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BE QUIET! COME OUT FROM HIM!

Mark 1:21-34

Key Verse 25

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

Introduction

Last week, we learned that Jesus began his Messianic ministry by preaching the good news of the kingdom of God and calling the first disciples. Today’s passage shows us the picture of Jesus’ early ministry. Jesus mainly did two things. First, he taught the word of God. Second, he healed the sick. Especially today’s passage shows Jesus’ stern rebuke, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” May the Lord help us to learn of His authority in serving our Bible students and children.

Read verses 21-24. What did Jesus do on the Sabbath day? (21) How did the people respond? (22) Why? What did a man with an impure spirit do? (23, 24)

1-1, Read verses 21-24.

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!”

1-2, What did Jesus do on the Sabbath day? (21)

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

After spending the first Passover in Jerusalem according to John 1-4, Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit. (John 4:43)
According to the book of Luke chapter 4, Jesus was rejected in his hometown, Nazareth. Then He went to Capernaum.

Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. 15 He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him. 16 He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17 and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: 18 “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, 19 to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20 Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. 21 He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” 22 All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 23 Jesus said to them, “Surely you will quote this proverb to me: ‘Physician, heal yourself!’ And you will tell me, ‘Do here in your hometown what we have heard that you did in Capernaum.’” 24 “Truly I tell you,” he continued, “no prophet is accepted in his hometown. 25 I assure you that there were many widows in Israel in Elijah’s time, when the sky was shut for three and a half years and there was a severe famine throughout the land. 26 Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow in Zarephath in the region of Sidon. 27 And there were many in Israel with leprosy[g] in the time of Elisha the prophet, yet not one of them was cleansed—only Naaman the Syrian.” 28 All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. 29 They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff. 30 But he walked right through the crowd and went on his way. 31 Then he went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath he taught the people.32 They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.

In keeping with Isaiah’s prophecy, Jesus worked in Galilee of the Gentiles particularly in Capernaum - a quite fishing town on the Shores of the Sea of Tiberias.

Isaiah 9:1-3 read,

Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the nations, by the Way of the Sea, beyond the Jordan— 2 The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned. 3 You have enlarged the nation and increased their joy; they rejoice before you as people rejoice at the harvest, as warriors rejoice when dividing the plunder.

Capernaum was home to four of Jesus’ disciples including Simon Peter, James, John and Andrew. These men had left everything to follow Jesus and went with Him to the Synagogue on this Sabbath day.
The Synagogue is the Jewish assembly or congregation or loosely speaking the place in which they met to study the Torah and pray.
The synagogue is like our Bible Center and a house of prayer. On this Sabbath, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
Jesus went to the synagogue on the Sabbath day and taught the people. Typically the synagogue had no set teachers. Instead they had the custom of “the freedom of the synagogue, where learned guests were invited to speak on the Scripture reading for that day. This custom gave Jesus the chance to preach.

The order of the services in the synagogue was as follows :

(1) Reciting the Shema, Deut. 6:4-9; 11:13-21 ; Num. 15:37-41

(2) Prayer

(3) Reading the law

(4) Reading the prophets

(5) Discourse by anyone who desired to speak, Acts 13:15

(6) the Benediction.

1-3, How did the people respond? (22)

22 The people were amazed at his teaching,

There was no mention about what Jesus taught. The people were amazed at His teaching.

1-4, Why?

because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

It was because Jesus taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
The scribes of Jesus’ day simply quote a variety of Rabbis as interpreters.
But Jesus did not quote oral tradition (i.e., Talmud). The Jews were concerned that they might break God's commands, so every verse of the Torah (the writings of Moses, Genesis - Deuteronomy) was interpreted by rabbinical discussions.
Later these developed into schools, one liberal (i.e., Hillel) and one conservative (i.e., Shammai).
The leading rabbis of these two ancient schools were often quoted as authorities. The scribes were the professional teachers of Judaism who interpreted the oral tradition to local situations and needs. Most scribes in Jesus' day were Pharisees.
But Jesus taught with authority because He had authority. He brought a divine message and was confident that it was from God. He wasn’t quoting from man, but from God.
Jesus taught with intrinsic authority because he knew what He was talking about. One can not teach with authority if one aren’t familiar with materials.
Jesus taught with authority because He believed what he taught. When you believe what you teach, it comes out with confidence.
Also his authority must have come from His full submission to His Father in baptism, submission to the Holy Spirit in going out to the wilderness.
Authority flows from submission. Jesus showed authority when He was with the wild animals and the angels attended Him in the previous passage.
Jesus shows authority announcing the presence of the kingdom of God and commanding men to repent and believe.
Jesus shows authority calling disciples after Himself. When Jesus sacrificed Himself to serve God and God’s will, He was able to call others with authority.
May the Lord help each of us to become Jesus like Bible teachers. 2 Timothy 2:15 reads, “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”
We are thankful eternally to Jesus who called us independent Bible teachers who ask God’s help to grow instead of depending on other human beings or charismatic leaders.
It is our distinguishing privilege in UBF so that we do not rely on others but each person grow into excellent Bible teachers who can fight the good fight against impure spirits by discerning heart and spirit and prayer!
How can our Bible studies be life giving and applicable to post-modern people? The answer is to look at Jesus and study His words and pray accordingly!
Jesus is an excellent model for gospel-workers in any place and settings. He correctly handles the word of truth, and is filled with the Spirit’s power. We too can preach the gospel with the Help of the Holy Spirit. Amen!

1-5, What did a man with an impure spirit do? (23, 24)

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!”

