Mark 1:21-28
21 They *went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and began to teach.
22 And they were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
23 Just then there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 saying, “What business do You have with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are: the Holy One of God!”
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!”
26 After throwing him into convulsions and crying out with a loud voice, the unclean spirit came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, so they debated among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
28 Immediately the news about Him spread everywhere into all the surrounding region of Galilee.
At the Synagogue in Capernaum
Teaching with authority
The Sabbath begins at Friday sunset and ends Saturday sunset. On the Sabbath, Jesus entered and taught at the synagogue in Capernaum. The people who heard His teaching were greatly amazed because it was very different from the teachings of the scribes they had heard before. The scholars of the Law at that time devoted themselves to preserving the teachings of the past rabbis. Any original and creative interpretation was unaccepted. In contrast, Jesus’ teaching was straightforward and with authority. Such authority comes only from speaking God’s word through the power of the Holy Spirit. Likewise, if we speak God’s word through the power of the Holy Spirit, we are given authority regardless of social status or age. Are you seeking the authority as a servant of God? If so, trust in the Holy Spirit and learn to speak God’s word directly.
Casting out unclean spirit
The first to respond to Jesus’ teaching were the unclean spirits. It is written that “there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit; and he cried out.” However, it was not the man crying out, but the unclean spirit within him. The unclean spirit knew two things: (1) He knew that Jesus was the Son of God. (2) He knew that Jesus had come to destroy the works of Satan and the demons. Although Jesus rebuked the man, He was actually rebuking the unclean spirit within him. “Be quiet, and come out of him!” The unclean spirit immediately left the man. In that moment, a light of hope shined within the man who had been bound by the unclean spirit. The casting out of this unclean spirit symbolized Jesus’ work of bringing light into the darkness. The people who witnessed this were greatly amazed and exclaimed, “Is this not a new teaching?’ The newness they spoke of was not in terms of time but in terms of quality. Of course, the news about Jesus immediately spread throughout all the region of Galilee. Are you currently sitting in darkness? No matter what kind of darkness it may be, if you welcome Jesus into your heart, a light of hope will shine. Let’s welcome Jesus into your heart now.
Today's prayer
Father God of Jesus Christ, I welcome the Lord Jesus into my heart now. Please shine your light in my heart. I pray in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen.