January 5th, 2017
Today’s reading from Encounter with God

…As One Who Had Authority!

Please see the links to our EXTRA Bible Study notes at the bottom of the page.

Opening Prayer

“O Lord, in the morning You hear my voice; in the morning I prepare a sacrifice for You and watch” (Psa. 5:3, ESV).

Read Mark 1:21-28

[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 impure 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 impure 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 impure spirits and they obey him.” [28] News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Meditate

“The Kingdom of God is primarily ‘God’s seed’ rather than ‘man’s deed’. It is God regnant and redeeming. It is his reign becoming manifestly effective in human affairs. It is God visiting and redeeming his people, as he had promised long ago” (AM Hunter, 1906–1991).

Think Further

 It is easy to pass over the most important part of this story. It begins as Jesus enters the synagogue to teach and then suddenly the demon-possessed man enters (23,24). The demon cries out, aware that in Jesus’ ministry of exorcism he plans to destroy all demons (note: “Have you come to destroy us,” not me). He calls Jesus’ name, because knowledge of the name of the spiritual being presumably gave you power over that spirit. Yet he fails to overpower Jesus, who rebukes (an ancient technical term for exorcising a demon or evil power) him. The demon struggles but has to come out of the man. Jesus wins the battle against Satan in this second encounter.
Everyone is amazed and the chatter starts—what is this all about? The gossip is enlightening. Their first words are not about the exorcism. They do not describe in shock the events that have just unfurled before their very eyes. They ask the question “What is this?” but they give the answer: “A new teaching—and with authority!”(27). They do talk about the exorcism but only as the second thing they say.
Their main interest is the teaching of Jesus. When he entered the synagogue, he began to teach them—that is to explain how they were to lead their lives in obedience to the commands of God. As soon as Jesus began, demonic forces tried to prevent them hearing these life-giving words (compare 4:15, where Satan tries to take the word away immediately after it is sown). These first listeners set us an example. When healings happen or the Gospel has a major impact in the community or national life, we need to keep the main thing the main thing and learn to live out the teachings of Jesus in practice.
We can be tempted to sideline Jesus’ teachings—particularly his more challenging moral teachings. He speaks with authority and if we listen he will bring life.

It is easy to pass over the most important part of this story. It begins as Jesus enters the synagogue to teach and then suddenly the demon-possessed man enters (23,24). The demon cries out, aware that in Jesus’ ministry of exorcism he plans to destroy all demons (note: “Have you come to destroy us,” not me). He calls Jesus’ name, because knowledge of the name of the spiritual being presumably gave you power over that spirit. Yet he fails to overpower Jesus, who rebukes (an ancient technical term for exorcising a demon or evil power) him. The demon struggles but has to come out of the man. Jesus wins the battle against Satan in this second encounter.

Everyone is amazed and the chatter starts—what is this all about? The gossip is enlightening. Their first words are not about the exorcism. They do not describe in shock the events that have just unfurled before their very eyes. They ask the question “What is this?” but they give the answer: “A new teaching—and with authority!”(27). They do talk about the exorcism but only as the second thing they say.

Their main interest is the teaching of Jesus. When he entered the synagogue, he began to teach them—that is to explain how they were to lead their lives in obedience to the commands of God. As soon as Jesus began, demonic forces tried to prevent them hearing these life-giving words (compare 4:15, where Satan tries to take the word away immediately after it is sown). These first listeners set us an example. When healings happen or the Gospel has a major impact in the community or national life, we need to keep the main thing the main thing and learn to live out the teachings of Jesus in practice.
We can be tempted to sideline Jesus’ teachings—particularly his more challenging moral teachings. He speaks with authority and if we listen he will bring life.

Apply

Why do you think the people were amazed at the teaching of Jesus? What was the nature and source of Jesus’ teaching? What can you learn from this incident?

Closing prayer

Lord Jesus, I want to embrace Your teaching and see it actualized in my life. Without Your grace and enabling, it is impossible. Do Your transforming work in me.

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