This was not a confession of faith. It was demonic resistance to Jesus. The demon knew who Jesus was and was terrified; he knew that Jesus had power to destroy him.
The Jews thought their enemies were the Romans, but Mark shows us here that the real enemy is Satan. He noted that an evil spirit possessed this man in their synagogue.
Here we should acknowledge that demons are real and they are the enemies of mankind. Unless we are in Jesus, the evil spirits are in us.
This man could not be cured by psychotherapy, drugs or counseling. He needed help from Jesus who has authority to drive out demons.
Truth is there are no medical solutions to spiritual problems. Only God and the gospel can bring healing to these people. May the Lord raise up Christian psychiatrists who discern the work of the impure spirits behind scenes.
Satan is working hard to keep modern people unaware of the existence of the evil spirit. The Bible warns us not to be naive, but to be sober, to be watchful.

1 Peter 5:8-9a read,

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 9 Resist him, standing firm in the faith,

“I know who you are, the Holy One of God!” indicates that the devil failed to corrupt Jesus Christ in the wilderness.
Although the devil failed to tempt Jesus in the temptation, he never gave up on Him. On the opportunistic time, he attacked the people, even inside the synagogue.

Read verses 25-28. What did Jesus do for the man? (25) What was the result? (26) What did people say about these events? (27) What was the outcome of Jesus’ healing of the man? (28)

2-1, Read verses 25-28.

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.

2-2, What did Jesus do for the man? (25)

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”

Jesus said sternly, “Be quiet! Come out of him!” Jesus made a distinction between the demon and the man.
Jesus saw that if the demon was driven out of the man he would be normal and healthy. Jesus did not rebuke the man for disturbing his message.
There were other exorcists in Jesus’ day. He was not the only one who tried to cast out demons.
But there was a big difference between Jesus and other exorcists. They used long, fancy, elaborate, superstitious ceremonies and they often failed.
Jesus never failed to cast out a demon, and He never used an elaborate ceremony. With authority as God, he rebuked the demon sternly and simply.
He demonstrated his Messianic authority once more by giving direct orders to the impure spirit. Jesus knew it made no sense to converse with a being that only speaks a lie (John 8:44), so Jesus shut the impure spirit up and cast it out.

2-3, What was the result? (26)

26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Without a further word, the impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

2-4, What did people say about these events? (27)

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.”

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”.
Here we learn that Jesus’ word exposed the impure spirit in man. Those who have impurity in their heart will feel that the word of God is like a sting and thorn.
So they become rebellious toward Jesus’ words and refuse to study them. These people may come to bible study or Sunday worship like the man who came to the synagogue to study God’s word.
But they never accept Jesus’ word. The impure spirit can be lust, lie, fatalistic view of life, secretive hatred, impure competition, fraud and so on.
The Impure spirit makes us impure, guilty, dark, self-conscious and lead us to slaves of sin. Many people suffer from impure spirit and very helpless come out of it.
Jesus’ word can defeat the impure spirit and make us pure and clean. So let us listen to Jesus’ word humbly and have purity in us.
Where Jesus’ word is spoken the impure spirit cannot stand. May the word of Jesus be spoken to students so that they may be freed from impurity and live a pure and holy life.

2-5, What was the outcome of Jesus’ healing of the man? (28)

28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Read verses 29-34. What did Jesus do for Simon’s family? (29-31) What happened that same evening? (32,33) What did Jesus do for them? (34)

3-1, Read verses 29-34.

29 As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. 30 Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her.31 So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door, 34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

3-2, What did Jesus do for Simon’s family? (29-31)

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Though Jesus had become very famous, he visited his disciples’ home in order to have a more personal relationship with them.
But there was a problem. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever. Jesus healed her. He was mindful of this woman who needed help.
Jesus did not ignore the family members of his co-workers. He visited their homes and in this case even helped Simon’s mother-in-law who was in bed with a fever.
Jesus did not waste precious opportunity to bring the kingdom of God into the homes of his precious co-workers.

3-3, What happened that same evening? (32,33)

32 That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed. 33 The whole town gathered at the door,

As soon as the sun set and the Sabbath was over, people brought to Jesus all the sick and demon-possessed.
Suddenly Simon’s house became like a field hospital. Jesus welcomed them, as a father welcomes his children one by one.
Laying his hand on each one, Jesus healed them (Lk 4:40). Jesus is the true shepherd of all mankind.

3-4, What did Jesus do for them? (34)

34 and Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons. However there is a difference between many and all. Jesus must have healed the sick people to show God’s compassion.
However Jesus chose to pray in a solitary place in the next passage and never lost his main focus to proclaim the good news about the kingdom of God to other towns, for it was the reason why he was sent by His Father in Heaven.
Jesus had a clear sense of mission about who He was and why he was sent and what task he was supposed to do for God’s grand work of salvation.

Conclusion

Jesus shows authority in His words, for He is the Word. Jesus created all universe at His command. Jesus’ Words are active and living enough to penetrate into one’s soul and spirit. Nothing can be hidden from His words. May the Lord help each of us to grow as reliable Bible teachers who can serve Jesus’ living words. We may serve young souls who are possessed by the impure spirits until they may be pure as God’s servants. Also Jesus tirelessly met people’s needs all day and even at sunset he was still working. Where did Jesus get all this energy and power? Mark reveals the true nature of Jesus as the Servant who came to serve and meant business to give his own life as a ransom for many. I pray that God help us welcome such good shepherd into our hearts today.

One word: Come out!