Mar 1:21-45 | TNotes | STEP | Summary for Mark 1:21-28: 1:21-28 Jesus’ exorcisms reveal Jesus’ identity and his power over Satan (see study notes on Mark 1:12-13 and 3:27; see also 1:34 , 39 ; 3:11-12 , 22 ; 5:1-20 ; 6:13 ; 7:24-30 ; 9:14-29 ). 1:21 Mark introduces his first account of an exorcism with Jesus and his companions going into the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue suggests that he already had a reputation as a teacher and was therefore invited to speak (cp. Acts 13:15 ).

Summary for Mark 1:21-28: 1:21-28 ^a Jesus’ exorcisms reveal Jesus’ identity and his power over Satan (see study notes on Mark 1:12-13 and 3:27; see also 1:34 ^b, 39 ^c; 3:11-12 ^d, 22 ^e; 5:1-20 ^f; 6:13 ^g; 7:24-30 ^h; 9:14-29 ⁱ). 1:21 ^j Mark introduces his first account of an exorcism with Jesus and his companions going into the synagogue in Capernaum. Jesus’ teaching in the synagogue suggests that he already had a reputation as a teacher and was therefore invited to speak (cp. Acts 13:15 ^k).
1:22 ^l The teachers of religious law were professional scribes—scholars who taught, copied, and interpreted Jewish law for the people. They were primarily associated with the Pharisees. The scribes’ authority was derived from quoting other scribes (cp. Matt 5:21-48 ^m). Jesus’ teaching caused amazement because he spoke and acted with real authority (see Mark 1:27 ⁿ; 5:20 ^o; 6:2 ^p; 7:37 ^q; 10:24-32 ^r; 11:18 ^s; 15:5 ^t).
Summary for Mark 1:23-24: 1:23-24 ^u The demon spoke through the man who was possessed by an evil spirit (1:24 ^v). Demons frequently cause disease (9:17 ^w, 27 ^x; Matt 17:15 ^y) and self-destructive behavior (Mark 1:26 ^z; 5:2-5 ^aa; 9:17-18 ^ab, 20-22 ^ac). Demons know who Jesus is (1:34 ^ad); they consistently testify that he is the Holy One of God (see 3:11 ^ae; 5:7 ^af).

• In saying us, the evil spirit spoke on behalf of all demons. It recognized Jesus’ complete authority and understood that he had come to interfere with and destroy evil.
1:25 ^ag Jesus did not need to shout or utter magic words. He simply spoke with the authority of the Son of God (1:1 ^ah), and the evil spirit obeyed.

• Be quiet! Jesus commanded the evil spirit not to make him known. This is an instance of the “messianic secret,” an expression for passages in Mark in which Jesus commands demons or people not to reveal his identity (1:25 ^ai, 34 ^aj; 3:11-12 ^ak; 8:30 ^al; 9:9 ^am).
1:26 ^an The screams and convulsions caused by the evil (literally unclean; also in 1:27 ^ao) spirit were its parting cries of defeat (5:13 ^ap; 9:26 ^aq; cp. 15:37 ^ar).
Summary for Mark 1:27-28: 1:27-28 ^as The amazement caused by this exorcism quickly led to the spread of the news about Jesus.

• What sort of new teaching is this? Jesus’ healings and exorcisms were understood holistically as being part of his teaching (1:21-22 ^at, 27 ^au; cp. 1:38-39 ^av; 3:14-15 ^aw; 6:2 ^ax, 5 ^ay, 12-13 ^az, 30 ^ba).
Summary for Mark 1:29-30: 1:29-30 ^bb Simon (Peter) was married (see 1 Cor 9:5 ^bc).
1:31 ^bd Jesus healed Simon’s mother-in-law instantaneously (see also 1:40-45 ^be; 2:1-12 ^bf; 3:1-6 ^bg; 5:25-34 ^bh; 7:31-37 ^bi; 8:22-26 ^bj; 10:46-52 ^bk).
Summary for Mark 1:32-34: 1:32-34 ^bl These public healings took place after sunset following the Sabbath (1:21 ^bm, 29 ^bn), and there were many witnesses (see also 1:39 ^bo; 3:10-11 ^bp; 6:5 ^bq, 53-56 ^br).
1:33 ^bs Jesus’ popularity among the crowds was growing (also in 1:37 ^bt, 39 ^bu, 45 ^bv), as contrasted with the growing rejection by the leaders (2:1–3:6 ^bw).
1:34 ^bx the demons knew who he was: See 1:23-25 ^by.
1:35 ^bz Despite Jesus’ busy ministry, he sought time to pray (6:46 ^ca; 14:32-39 ^cb). Mark emphasizes the importance of prayer in Jesus’ life (cp. Luke 3:21 ^cc; 6:12 ^cd; 9:18 ^ce, 28-29 ^cf; 11:1-4 ^cg; 18:1 ^ch; 22:32 ^ci).
Summary for Mark 1:38-39: 1:38-39 ^cj Prayer (1:35 ^ck) equipped Jesus to preach, teach, heal, and cast out demons.

• Jesus’ mission in Galilee centered on preaching in the synagogues, where he took the opportunity to speak (1:21 ^cl; Luke 4:16-30 ^cm). Paul later used this same opportunity (Acts 13:5 ^cn, 14-15 ^co; 14:1 ^cp; 16:13 ^cq; 17:1 ^cr).

