Unclean Spirit


Mark 1:21-28
21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Have you ever had this happen? Upon a little research and prayer, you stumble across a new or deeper insight into a text that you have been reading for years. It is a mind-blowing experience and probably why I get up each day. My husband accuses me of being addicted to the next new thought. He’s not wrong.

A similar experience happens to all those present with Jesus that day. We find the Lord in the synagogue, teaching and proclaiming God’s Word. That seems to be the primary thrust of His ministry work. And naturally, the people are amazed. Which causes us to wonder, why the amazement? He was no longer a child (as in the story told in Luke 2:41-52) where the 12-year-old Jesus teaches in the Temple to the shock of everyone present. Now we find a 30-year-old Man doing what good Jewish 30-year-olds did – they went to the Temple (if they were in Jerusalem) or to the synagogue to discuss and learn God’s Word. So how is Jesus different? The practice among the scribes was to regurgitate the traditions and teachings of the past. There was nothing new coming from their mouths. They quoted prior authorities and traditions as the basis for their understandings. Jesus, on the other hand, has a new way to see the text and most definitely new applications for said texts. These new understandings bring amazement at His teaching.

While He’s teaching, a man with “an unclean spirit” comes into the synagogue. His words are telling; revealing a greater knowledge of Jesus than anyone else in the room. “You are the Holy One of God.” This is an enormous confession and probably added to the shock of the people in the room. Jesus instantly silences the spirit and commands it to leave the man. The shock and amazement of the crowd grows! Of course Jesus’ fame begins to spread throughout Galilee. Just imagine the dinner conversations that took place that night as those present reported what they had seen with their own eyes! Had you been there is it likely you would have recounted the story to anyone who would listen!

What stories of the Lord’s action in your life do you have to tell? I hope you have some that come to mind right away and that you aren’t afraid to tell them. I can only imagine that the man freed of the unclean spirit didn’t hesitate to share his blessings with anyone he could find. Maybe we can do the same.

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