Commentary on Mark

3. Jesus Begins His Earthly Ministry in Galilee (Mark 1:14-3:35)

 

A. In Capernaum (Mark 1:14-34).

(1) Jesus proclaims the message of  His ministry (Mark 1:14-15).

(14) Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, (15) and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.” (Mark 1:14-15, NKJV)

Shortly after Jesus' baptism, John was imprisoned by King Herod (we will cover the reason for this later in chapter six).  Jesus then came out of the wilderness proclaiming the central message of His ministry:  The kingdom of God is here.  Jesus had a right to proclaim such a message.  Unlike a prophet or a preacher, Jesus not only gave the message but He was the message.  He commanded the people to repent and believe the good news.

Parallel passages: Matthew 4:12-17; Luke 4:14-15

Mark 1:14: Galilee was both the beginning point of Jesus' ministry as well as being His base of operations.  Galilee is the northern region of modern-day Israel, surrounding the sea of Galilee.  The town of Capernaum, in Galilee, was the place where He and His disciples would gather for rest and refreshment at the home of Andrew and Simon Peter (Mark 1:29).  This fulfilled the promise of God through the prophet Isaiah:

Nevertheless the gloom will not be upon her who is distressed,
As when at first He lightly esteemed
The land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali,
And afterward more heavily oppressed her,
By the way of the sea, beyond the Jordan,
In Galilee of the Gentiles.
The people who walked in darkness
Have seen a great light;
Those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death,
Upon them a light has shined. (Isaiah 9:1-2, NKJV)

The gospel, as explained earlier, means good news.  To a people oppressed from without by the Roman government and burdened within by sin, the coming of the Kingdom of God was indeed good news.

A kingdom is the rule of a king extended over a particular area and/or a group of people.  The Bible speaks of the "kingdom of God" (Mark 1:14, NKJV) in several ways.  First, it can refer to the rule of God in one's life: "Now when He was asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, He answered them and said, “The kingdom of God does not come with observation; nor will they say, ‘See here!’ or ‘See there!’ For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you” (Luke 17:20-21, NKJV). The Apostle Paul described it this way: "for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. For he who serves Christ in these things is acceptable to God and approved by men" (Romans 14:17-18, NKJV).

Second, the "kingdom of God" (Mark 1:14, NKJV) can refer to the literal kingdom on Earth that God promised to Israel (Isaiah 9:6-7; 11:1-16) and the disciples expected.  Just prior to Jesus' ascension to Heaven we read: "Therefore, when they had come together, they asked Him, saying, 'Lord, will You at this time restore the kingdom to Israel?' And He said to them, 'It is not for you to know times or seasons which the Father has put in His own authority'" (Acts 1:6-7, NKJV).  This kingdom on Earth will be fulfilled in the Millennial Kingdom (Rev. 20:4) because God always keeps His word.

The third way the phrase "kingdom of God" (Mark 1:14, NKJV) is used is to refer to God's sovereign rule over all things in Heaven and on Earth: "Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD,  And You are exalted as head over all. (1 Chron. 29:11, NKJV, also 1 Cor. 15:24-28).  In Mark, the"kingdom of God" (Mark 1:14, NKJV) refers primarily to the rule of God in the heart and life of the individual.  Repentance and belief are activities of an individual, not a nation. Is your life committed to God? Are you trusting Him enough to follow Jesus?  Does God and His standard of righteousness rule in your life, your family, your school, your church, and your work place?

Note also that no person will hear the gospel of the kingdom of God except through the "preaching" (Mark 1:14, NKJV).  As the Bible states: "How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Romans 10:14, KJV).  The Bible goes on to state "So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God" (Romans 10:17, KJV).  The weight of New Testament teaching firmly declares the need for every person to exercise personal faith in Jesus Christ. Because Jesus is unique -- both human and divine -- each person must acknowledge Jesus as LORD and Savior.  And every person must hear the preaching of the gospel in order to be saved.  Jesus faithfully proclaimed this message throughout His ministry.  Let this same urgency to share the gospel be upon every Christian!

