see the crowd’s response to Jesus.

The herdsmen go into the city and the country and share about what happened.

People come out to see Jesus and they see the demon-possessed man sitting clothed and in his right mind. Their response to this was fear. Verse 15 says, “they were afraid.”

In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus is never a neutral figure. Jesus is no ordinary man. When Jesus shows up, things change. This scares some people. Sadly, the people of the region are afraid of Jesus and His power, and they begged Jesus to leave (v. 17). It seems that for them, they were more upset about the destruction of property (the pigs) than they were happy about the healing of the man.

Jesus’s power made them uncomfortable. Did you know that there are lot of church folk that are uncomfortable with Jesus’s power?

  • Some people get uncomfortable when we sing songs of praise.
  • Some people get uncomfortable when people raise their hands.
  • Some people get uncomfortable when the worst sinners come to church.
  • Some people get uncomfortable when people come to church that don’t look like them and talk like them.

Brothers and sisters let’s not tell Jesus to leave simply because we are uncomfortable or feel threatened. Who knows what miracles and works these people missed out on because they begged Jesus to leave their region?

Some of you are worried about following Jesus too closely. You can come to a church service every now and then and squirm through an hour of preaching but you refuse to give Jesus your heart. You know that Jesus demands that you follow him with your whole life. After all, if he can change and transform a demoniac what might he do with you? [3]Danny Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 108-9.

In vv. 14-17, we see the crowd’s response to Jesus. In vv. 18-20, we see the man’s response to Jesus

Jesus Commissions the Delivered (18-20)

18 As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed with demons begged him that he might be with him. 19 And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” 20 And he went away and began to proclaim in the Decapolis how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled.

The formerly demon-possessed man asks Jesus to follow Him. Verse 18 says that he “begged” Jesus that he might be with him.

In contrast to many people who don’t care about regularly attending corporate worship, this man begs Jesus that he might be with him.

You see, a man who has been truly converted will not want to be separated from the presence of Christ.[4]R.C. Sproul, Mark, 95.

Instead, in v. 19, Jesus told him to, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.”

We’re not told any more than this, but with a little imagination, you can picture this scenario:

As the man gets closer to home, excitement grows within him. Maybe he had a family. How long had it been since he kissed his wife and held his children? Could they have been praying for him this whole time? As he gets close to his home, he sees his kids playing outside. They see him, run inside, and yell, “Mommy, Mommy! It’s Daddy! He’s home!” Tears stream down their faces as they embrace one another.

As the man wipes tears from his eyes, he tells his family that he men a man named Jesus, Son of the Most High God. The man continues, “Let me tell you what this man has done for me.”[5]Adapted from Danny Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 110.

This is the power of Jesus.

See, when Jesus changes your life, that fact is not meant to be a secret. We should tell those around us about the difference that Jesus has made in our lives. Don’t just invite people to church. Tell them how Jesus has changed your life – your marriage, your family, your situation, and your church. And if you don’t have a testimony of how Jesus has changed your whole life, then you don’t know Jesus.

Political policies may enact some change but I’ll tell you what changes the world. The gospel of Jesus Christ is what changes us. The Holy Spirit’s work in our lives changes us. As we are changed, we share the hope of the gospel with others and they are changed.

The man followed Jesus’s instructions and began to proclaim how much Jesus had done for him, and everyone marveled (v. 20). When Jesus does a work in your life, people should marvel. You are not the man or woman you used to be. If you are in Christ, you are a new creation (2 Cor 5:17).

Have you been made new by Christ?

Have you been born again?

Has your life been turned upside down by the risen Christ?

References

References
↑1 ESV Archaeology Study Bible, 1441.
↑2 James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark, The Pillar New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: Eerdmans; Apollos, 2002), 155.
↑3 Danny Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 108-9.
↑4 R.C. Sproul, Mark, 95.
↑5 Adapted from Danny Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 110.

Jesus has Authority – Mark 1:21-34

March 7, 2023 /

Sermon Video

Last week, we looked at what it means to be a disciple of Jesus. Jesus called his first four disciples in Mark 1:16-20. In our text today we will see that Jesus has authority. The world rebels against authority. Before following Jesus, I enjoyed listening to rock music (I still do, but there are many songs I won’t listen to anymore).

Rage Against the Machine was a band that railed against government authority. Metallica had a song called, “Don’t Tread on Me.” I certainly would love it if the federal government would be less obtrusive. The point I’m trying to make is that in our natural state, we rebel against authority–especially God’s authority.

As we turn to our text, I want you to think about what source of authority is loudest in your life. Some people live according to reason. They base their thinking on their own knowledge and value scientific, observable evidence. Others live according to their feelings–if it feels good, do it. Still others live according to tradition (this is what I’ve always done). Followers of Jesus should live according to God’s special revelation given in God’s Word.

