Mar 1:21-39 | KingComments | STEP | In the section of we see a day in the Lord’s life, from early Saturday morning to early Sunday morning. For Him it is a day full of activity, for through sin there can be no rest for Him ( ; ). In it says that “He” walked. Here we read that “they”, that is He and His four disciples, enter Capernaum. The disciples receive their first teaching here. Capernaum is “His own city” ( ), the city where He dwells ( ). This city therefore has a great responsibility to accept Him ( ). Capernaum is the center of His ministry in Galilee. In the same way, other cities have a certain mark in connection with Him. Bethlehem is the place of His birth, Nazareth is the city where He grew up and Bethany is the village of His friends. It is Sabbath. The Sabbath is the day of rest, but not for the Servant. On the Sabbath, the Lord and His disciples go into the synagogue. The synagogue is the place where the Word of God is spoken and explained. The Lord teaches there. His Word comes with power. He does not proclaim theories, but the living Word of God that touches hearts and consciences. The scribes with all their knowledge of the Scriptures communicate knowledge and impose a yoke on the hearers. They do not live in and out of the Word, but merely want to highlight their knowledge. Their doctrine is leaven. The Lord does not proclaim an opinion, but teaches with authority. The effect is not that the hearers directly come to faith through it, but that they feel the weight of what He speaks. His Word always does something ( ). That which He speaks, He does not precede by “thus says the LORD”, for He is the LORD Himself. The Word of God must be spoken with authority. He does so here as Servant. Speaking with authority is not contrary to humility of spirit, as long as there is no doubt of God’s thoughts. The scribes only hold opinions. The Lord does not need to strengthen His teaching by quoting human sources of authority, as His opponents do ( ). He does not just bring words, but speaks words that are clothed with the authority of God. It is not only about what a servant says, but also how he says it. People should feel that it is not just interesting what is said, but that God is speaking here. Scholars speak about their theories; the Lord speaks with authority. He does not speak as Servant out of Himself, but out of God. He comes with the authority of Someone Who knows the truth He preaches. It is the authority that is in reality God’s, He Who can reveal the truth. He also speaks as Someone Who possesses this authority, and He gives the proof of it. The word that thus comes to man has power over demons. Where He speaks, the power of the evil one cannot remain hidden. What is clear from God will always make the evil one active. In the Gospels it seems as if all cases of demon possession have gathered around the Lord. They will always have been there, but the presence of the Godly light now makes them reveal themselves. Through the presence of the Son of God, satan is cornered and unmasked. To some extent we can perceive this wherever the power of God’s truth and His holiness are at work. It happens in “their synagogue” because there the authority of man applies, that is the authority of scribes. Their synagogue is dominated by an unclean spirit, that is the atmosphere that prevails there. This is directly connected with the teachings of people. A doctrine of man isn’t able to keep away an unclean spirit. The man has “an unclean spirit”, or is “in an unclean spirit” that is to say in the power of an unclean spirit. This is the opposite of being ‘in the Holy Spirit’. How is that with us? Are we in an unclean spirit, that is, is he in charge, or are we in the Holy Spirit, that is, is He in charge? Demons acknowledge that there is no connection whatsoever between them and Christ. They also acknowledge that He has the power to destroy them and that this is also their ultimate destiny. People may deny His rights, but demons do not. However, He has not yet come to destroy them, but to destroy the works of the devil ( ). The demons confess Him as the Holy One of God. They have no control over Him because He lives in perfect separation or holy in the presence of God. The Lord does not want a testimony of demons (cf. ). He does what He made Michael say ( ) and rebukes the unclean spirit. In the same way He rebukes the winds and the sea and the fever ( ; ). He commands the demons – there are several of them, as is evident from the words “we” and “us” – to come out of the possessed one. We don’t read anywhere that He has touched a possessed person, which He does with physically ill people. This is the first time in this Gospel that He shows His power. We see in it what is fundamental to the blessing on earth and that is that satan is cast out. We can compare this to the first sign of Moses to prove his Divine calling as the deliverer of Israel: the taking up of the staff that had become a serpent ( ). The demons do not resist the word of the Lord and come out. They obey His commandment to remain silent and no longer speak. However, they do their best to make the man suffer as much as possible while coming out. When the devil is about to lose his prey, he rages most fiercely, emphasizing his true character. This shows once again that he is out to destroy. We also read about the casting out of demons in and . The Lord is the “Someone stronger than he” ( ) and plunders the devil’s house ( ). Deliverance here goes hand in hand with convulsions and crying. To become free is a struggle and goes hand in hand with violence. This also applies to us if we want to make ourselves spiritually free to be used by the Lord. The sound doctrine of Scripture drives the uncleanness out of our lives and thoughts, and this can hurt while it frees us. The people are all amazed. What they have now experienced is unique. They don’t know how to deal with this. They talk to each other about it, but they don’t come to the Lord. They also notice that He brings a doctrine that is completely new. They see a big difference between what they have heard so far from their scribes and what they now hear from the Lord Jesus. Their questions are based on the authority of His word and its decisive effect on unclean spirits. At the same time, it makes it clear how hardened man’s conscience is. In fact, it merely remains with astonishment and questions. The miracles of the Lord are not only a sign and proof of power, but also of goodness acting in Divine might. All His works are the fruit of love and witnesses of God’s love on earth. Their acceptance means the establishment of the kingdom in the hearts of men. Both His words and His works bear witness to the authority with which He teaches the people. With us it should also be the case that the words we speak are supported by our works. If this is not so, or even worse, if our works contradict our words, our ministry is weak or in vain. The news of this miraculous performance quickly circulates throughout the whole environment. It is the talk of the day.