Mark 1:15:  "The time is fulfilled" (NKJV). God's plan of redemption was prepared before the world was created (Eph. 1:3-4; 1 Pet. 1:20; Rev. 13:8).  God neither caused Adam's sin, nor was He surprised by it.  God had a plan to redeem sinful people before Adam took his first breath.  And from the beginning, God made His plan of redemption known:

• A Deliverer who would deal with sin and the devil (Gen. 3:15).
• A Descendent of Abraham who would bless all people (Gen. 22:18).
• A Prophet to be listened to and obeyed (Deut. 18:18-19).
• A Suffering Servant who would bear the sins of all people (Isa. 53:5-6).
• A Savior who would die (Dan. 9:26) but will rise again (Psalm 16:8-11).
• A Covenant-Maker offering forgiveness of sins and new life (Jer. 31:31-34).

Jesus' earthly ministry proclaimed the fulfillment of God's plan.  The time of the Savior was fulfilled.  God is faithful to do everything He promised.  And so the kingdom of God was "at hand" (Mark 1:15, NKJV).  The rule and reign of God is nearer now than ever before.  God has come to the Earth in the flesh (John 1:1,14) to proclaim His redemption message in person.  God spoke:

(1) God, who at various times and in various ways spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, (2) has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds; (3) who being the brightness of His glory and the express image of His person, and upholding all things by the word of His power, when He had by Himself purged our sins, sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high. (Hebrews 1:1-3, NKJV)

The phrase  "at hand" (Mark 1:15, NKJV) means nearby and very close.  Through the Holy Spirit, we today also find "But what does it say? 'The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart' (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved" (Romans 10:8-9, NKJV).  God has not made it impossible to know Him or to find redemption.  He reached down from eternity into time to offer salvation to every person.  The ministry of Jesus was to proclaim this great message in full living color.  Someone has called Jesus "love with skin on."  Speaking as a man in human language on a level that a child can comprehend, Jesus communicated the good news of the kingdom to a fallen world desperate for meaning and fulfillment.

Jesus said to "Repent, and believe in the gospel" (Mark 1:14-15, NKJV).  John's message of repentance pointed forward to Christ.  Now Jesus Christ has come and He proclaims the reality of the gospel.  If repentance is like a U-turn, then believing is taking the first step in the new direction.  The word "believe" translates the Greek word "pisteuo" which embodies the meaning of three words: affirm, trust, and commit.  One affirms the truth of the gospel, trusts in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and commits one's life to Him.  You cannot take away any one of these components without completely changing the meaning of the word "believe" as used in Mark 1:15.

Jesus said that you should repent.  Repent from what?  He means a complete turn in your belief about Jesus Christ.  Rather than believe He is just a man, or a great teacher, or a prophet, you must believe that He is the Son of God who came to this Earth as a perfect man.  Jesus also said you should believe in the gospel.  What is His gospel?  That He came to this Earth to offer Himself as a sacrifice for your sins.  Jesus took the penalty of your sins upon Himself!  Three days later, He rose from the grave to prove He is our LORD and Savior (1 Cor. 15:3-4).

Now to many, the gospel is unbelievable.  That God would care at all about sinners is unthinkable.  That God would give His only begotten Son as a ransom for sinners is unheard.  Yet, this is precisely what Jesus communicated in His teaching and on the cross at Calvary.  That is why the gospel is such good news.

With this direct, straightforward declaration, Jesus begins His ministry in Galilee.  The offer of redemption is made to all who will believe the gospel.

 

(2) Jesus calls His first disciples (Mark 1:16-20).

(16) And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. (17) Then Jesus said to them, “Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” (18) They immediately left their nets and followed Him. (19) When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. (20) And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. (Mark 1:16-20, NKJV)

As Jesus moves through Galilee, He invites two sets of brothers to be His disciples.  Over the course of three and a half years, Jesus will teach, model, and mentor these unschooled men in the truth of God's word and His plan of redemption.  It is noteworthy that each of these four men immediately left behind their family and business to follow Jesus.