As we look at Mark 1:21-34 I want you to consider these two questions:

Why should Jesus have absolute authority in your life?

Are you submitted to Jesus’ authority in your life?

Sermon Text: Mark 1:21-34

The first thing we see in this text is that Jesus has authority in his teaching.

Jesus has authority in his teaching (21-22, 27)

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

After calling his disciples while they were fishing, Jesus and his four disciples go back to Capernaum. Capernaum was a fishing town with a population between 1,000-2,000 people.[1]Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, eds., NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 1685.

Jesus taught in the synagogue on the sabbath (v. 21). The synagogue was a local place of worship for the Jews. Synagogues began to be used after Solomon’s temple was destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC. Communities of all sizes had synagogues as long as there were 10 Jewish men in the area.

Synagogues had to be located close enough for faithful Jews to attend without breaking the sabbath by exceeding the distance the rabbis allowed one to walk on the sabbath day. Jesus regularly taught in synagogues, and he often encountered opposition. The modern-day equivalent of a synagogue would be a local church building.

The text says that Jesus taught on the sabbath. The sabbath was the day when all work ceased. It was a time for sacred assembly and the worship of God. The fourth commandment is to keep the sabbath holy (Exod 20:8-11). The sabbath took place from sundown on Friday to sundown on Saturday.

As Jesus taught, those present were “astonished” at his teaching, for he taught as one who had authority, in contrast to the scribes (v. 22).

Scribes were men trained in writing skills. They recorded events and decisions. Eventually, scribes became the experts in God’s written word, copying, preserving, and teaching it. Most scribes became Pharisees (Mark 2:16) and interpreted the law, taught it to disciples, and were experts in cases where people were accused of breaking the law of Moses.

While scribes relied on the work of previous scribes, Jesus, as the authoritative son of God, had no reason to do this. Jesus had authority in his teaching. His words confronted the congregation with the absolute claim of God upon their lives.

It’s important that you are very careful about what kind of teaching you place yourself under. There are many false teachers within the church today. Jesus told us how to identify false teachers in Matthew 7:15-20 – by evaluating the fruit of their words and the fruit of their lives. If you think that every person that is a preacher is speaking the truth, then you are disillusioned. We should make sure that every person’s teaching that we listen to lines up with Scripture (Acts 17:11).

So, Jesus has authority in his teaching. Second, he has authority over demons.

Jesus has authority over demons (23-28, 32-34)

In vv. 23-28, Mark refers to demons as unclean spirits. In vv. 32-34 he uses the word demon. So, what is a demon (or unclean spirit)? They are fallen angels that joined Satan in his rebellion. They have some authority and work to promote disunity, disseminate false doctrine, inflict disease, and  hinder Christian growth. They may oppress (but cannot possess) Christians.[2]Daniel Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 27.

23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 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.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

In v. 23, we read that a man with an unclean spirit was in the synagogue. Of all places, the demon-possessed man was in a synagogue! We don’t think of demon-possessed people in church, but there he was. We know that Satan and his demons will always seek to thwart the church’s mission of making disciples (1 Pet 5:8).

In Jesus’ early ministry, the demons recognized Jesus before anyone else. They knew who he was (vv. 24, 34). The demon recognized both Jesus’ humanity (“of Nazareth”) and Jesus’ deity (“the Holy One of God”). The demon recognized that Jesus was a threat to his authority and power.

Some people are like this demon-possessed man. They attend church, but they don’t want Jesus to have any authority in their lives.

Going to church doesn’t make you a Christian. Demon-possessed people can attend a worship service and even affirm who Jesus is. You can come to church every week and look good. You might even smell good if you wear perfume and brush your teeth. You can even know who Jesus is. But if you do not live in submission to the authority of Jesus then you are not living like a disciple. You are living like a demon.

If you do not live in submission to the authority of Jesus then you are not living like a disciple. You are living like a demon.

There is a difference between someone who merely professes faith in Jesus and someone who actually possesses faith in Jesus. The difference is one of authority. Those who merely profess faith never really submit to Jesus’ authority. In contrast, those who truly possess true faith gladly submit to Jesus as the supreme authority of their lives.

Do you want to know if you are really a Christian? If you are truly in Christ, your life will not just be marked by a profession of faith, but a faith that is willing to obey Christ in every area of your life for the rest of your life.

Do you want to know if you are really a Christian? If you are truly in Christ, your life will not just be marked by a profession of faith, but a faith that is willing to obey Christ in every area of your life for the rest of your life.