‏ Mark 1:21-39

An Unclean Spirit Cast Out

In the section of Mk 1:21-39 we see a day in the Lord’s life, from early Saturday morning to early Sunday morning. For Him it is a day full of activity, for through sin there can be no rest for Him (Isa 43:24; Jn 5:17).

In Mk 1:17 it says that “He” walked. Here we read that “they”, that is He and His four disciples, enter Capernaum. The disciples receive their first teaching here. Capernaum is “His own city” (Mt 9:1), the city where He dwells (Mt 4:13). This city therefore has a great responsibility to accept Him (Mt 11:23). Capernaum is the center of His ministry in Galilee. In the same way, other cities have a certain mark in connection with Him. Bethlehem is the place of His birth, Nazareth is the city where He grew up and Bethany is the village of His friends.

It is Sabbath. The Sabbath is the day of rest, but not for the Servant. On the Sabbath, the Lord and His disciples go into the synagogue. The synagogue is the place where the Word of God is spoken and explained. The Lord teaches there. His Word comes with power. He does not proclaim theories, but the living Word of God that touches hearts and consciences.

The scribes with all their knowledge of the Scriptures communicate knowledge and impose a yoke on the hearers. They do not live in and out of the Word, but merely want to highlight their knowledge. Their doctrine is leaven. The Lord does not proclaim an opinion, but teaches with authority. The effect is not that the hearers directly come to faith through it, but that they feel the weight of what He speaks. His Word always does something (Isa 55:11). That which He speaks, He does not precede by “thus says the LORD”, for He is the LORD Himself.

The Word of God must be spoken with authority. He does so here as Servant. Speaking with authority is not contrary to humility of spirit, as long as there is no doubt of God’s thoughts. The scribes only hold opinions. The Lord does not need to strengthen His teaching by quoting human sources of authority, as His opponents do (Mk 7:7-8).

He does not just bring words, but speaks words that are clothed with the authority of God. It is not only about what a servant says, but also how he says it. People should feel that it is not just interesting what is said, but that God is speaking here. Scholars speak about their theories; the Lord speaks with authority. He does not speak as Servant out of Himself, but out of God.

He comes with the authority of Someone Who knows the truth He preaches. It is the authority that is in reality God’s, He Who can reveal the truth. He also speaks as Someone Who possesses this authority, and He gives the proof of it. The word that thus comes to man has power over demons.