• Jesus counted on Jewish hospitality when he traveled (cp. Mark 6:10 ^cs; Gen 18:1-8 ^ct; 19:1-8 ^cu; Luke 10:7 ^cv; Heb 13:2 ^cw; 3 Jn 1:5-8 ^cx).

• The region of Galilee was roughly forty miles north to south and twenty-five miles east to west (sixty-five by forty kilometers). In Jesus’ day, Galilee was ruled by Herod Antipas.
1:40 ^cy Leprosy refers to a number of skin diseases (or even mildew in a building). An infected person was considered unclean and was ostracized from family and society (Lev 13:45-46 ^cz; Num 12:9-12 ^da; 2 Chr 26:16-21 ^db; Luke 17:12 ^dc).
1:41 ^dd Jesus’ willingness to touch a ceremonially unclean leper reflects the new order of the Kingdom of God (1:15 ^de; 5:25-34 ^df; Luke 7:36-50 ^dg; see Matt 10:8 ^dh; 11:5 ^di).
Summary for Mark 1:43-45: 1:43-45 ^dj Jesus told the man to go to the priest to certify his healing and to make the appropriate sacrificial offering. This would be the public testimony of his healing.

• Despite Jesus’ stern warning, ... the man went and spread the word, so that Jesus was not able to go into town but had to preach in more secluded places. Jesus’ fame could not be confined as people from everywhere came to see him (3:7-8 ^dk).

Thematic note: Following Jesus
One of the core purposes of the Gospels is to help readers understand and accept the call to take up their cross and follow Jesus. This call is addressed not only to those who would be Jesus’ apostles (Mark 3:13-19 ^dl; cp. 1:16-20 ^dm; 2:14 ^dn) but to all who desired to follow him (Mark 8:34 ^do; cp. 2:15 ^dp; 10:21 ^dq, 52 ^dr). For some, the call to discipleship is very hard (Mark 10:17-25 ^ds), but God provides grace (10:27 ^dt). Others find it easy to respond to Jesus’ call (Mark 2:14 ^du; cp. Luke 7:36-50 ^dv).
For everyone, following Jesus requires a total commitment to turn from selfish ways (Mark 8:34-35 ^dw). Taking up one’s cross is a metaphor for giving up one’s life to follow Jesus—even to death. For example, Peter, Andrew, James, and John left their homes and their source of income to follow Jesus (Mark 1:16-20 ^dx). For one rich man, turning from his selfish ways required selling all he had and giving the proceeds to the poor (Mark 10:21 ^dy). Following Jesus also means being identified with him without being ashamed and being faithful to him and his teachings (Mark 8:38 ^dz; cp. Rom 10:9 ^ea). It requires removing anything that would interfere with following Jesus, regardless of how painful doing so might be (Mark 9:43-48 ^eb). It requires entrusting one’s life entirely to Jesus and repenting of sin (Mark 1:15 ^ec; 6:12 ^ed). It even requires putting loyalty to Jesus above loyalty to one’s own father and mother (Matt 10:37 ^ee; Luke 14:26 ^ef).
Jesus explicitly commanded his disciples to proclaim his message (Matt 28:18-20 ^eg; Luke 24:47-49 ^eh; Acts 1:8 ^ei). And we see throughout the rest of the New Testament that Jesus’ followers did indeed proclaim the Good News wherever they went, leading to more and more followers (see Acts 2:14-41 ^ej; 3:12-26 ^ek; 4:1-2 ^el, 20 ^em; 8:4 ^en; 9:20 ^eo; 11:19-26 ^ep; 13:1-3 ^eq; Rom 1:1-16 ^er; 10:14-15 ^es; 15:18-21 ^et; 1 Cor 9:16 ^eu; Col 1:23 ^ev; 1 Thes 2:9 ^ew; 2 Tim 4:2 ^ex).
Alongside Jesus’ demands for discipleship are the rewards of following Jesus. Those who follow Jesus are promised entrance into the Kingdom of God (Mark 9:43-48 ^ey; 10:23-31 ^ez). They receive his forgiveness for their sins (Mark 2:10-11 ^fa; see also 3:28 ^fb; 11:25 ^fc), and they become members of the family of God (John 1:12 ^fd). They are saved from judgment (Mark 8:35 ^fe; 13:13 ^ff) and obtain eternal life (Mark 9:43 ^fg; 10:29-30 ^fh; 1 Jn 5:11-12 ^fi).

Passages for Further Study
Hos 6:3 ^fj; Matt 10:37-39 ^fk; 28:18-20 ^fl; Mark 1:15-20 ^fm; 2:14-15 ^fn; 3:13-15 ^fo; 5:18-20 ^fp; 6:6-13 ^fq, 30-32 ^fr; 8:34-38 ^fs; 9:38-50 ^ft; 10:17-31 ^fu; 11:22-25 ^fv; 13:9-13 ^fw; Luke 14:25-35 ^fx; 24:47-49 ^fy; John 8:12 ^fz; 10:27 ^ga; 12:26 ^gb; Acts 1:8 ^gc; 2:42-47 ^gd; 4:16-20 ^ge; 8:4 ^gf; 9:19-30 ^gg; 11:19-24 ^gh; 13:1-3 ^gi; Rom 1:1-16 ^gj; 10:7-15 ^gk; 1 Cor 9:16 ^gl; Eph 5:1 ^gm; Col 1:23 ^gn; 2 Tim 4:2 ^go; 1 Pet 2:21 ^gp