A simple test for judging your faith: how do you respond when shown that you are living in disobedience to the Word of God? Do you conform to God’s Word or rebel against it? A child of the devil consistently rebels against God’s Word (John 8:31-47). In contrast, a child of God obeys God’s Word (Rom 12:1-2).

Interestingly, though demons hate Jesus, they must submit to Jesus’ authority when commanded to do so (vv. 25-26, 34). In biblical times, people often tried to expel demons through incantations or strong odors. In contrast, Jesus spoke and the demon came out. Just as God spoke creation into existence in Genesis 1, Jesus spoke and the demon had to obey. This was extraordinary and invited amazement (v. 27).

David Garland writes, “Jesus’ healing miracles do not simply remedy human physical maladies; they represent a war against demonic forces.”[3]David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 71. Jesus’ exorcisms were proof of the truth in Mark 1:15 – that indeed the kingdom of God had come near. Jesus’ authority over the demon reinforced the authority of his teaching (vv. 27-28).

Jesus has authority in his teaching. He has authority over demons. Third, he has authority over sickness and disease.

Jesus has authority over sickness and disease (29-34)

29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

We see in vv. 29-31 a couple of things. First, contrary to the prosperity gospel, even Jesus’ disciples are affected by sickness (vv. 29-30). Peter has just committed to following Jesus. He just got home from church. And we see that his mother-in-law was “ill with a fever.” This was probably a severe fever, perhaps even life-threatening. Following Jesus does not mean that our lives will be without trouble.

Following Jesus does not mean that our lives will be without trouble.

Second, we see the appropriate response to Jesus’ grace (v. 31). Peter’s mother-in-law did nothing to earn Jesus’ healing. Out of gratitude for what he had done she went about serving him. In the same way, we did nothing to earn our salvation, but out of gratitude for the salvation we have because of Christ, we serve him in loving obedience!

We see that Jesus cares for the sick. Notice that a distinction is made between those who were sick and those who were demon possessed (v. 32). All sickness and disease is a result of sin as a consequence of the Fall in Genesis 3, but not all disease and sickness is the result of a demonic attack or someone’s sin (John 9:1-2).

We see in this text that Jesus is not detached and distant. Jesus is willing to love the unlovables and touch the untouchables in society. We have a tendency to build privacy fences and seal ourselves off from the world. It is much more comfortable for us to quarantine ourselves from the world rather than engaging the darkness as Jesus did.

I want to wrap up with a few words on healings. I want us to notice some things about Jesus’ healings:

  • Jesus did not ask for money.
  • Jesus did not have to promote himself – people came to him.
  • Jesus did not do the miracles in a showlike atmosphere. No tickets were sold.
  • Jesus was not seeking selfish gain.
  • Jesus’ power was not thwarted because of anyone’s lack of faith (this does not undermine the importance of faith).

Contrast Jesus’ techniques with modern-day “faith healers”[4]See God, Greed, and the Prosperity Gospel by Costi Hinn.:

  • Faith healers ask for money.
  • Faith healers advertise and promote their events.
  • Faith healers “perform miracles” to make money.
  • Faith healers seek selfish gain.
  • When faith healers are questioned because the miracle failed, they blame the victim’s lack of faith.

Conclusion

In our text today, we have seen that:

  • Jesus has authority in his teaching.
  • Jesus has authority over demons.
  • Jesus has authority over sickness and disease.

Together, these three manifestations of Jesus’ authority provide a glimpse of Jesus’ absolute authority over all of creation.

Every person that was healed during Jesus’ ministry is now physically dead. Sickness, disease, and death remind us of our own mortality and our need to seek healing that will last beyond our time here on earth.

Like those who were diseased and demonized, our only hope is to come to Jesus.

As you read this, you have a choice. You can continue to live as if you are your own authority. If you do, you will incur God’s wrath for all of eternity (John 3:36). Or, you can acknowledge that Jesus is who he says he is – the perfect Son of God that came to give his life so that we could be reconciled to God and spend eternity with Him.

To be reconciled with God, you must turn from your sins and place your faith in Jesus and his death, burial, and resurrection and follow him as Lord. For more, click here.

For those of us who have trusted in Jesus, I also want to ask you a question: Is there an area(s) of your life are you not willing to submit to Jesus?

If so, repent and give this area of your life to Jesus.

References

References
↑1 Craig S. Keener and John H. Walton, eds., NIV Cultural Backgrounds Study Bible: Bringing to Life the Ancient World of Scripture (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 2016), 1685.
↑2 Daniel Akin, Christ-Centered Exposition: Mark, 27.
↑3 David E. Garland, Mark, The NIV Application Commentary (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1996), 71.
↑4 See God, Greed, and the Prosperity Gospel by Costi Hinn.

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