Where He speaks, the power of the evil one cannot remain hidden. What is clear from God will always make the evil one active. In the Gospels it seems as if all cases of demon possession have gathered around the Lord. They will always have been there, but the presence of the Godly light now makes them reveal themselves. Through the presence of the Son of God, satan is cornered and unmasked. To some extent we can perceive this wherever the power of God’s truth and His holiness are at work.

It happens in “their synagogue” because there the authority of man applies, that is the authority of scribes. Their synagogue is dominated by an unclean spirit, that is the atmosphere that prevails there. This is directly connected with the teachings of people. A doctrine of man isn’t able to keep away an unclean spirit. The man has “an unclean spirit”, or is “in an unclean spirit” that is to say in the power of an unclean spirit. This is the opposite of being ‘in the Holy Spirit’. How is that with us? Are we in an unclean spirit, that is, is he in charge, or are we in the Holy Spirit, that is, is He in charge?

Demons acknowledge that there is no connection whatsoever between them and Christ. They also acknowledge that He has the power to destroy them and that this is also their ultimate destiny. People may deny His rights, but demons do not. However, He has not yet come to destroy them, but to destroy the works of the devil (1Jn 3:8). The demons confess Him as the Holy One of God. They have no control over Him because He lives in perfect separation or holy in the presence of God.

The Lord does not want a testimony of demons (cf. Acts 16:18). He does what He made Michael say (Jude 1:9) and rebukes the unclean spirit. In the same way He rebukes the winds and the sea and the fever (Mt 8:26; Lk 4:39). He commands the demons – there are several of them, as is evident from the words “we” and “us” – to come out of the possessed one. We don’t read anywhere that He has touched a possessed person, which He does with physically ill people.

This is the first time in this Gospel that He shows His power. We see in it what is fundamental to the blessing on earth and that is that satan is cast out. We can compare this to the first sign of Moses to prove his Divine calling as the deliverer of Israel: the taking up of the staff that had become a serpent (Exo 4:4).

The demons do not resist the word of the Lord and come out. They obey His commandment to remain silent and no longer speak. However, they do their best to make the man suffer as much as possible while coming out. When the devil is about to lose his prey, he rages most fiercely, emphasizing his true character. This shows once again that he is out to destroy. We also read about the casting out of demons in Mk 1:34 and Mk 1:39. The Lord is the “Someone stronger than he” (Lk 11:22) and plunders the devil’s house (Mt 12:29).

Deliverance here goes hand in hand with convulsions and crying. To become free is a struggle and goes hand in hand with violence. This also applies to us if we want to make ourselves spiritually free to be used by the Lord. The sound doctrine of Scripture drives the uncleanness out of our lives and thoughts, and this can hurt while it frees us.

The people are all amazed. What they have now experienced is unique. They don’t know how to deal with this. They talk to each other about it, but they don’t come to the Lord. They also notice that He brings a doctrine that is completely new. They see a big difference between what they have heard so far from their scribes and what they now hear from the Lord Jesus. Their questions are based on the authority of His word and its decisive effect on unclean spirits. At the same time, it makes it clear how hardened man’s conscience is. In fact, it merely remains with astonishment and questions.

The miracles of the Lord are not only a sign and proof of power, but also of goodness acting in Divine might. All His works are the fruit of love and witnesses of God’s love on earth. Their acceptance means the establishment of the kingdom in the hearts of men.

Both His words and His works bear witness to the authority with which He teaches the people. With us it should also be the case that the words we speak are supported by our works. If this is not so, or even worse, if our works contradict our words, our ministry is weak or in vain.

The news of this miraculous performance quickly circulates throughout the whole environment. It is the talk of the day.

Healing of Peter’s Mother-In-Law

The Lord Jesus, having taught in the synagogue, goes with Simon and Andrew to their house. Although His natural place is the bosom and home of the Father, He is not ashamed to stay with His poor disciples. He glorified God in public in the synagogue and now He does so in private. The four disciples keep the Sabbath, but can it be kept more appropriate than in the presence and company of the Son of God? It is beautiful to be in the meeting of the church with the Lord and it is also beautiful if He can come with us when we go home after the meeting.