Parallel passages: Matthew 4:18-22; Luke 5:1-11

Mark 1:16: The first two brothers called by Jesus were "Simon and Andrew."  They had a fishing business on the Sea of Galilee.  Simon is known as Simon Peter, who later became the chief spokesman for the disciples of Jesus.  The Sea of Galilee was known for an abundance of fish, the only freshwater lake in the area.  Located 700 feet below the Mediterranean Sea and surrounded by mountains, the Sea of Galilee was also known for sudden, violent storms.  Therefore, those who made their living as fishermen were rough but courageous souls.

Mark 1:17: Jesus said to Simon and Andrew, "Follow Me" (Mark 1:17, NKJV).  Jesus' call to them was personal and required great sacrifice.  They had to leave their livelihood, the family business at that, their family, and their friends.  Jesus commanded them to follow Him.  This is the nature of Jesus' call to each of us today: "Follow Me" (Mark 1:17, NKJV).  It is not a complicated command at all but it is compelling.  Jesus later said, "Then He said to them all, 'If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me'" (Luke 9:23, NKJV).  As we will see in Mark's gospel, Jesus is One who is all-knowing, all-powerful, with love that is undying.  While it may be hard to set aside your own will and desires to follow Jesus, you do so knowing in full confidence that you follow a LORD who is good to the core, wise beyond our ability to comprehend, loving, righteous, just, and true all of the time.  Though the path may be difficult, such a leader is easy to follow.

Note that it is Jesus who "will make you become fishers of men" (Mark 1:17, NKJV).  Using an analogy familiar to these fishermen, Jesus reveals the type of ministry they would undertake: evangelism.  The gospel would be proclaimed to bring people into the kingdom of God like fish into a net.  The good news is attractive to those receptive to God's general revelation through His creation (Psalm 19:1-4; Romans 1:19-20) and through our conscience (Romans 2:14-16; 1 Tim. 1:19).  If one responds positively to God's general revelation, the good news will bring both conviction of sin and rejoicing in our Savior, Jesus Christ.  Jesus also indicates that He is the power source for evangelism.  It is the work of Jesus to make one become as "fishers of men" (Mark 1:17, NKJV), not your own work.  Make it a priority in your life to seek Him and through your life seek to lift up the name of Jesus.  The result of your life will be a net full of men, women, and children who embrace our LORD and Savior, Jesus Christ, and enter into the kingdom of God.

Mark 1:18: The Bible records that the two brothers immediately followed Jesus.  Luke records, "they forsook all and followed him" (Luke 5:11, NKJV).  The call of Jesus on one's life is direct, personal, and compelling.  The text says, "immediately He called them" (Mark 1:20, NKJV) and "they immediately left their nets and followed Him" (Mark 1:18, NKJV).

Mark 1:19:  Two more brothers, "James … and John" are called by Jesus.  They are the sons of Zebedee, apparently the owner of the fishing business (Mark 1:20).  Along with Simon Peter, they became part of the inner circle of Jesus' disciples.  While Jesus taught the disciples openly, these three consulted with Jesus privately and Jesus showed them things He did not invite the others to see such as the raising of Jairus' daughter (Mark 5:37; Luke 8:51), His transfiguration (Mark 9:2), the Olivet Discourse (Mark 13:3), and His mournful praying the night before He went to the cross (Matthew 26:37).  Simon, Andrew, James, and John were all partners in the fishing business (Luke 5:10), a common practice during this time.

The demand of discipleship is obedience with urgency.  It is easy to say you follow Jesus but do nothing for the kingdom of God.  Churches are filled with people who come to church but do not follow Jesus.  This may seem to be the easy approach but is not true discipleship.  Jesus clearly taught, "Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free" (John 8:31-32, NKJV).  The only truth that sets you free is the truth that is obeyed.  These four men obeyed the call to discipleship and did so with urgency.  No matter the cost, the most important thing in the world is to follow Jesus.  Your effectiveness in ministry will be in direct proportion to the urgency of your obedience to the call of Christ.

The demand is not without reward.  Let us never forget the care and concern God has for those who love Him and follow Jesus.  The Psalmist wrote:

(1) Bless the LORD, O my soul;
     And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
(2) Bless the LORD, O my soul,
     And forget not all His benefits:
(3) Who forgives all your iniquities,
     Who heals all your diseases,
(4) Who redeems your life from destruction,
     Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
(5) Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
     So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. (Psalms 103:1-5, NKJV)

Jesus made it clear that if we seek to follow Him, He will meet all our needs: "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matthew 6:33 NKJV).  Moreover, Jesus came to give us not only eternal life but abundant life in the here and now (John 10:10).  The writer of Hebrews also reminds us of the pleasure God has in our obedience: "But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb. 13:16, NKJV).  Sharing with others is the hallmark of Christian virtues, no greater a witness to the world of the love of God.  So your obedience to Jesus Christ is not in vain.  There is great reward in this life and in the one to come (Mark 10:29-30).

So the message of Jesus' ministry is proclaimed (Mark 1:14-15) and the ministry team is organized (Mark 1:16-20).  Now Jesus will demonstrate His power and authority to the world.

 

(3) Jesus commands authority over demons (Mark 1:21-28).

(21) Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. (22) And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (23) Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, (24) saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (25) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” (26) And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. (27) Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” (28) And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28, NKJV)

On the first Sabbath since beginning His earthly ministry, Jesus enters the Synagogue to teach the word of God.  It astonishes the crowd that His message does not rely on the testimony and interpretation of other Rabbi's as was the custom during this time.  Rather, Jesus teaches the Scriptures as though He was the One who wrote them (as a matter of fact, He did!).  A demon-possessed man confronts Jesus.  The demons reveal Jesus' identity as the Holy One of God.  Jesus rebukes and drives out the demon thereby confirming the authority of His teaching.  News of this miracle-working Teacher spread quickly throughout the region of Galilee.

Mark 1:21: Immediately on the Sabbath, Jesus began teaching.  People gathered in synagogues to hear God's word.  This was an important time in their lives. The synagogue was a local place of worship for the Jewish people.  While the Temple in Jerusalem was to be the central focus of worship, not everyone could make the journey there.  In the Old Testament, Psalm 74:8 appears to reference such a place, though worship outside of the Temple was generally discouraged because it was associated with the pagan religions.  Synagogues seem to have emerged after the destruction of Solomon's temple in 586 B.C. in order to maintain the teaching of the Law and the identity of the Jewish people wherever they were scattered.  Wherever a town had at least ten Jewish men, a synagogue was formed.

Mark uses the word "immediately" to indicate the importance of what Jesus did on this Sabbath.  In the synagogue, Jesus immediately met them at their point of need -- the need to hear God's word.

Mark 1:22: The people were astonished at Jesus' teaching.  The word "astonished" is derived from a Greek word that means "to be struck."  The truth that Jesus proclaimed was so amazing compared to what they had been taught before it was as though the truth reached out and slapped them in the face.  What was so amazing about Jesus' teaching?  First, He spoke the very word of God.  While the Torah (the first five books of the Old Testament) was read each Sabbath, and still is today in Jewish synagogues, the sermons that followed relied upon prior rabbinical traditions and interpretations.  The "authority" of the scribes was rooted in words of other men.  Jesus taught and explained the word of God by His own authority.  In addition, Jesus used stories, figures of speech, and illustrations from every day life to explain and apply the word of God.  While Mark does not highlight this aspect of Jesus' teaching, we see it clearly in the other three gospels.  Mark focuses on the works, not the words, of Jesus.  Yet, the other gospel accounts show that Jesus was the preeminent expository preacher.
 Would the preaching and teaching of God's word be something new in your church?  How unfortunate today that so many people are surprised when a preacher boldly proclaims the word of God!  This reveals a glaring deficiency of expository preaching in body of Christ.  Understand that expository preaching is not simply a running commentary on Scripture.  Rather, expository preaching clearly reveals the truth of God's word and exposes the meaning with application to the particular congregation.  We see this not only in the teaching of Jesus but in the Old Testament as well.  Ezra led the congregation in the public reading of God's word while:

(7) Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodijah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites, helped the people to understand the Law; and the people stood in their place. (8) So they read distinctly from the book, in the Law of God; and they gave the sense, and helped them to understand the reading. (Nehemiah 8:7-8, NKJV)

In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount (Matthew, chapters 5-7), we see frequent use of "You have heard that it was said…" citing an Old Testament law.  Jesus would then explain the true meaning and intent of that law followed by a real-life application that the people could understand (Matthew 5:21-24; 5:27-30; 5:31-32; 5:33-37; 5:38-42; 5:43-48).  This is expository preaching at its best: explain, interpret, and apply the word of God.  The word proclaimed by Jesus "had authority" in that it could not be refuted.  Where does your authority come from when preaching or teaching the word of God?  It comes from exposing the clear truth of God's word.  When you stick to the main truth of a passage of Scripture with clear explanation and relevant application of that truth to the lives of your congregation, no one will be able to refute your word either.  People may still object to what you say but the expository approach allows you to simply point them back to God's word as your authority.

In the synagogue, the people "were astonished at His teaching" (Mark 1:22, NKJV).  This usually happens when God speaks.  Be faithful in proclaiming God's word to your congregation.  God has promised that His word will not return void but will accomplish His purpose (Isaiah 55:10-11).  But it must be His word and not your own.  His truth and not your own.  Also, your authority rests solely in God whose word is to be trusted (Psalm 119:42) and lasts forever:

The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever. (Isaiah 40:8, NKJV)

As long as you clearly communicate His truth with application, God's people will be blessed with spiritual strength and growth.

Mark 1:23-24: As Jesus enters the synagogue in Galilee (Mark 1:21), He encounters a man "with an unclean spirit."  "Unclean," in this sense, refers to evil.  "Spirit" refers to an angelic creature that is a created being but without a physical body.  Angels were originally created by God with some form of personal will or choice.  The Bible reveals that one-third of the angels made an irrevocable choice to rebel against God and follow another rebellious angel, Satan (Rev. 12:3-4).  Hence, the fallen angels are what we call "demons."  Some English translations render verse 23 as "possessed by an evil spirit" (NIV) or simply demon-possessed.  Possession is a misnomer as applied to demons and humans because demons do not possess anything but hatred toward God.  The term "demon-possession" refers to the influence of one or more demons upon an individual.  The work of demons is to steal, kill, and deceive people (John 8:44; 10:10).  Demons can exercise a great degree of control of people through various forms of manipulation.  This control can increase when one willfully turns away from God.  This man was so controlled by the demons that they even controlled his speech.

What was a demon-possessed man doing in the Synagogue?  Either the religious leaders allowed him into the synagogue in order to test Jesus or he was a regular guest.  If the latter is true, then this synagogue had some real problems.  Evidently, the word of God was not being proclaimed with clarity and conviction.  Jesus had a forceful label for the synagogue where people claimed the Law and a religious heritage of Judaism but had no faith to back it up:

I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. (Rev. 2:9, NKJV, ref. also Rev. 3:9)

What happened when the demons that possessed this poor man came into the presence of Jesus Christ?  They confronted Jesus with His true identity:

(23) ... And he cried out, (24) saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!" (Mark 1:23-24, NKJV)

First, consider the concerns of the demons.  If you understand these concerns, you can also understand how easily people can be manipulated and influenced to do the work of Satan:

