DAY THREE | WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 15
Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “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!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
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.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
REFLECTION
I was never a fan of the adult cartoon “South Park,” but that doesn’t mean all of my friends growing up were not. One of the phrases they would walk around saying from the show was “Respect my authority” but with authority pronounced (auth-or-i-tie). I don’t think you can read this passage without getting the overwhelming idea that the writer wants you to respect Jesus’ authority.
Capernaum was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee and became the headquarters for Jesus’ ministry. We know that Peter and his family and James and his family lived in the village and was probably a regular in their homes. He was probably well known in the area for his amazing teachings in the Synagogue. You can still visit the remains of the synagogue in Capernaum as well as Peter’s home.
It was in this unlikely of places that the people of this village began to be in awe of Jesus’ authority. His authority of the Scripture and his authority over demons. First Scripture. Jesus had no training or study as the Scribes did. His authority over the Scriptures was all from God. Like when God spoke directly through the prophets, Jesus was speaking prophetically. But his authority was also over the supernatural. We begin to see that while Jesus’ good news is indeed good news to us, it is a threat to the demons. The demons seem to suggest that Jesus’ very presence is an invasion of their territory. “Have you come to destroy us?” A battle has begun. Jesus is not just threatening an isolated demon, but on “us,” all of evil. We begin to understand the contrast of Jesus’ authority, the people see his authority and are in awe, but Jesus isn’t just a wise man, we understand Jesus’ authority is much greater. Jesus has come to destroy evil for good.
Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, “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!”
“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
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.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
REFLECTION
I was never a fan of the adult cartoon “South Park,” but that doesn’t mean all of my friends growing up were not. One of the phrases they would walk around saying from the show was “Respect my authority” but with authority pronounced (auth-or-i-tie). I don’t think you can read this passage without getting the overwhelming idea that the writer wants you to respect Jesus’ authority.
Capernaum was a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee and became the headquarters for Jesus’ ministry. We know that Peter and his family and James and his family lived in the village and was probably a regular in their homes. He was probably well known in the area for his amazing teachings in the Synagogue. You can still visit the remains of the synagogue in Capernaum as well as Peter’s home.
It was in this unlikely of places that the people of this village began to be in awe of Jesus’ authority. His authority of the Scripture and his authority over demons. First Scripture. Jesus had no training or study as the Scribes did. His authority over the Scriptures was all from God. Like when God spoke directly through the prophets, Jesus was speaking prophetically. But his authority was also over the supernatural. We begin to see that while Jesus’ good news is indeed good news to us, it is a threat to the demons. The demons seem to suggest that Jesus’ very presence is an invasion of their territory. “Have you come to destroy us?” A battle has begun. Jesus is not just threatening an isolated demon, but on “us,” all of evil. We begin to understand the contrast of Jesus’ authority, the people see his authority and are in awe, but Jesus isn’t just a wise man, we understand Jesus’ authority is much greater. Jesus has come to destroy evil for good.