Introduction to the Bible Series: Life and Teachings of Jesus Lesson 6 – Mark 1.21-45

Mark 1.21-45Driving Out an Unclean Spirit“Right away” - Mark is a fast-paced, to-the-point Gospel. He often uses phrases like right away or immediately. “Began to teach” - The core of Jesus’ earthly ministry was to teach, not to perform miracles or cast out demons. These actions were used to show the authority of His teaching. Often times crowds would want to signs and miracles but miss what Jesus was teaching. It makes me think of the same things happening today - people want miracles more than the message of Jesus!“Astounded” - We saw the same reaction from the teachers and scribes when Jesus talked with them when He was a 12-year-old boy. Even in His youth, Jesus had a command of the Scripture. This would be a common reaction as Jesus taught throughout His life. “Authority” - When we share God’s Word, we share His message, not ours. The Bible isn’t an opinion, a view point, or just another religious outlook. It’s God’s Word given to mankind. It’s His revelation of who He is, who we are, and how we should live. The unclean spirits recognized who Jesus was, the Holy One of God.They recognized His authority by asking, “Have You come to destroy us?” Theywere aware of Jesus being the Lord and the Judge. Healings at Capernaum“Took her by the hand” - In the previous section, we see Jesus cast out anunclean spirit using only His voice. Here, we see Jesus heal Peter’smother-in-law from a serious fever! He took her by the hand and herfever left her. “She began to serve them” - This showed the power and completeness ofJesus’ healing power. Once she was healed, she was able to resume her normallife activities.Preaching in Galilee“Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, He got up” - Jesus got away from the crowd and prayed, spending personal time with God the Father.A Man CleansedLeprosy was mostly noticed as a skin disease, and people with leprosy were outcasts. Touching them was forbidden. “If You are willing” - The man with leprosy acknowledged Jesus’ power to choose healing, and asked Him for it. He didn’t order or command Jesus to heal him, he asked for healing as Jesus willed. God’s not a genie granting wishes or vending machine that gives uswhat we want. We pray to God, then submit our requests to His will. He sees more than we do and we can trust in His leading. Meme from Facebook: Fear is “What if.” Faith is “Even if.” No matter what we face, God is bigger. His love is bigger. His work is bigger. Our future with Him is bigger! (See Romans 8:17 and 2 Corinthians 4:17)“Jesus reached out His hand and touched him” - Jesus touched the man to heal him, something that was not in the custom. Instead of the leprosy making Jesus unclean, His touch made the man clean. (Bigger picture = The Son of God comes into the sinful world. Man’s sin doesn’t infect Jesus; Jesus’ holiness cleanses the sin!)“Immediately the leprosy left him” – Accounts of healing in the New Testament (whether from Jesus or the disciples) have immediate results and impacts. Some in the modern deliverance ministry will say things like, “You’re healed in the spiritual realm, it just hasn’t made it to the physical realm yet.” This isn’t how we see healing work in the Bible! Be aware of false teachers and as Paul writes in 1 Thessalonians 5:21, “Test all things. Hold on to what is good.” How do we test all things? By holding teachings and practices up to the Bible. Does it fit the context of Scripture? Does it fit the nature of God? We have to be careful and not accept every teaching that crosses our path. “Say nothing to anyone” – People would flock to the source of a healing. At this time, people would go to pools or hot springs that they thought would bring healing. By knowing that Jesus can heal, He would be mobbed by people.“Go and show yourself to the priest” - This is a command from the OT (Lev. 14:2). The healed person would be declared ceremonially clean and would be restored socially.