• "Let us alone" -- The demons revealed the reality of their rebellion against God.  They are selfish. This concern illustrates that they do not want God to interfere with their evil plans.  People today have a saying that they want to "do their own thing."  Little do they realize that selfishness is the devil's work.
• "What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth" -- Like so many people, they try to live their own life without God involved in it, keeping God at arm's length as it were.  The demons declare plainly that they have no intention of following God's will on their own.  Their work is decidedly unholy.
• "Did You come to destroy us?" -- The demons realize their fate is sealed.  They just do not know when God will exercise His final judgment upon them.  Until then, they live in fear of His wrath.  Is it not ironic that they fear the judgment of God but do not fear God Himself?  They will also encourage this same fear of God in people.  This fear of judgment keeps many people from seeking the grace and forgiveness of the LORD.
• "I know who You are" -- Further irony is found that although they know God is real they fail to love or obey Him.  A common myth in this time was that in knowing someone's true identity allowed you to exercise some level of control over the person.  Apparently the demons thought this statement might give them some level of control over Jesus.  Obviously, they were unsuccessful.  Moreover, Jesus could speak for Himself and did not need nor did He desire the testimony of demons as to His true identity.  For these reasons, Jesus rebuked the demons.

So many people today try to live with these same concerns, not realizing they are unwittingly being influenced by the forces of Satan.  The result is an empty life.  Unfortunately, many pursue further selfish and unholy endeavors in an attempt to fill the emptiness.  An empty life becomes filled with despair, anger, depression, and waste.  Demonic control is quite easy if Satan can deceive one with the lies in this verse.

It is noteworthy, though, that even the demons, the enemies of God, declare Jesus to be "the Holy One of God!" (Mark 1:23-24, NKJV)  The demons do not trust in Jesus Christ as LORD but they acknowledge that Jesus Christ is LORD. Take note of how the phrase "Holy One" is used.  In the Old Testament, the LORD God is called the "Holy One" (Job 6:10; Isaiah 40:25, NKJV) or the "Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 78:41, NKJV).  Look also in Psalm 71: "Also with the lute I will praise You — And Your faithfulness, O my God! To You I will sing with the harp, O Holy One of Israel" (Psalm 71:22, NKJV).  It is the LORD God who is called the "Holy One" or the "Holy One of Israel."  This is a clear reference to the deity of Christ by no less than the demons themselves.  It is possible to know a fact but not trust in that fact.  It is possible to believe the fact about someone without believing in someone.  Here we see that the demons know the identity of Jesus but they do not believe in Jesus.  As a result, the demons will one day be cast into Hell to receive eternal punishment (Matt. 25:41).

Mark 1:25-26: Jesus mercifully drove the demons out of the man.  His instruction to the demons to conceal His true identity was two-fold: (1) Jesus did not need the help of demons to accomplish His mission and (2) Jesus did not desire emphasis on His Messiahship too early in His ministry.  Why would Jesus not want people to know He was the Messiah?  Many have called this issue the "Messianic Secret" in the Gospel of Mark.  Part of the speculation is that Mark's gospel is an apology for why the Jews as a nation rejected Him as their Messiah.  Further speculation is that Mark was creating intrigue for his readers who wanted to know the true identity of Jesus.  Neither of these theories is satisfactory since in the very first verse Mark declares the identity of Jesus plainly:  "Jesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark 1:1, NKJV).

The truth is that if people realized early on He was the long awaited Messiah, they would no doubt attempt to make Him king by force.  The notion of Messiah during this time was that of a political leader who would crush the enemies of Israel and restore her former greatness.  In spite of Jesus' effort to gradually reveal His identity, there were times where the people tried to crown Him king (John 6:15 after feeding the five thousand with a small quantity of fish and bread; John 12:12-19 in His triumphal entry to Jerusalem after the resurrection of Lazarus).  Jesus knew that revealing His identity too soon would interfere with His ability to freely proclaim the kingdom of God.  It would also force the hand of the religious and political community to move against Him immediately, further hindering His mission.  Jesus preached the word of God, ministered to people out of compassion and to confirm the truth of His message, and slowly revealed His identity in both word and deed.  This was the Father's will to get the gospel of the kingdom out to as many people as possible in and around Israel during His earthly ministry.