Just as in the synagogue His power of deliverance was needed for a possessed person, so it is also needed in the house of Peter and Andrew. Fever isn’t the same as being possessed by an unclean spirit. Nor is it a picture of opposition to the Lord as the demons express it. Fever is an unhealthy waste of strength. It is a picture of restlessness, of a nervousness caused by sin that makes a person unfit for service.

The family makes its need known to the Lord. They speak to Him “about her”. They do so “immediately” and do not postpone it. He listens, He is accessible to everyone. This is the atmosphere of the house, where there is peace and confidentiality.

When the need has been brought to Him, He goes to work. Our prayer puts Him to work. He has personal contact with the suffering man. He did not do this with the possessed (Mk 1:25), but He does it here and with the leper (Mk 1:41), and also with the blind man (Jn 9:6), the dumb man (Mk 7:33), Malchus, of whom an ear has been cut off (Lk 22:51; Jn 18:10), the coffin with a dead man on it (Lk 7:14) and the disciples on the mountain of transfiguration (Mt 17:7). The hand of the Almighty is laid upon the weakness of man. He is a God Who is near and not far away. Not only do demons disappear, but sickness also does not stand where He enters. After amazement in the synagogue there is joy in the house.

As said, fever causes unrest. Fever is also a waste of energy. There is a lot of activity, but no result at all. The hand is powerless for the service. The Lord takes that hand and raises up the woman. He takes away the restlessness and makes her fit to serve again. After the disappearance of the fever a recovery period is not necessary, the healing is immediate and total. The woman can immediately resume her normal household duties and serve the Lord and His disciples.

Many Healed

It is evening of a day that is typical of the life of the Lord. He is engaged in His service in public and in the houses (cf. Acts 20:20). He teaches and heals and is there for all who call upon Him. Above all, He is focused on doing the will of God. He serves where service is needed, in whatever form.

When evening has come and the Sabbath is over, the first day of the week begins. A new period begins. Also in that new period we see Him as the One Who serves. No more individual cases come, but masses of all those in need come to Him and He works. Those who did not dare to come on the Sabbath are coming now. He is holding, as it were, a great reception. But for Him Who is more than Solomon, there is no queen of Sheba among these people.

Not only the needy come to Him, but also all who bring these needy. They are at the right place, for they are at the door of the house where He is present in blessing. After His service in the synagogue and the house there is also service in the city, in public and for everyone. He is Yahweh and is among His people as the One “Who heals all your diseases” (Psa 103:3).

While He is so busy, He does not allow the demons to speak. He never accepts the testimony of demons on earth. One day He will accept their testimony if, forced to do so, they will bow their knees and confess that He is Lord (Phil 2:10).

Preaching Throughout All Galilee

After a day of hard labor for the benefit of others until late in the evening, He sought the fellowship with His Father in the early morning of the next day (Isa 50:4-5). Only here is found the secret of strength and perseverance in the service. This contrasts with refusing and rejecting the testimony of the unclean spirit and the demons in Mk 1:25 and Mk 1:34. His power does not make Him independent. Much of our powerlessness finds its cause in the lack of prayer in silence. Although He is the Son of God, as a dependent Servant He seeks His strength with God in seclusion.

It seems that Peter and the others think that this time is actually lost, loss of valuable time that is not being used. They know that there are many who seek Him and now He is not present. They are full of zeal for the Lord, but see only the outer need of people and not the inner need of fellowship with the Father which is enjoyed in seclusion. His disciples also see in Him a King and want Him to make Himself known to others as such.

When they have found Him, they tell Him that all seek Him. As if that were a reason to return. For us as servants, it is a great danger if all seek us. But the Lord does not seek the open recognition. He does not seek people’s acclaim and applause. He must be where there is need, not honor. He only wants to do what He has been sent to do, and that is preaching. That is what He does. He speaks and acts with authority. Thus He proves that God is truly among them in goodness and grace. And wherever He speaks in the synagogues, He exposes the devil and casts out the demons. The casting out of unclean spirits and demons is part of His teaching with authority (Mk 1:22). It is simply the effect of what He says.