Mark 1:27-28: The people's reaction to Jesus' miracles show their intended effect: they recognized the authority of Jesus' words.  The people were truly amazed at the "new" teaching accompanied by "new" powers at work.  While the preaching of God's word should not be considered a new thing, it often is new to congregations with pastors that substitute "feel-good" messages, entertainment, and pop psychology for serious expository preaching.  The reaction to God's truth accompanied by God's miracles is understandable: Jesus' fame spread "immediately" throughout the region of Galilee.

The promise of miracles has always attracted a crowd.  From Oral Roberts to Benny Hinn, so-called "miracle-workers" make extravagant claims of their ability to heal people.  As we see in Jesus' ministry, the focus of the miracles is to authenticate the truth of the preacher's words.  Today we have the word of God confirmed by the ultimate miracle:  the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  As a preacher, teacher, evangelist, or missionary, you proclaim the very word of God based on the resurrection of our LORD Jesus Christ.  Can God perform miracles today?  Since God is all-powerful, He can perform any miracle that does not violate His righteousness.  Stories from the mission field are replete with miraculous signs from God.  In a culture with no Bible in the language of that people group, miracles may be used by God to authenticate the words of the missionary.  It must be clear, however, that it is not the power of the missionary but of God to whom the missionary testifies.

Jesus, the Son of God, has now demonstrated His authority in teaching.  He is the One to whom we should listen.  Also, Jesus demonstrated authority over the demonic spirit-world.  He is a force who cannot be ignored.  Next, Jesus turns to physical illness.
 

 

(4) Jesus commands power over sickness (Mark 1:29-31).

(29) Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (30) But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. (31) So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. (Mark 1:29-31, NKJV)

After driving out demons from a man in the synagogue, Jesus and the disciples enter Simon's house.  Simon's mother-in-law was sick with a fever.  Jesus healed her immediately and so completely that she was able to rise up and serve them.  This healing is one of many to demonstrate Jesus' power over sickness.

Mark 1:29: Jesus and His four disciples left the synagogue and went straight to Simon's house.  Simon lived there with his wife, her mother, and Andrew, his brother.  Presumably they gathered there for fellowship and refreshment.

Mark 1:30: Simon's mother-in-law had a fever serious enough to keep her in bed.  During the first century there were no miracle pills for fever like aspirin, Advil, or Tylenol.  Such an illness might easily have been life-threatening.  In such a situation, the disciples went to Jesus and told Him of her illness.  Curiously, they did not ask Him to heal her nor did they beg.  Note that they simply let Him know of the need.

Mark 1:31: Mark presents several details about the healing, departing from his usually terse, concise narrative.  Jesus came to her as she lay in bed.  He took her by the hand, giving her a personal touch.  Then He lifted her up out of the bed.  The fever left "immediately."  What a beautiful picture of Jesus' up-close and personal love for people!  He could have snapped His fingers from where He sat and healed Simon's mother-in-law.  Instead, He came to her.  He touched her, held her, and lifted her up.  The LORD Jesus is not some far off, far out deity who does not care.  He gets up-close and person in His love for you.

This healing also gives us an important example in the healing power of touch.  Though we do not command sickness away, as Jesus our LORD was able to do, we can provide comfort and strength to those who are sick through a personal touch.  As you hear of sick friends, and especially family members (1 Tim. 3:5,5:4,5:8), make it a point to visit them in person.  Be sure to offer a personal touch such as a hug or holding their hand or patting them on the back.  You will give more comfort to them by this personal touch than by anything else you could say or do.

The remarkable thing about this situation is that the woman who was sick became the woman who served.  "And she served them" (Mark 1:31, NKJV).  Jesus healed her so completely that she was ready to work.  No lingering effects of the fever remained.  You could look at this as a wonderful picture of salvation.  Jesus takes you from being sick with sin, unable to do anything worthwhile for the kingdom of God, to being completely healed of the penalty and power of sin, able to serve the living God.  "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10, NKJV).

Jesus has now demonstrated His remarkable power over sickness in addition to the demonic realm.
 

 

(5) Jesus commands power over all who are sick (Mark 1:32-34).

(32) At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. (33) And the whole city was gathered together at the door. (34) Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. (Mark 1:32-34, NKJV)

After healing Simon's mother-in-law, Jesus' reputation grows dramatically.  Waiting until the Sabbath Day is over, people from throughout the region bring their sick and demon-possessed to Jesus for help.  Jesus compassionately  heals the sick and drives out the demons.  Mark uses this text to make sure the reader understands that Jesus' work is not isolated to one or two incidents but that He commanded absolute power over sickness and the demonic realm.

Mark 1:32: The people waited until the sun went down so that it would no longer be the Sabbath Day.  Sabbath law had become very explicit by the first century.  The rabbinical tradition had enumerated hundreds of laws regarding what constitutes work in violation of their Sabbath law.  Even tying or untying a knot was considered a desecration of the Sabbath.   Even today, Jews are not permitted to enter an elevator on the Sabbath for fear it might set off a spark.  A spark is a fire that is prohibited on the Sabbath.  The following verse was used to greatly restrict travel on the Sabbath:

See! For the LORD has given you the Sabbath; therefore He gives you on the sixth day bread for two days. Let every man remain in his place; let no man go out of his place on the seventh day.  (Exodus 16:29, NKJV)

Jewish religious leaders eventually interpreted this verse to mean that no one could travel more than 2,000 cubits or about half a mile.  However, various other laws were construed to get around such restrictions such as putting a lunch half a mile from your home the day before.  Once you went as far as the normal Sabbath travel law allowed you could stop, make your "home" where your lunch was found, and then travel another half-mile.  Jesus specifically refuted such ridiculous traditions that contradicted spirit of the Law if not the letter of the Law.  The people in Capernaum observed the tradition they had been taught and waited until evening, "At evening, when the sun had set" (NKJV), to travel to Jesus.  Their zeal was evident in that they brought "all that were diseased and…possessed" (KJV).

Mark 1:33: Imagine the sight as Jesus went to the door of Simon's house and saw the crowd of people with sick and deranged men, women, and children.  All of these came with a dream that somehow Jesus could heal them.  To be sure, Jesus could and did heal their sick.  But His main purpose was to bring spiritual healing and wholeness through the gospel (Mark 1:14-15).  The miracles were always intended to authenticate His message rather than propel Jesus to the throne.

Mark 1:34: Jesus healed all kinds of diseases ("divers diseases") that were brought to Him.  The demon-possessed were freed from the spiritual bondage of Satan.  Jesus exercised power that was absolute over these things.  The demons tried to speak and reveal His identity to the crowd, attempting somehow to damage His mission.  Jesus would not even permit them to speak, just to leave.  And the demons had to obey because their Creator gave them no such liberty.

Here we see no limit to the power or authority of Jesus.  He is a mighty servant of God who crushes the demons and cures the diseased.  When troubles plague your life and ministry, remember the power of Jesus.  He is able to overcome all evil forces.  Your strength rests on the power of Jesus Christ our LORD, not on your own will power or determination.
 

 

(6) Conclusion to Section A.

Jesus' popularity grew exponentially, as the reality of His limitless power became obvious.  Were this trend to continue, the town of Capernaum would have moved to crown Him King by force.  This was not God's plan.  Jesus will have to make a choice to ride the wave of popularity or continue to follow God's plan.
 

Our Creator God loves you and wants you to know Him! If you would like to contact this ministry for further information or questions, please send your e-mail to:
Email: ministryrequest1@WordTruth.Com
Web Site: WordTruth.Com

Copyright 11/10/2001, Randy Lariscy.