#1333 Mark 1 Part 3 Desolation of Overexposure

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.

Jesus Heals Many

29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Jesus Preaches in Galilee

35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” 38 And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.

Jesus Cleanses a Leper

40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” 42 And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. 43 And Jesus sternly charged him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” 45 But he went out and began to talk freely about it, and to spread the news, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter a town, but was out in desolate places, and people were coming to him from every quarter. Mark 1: 21-45 ESV

Mark 1: 21-45

Lowell Johnson helps us get the perspective noting that "Between Mark 1:20 and 21 another span of time is passed over without comment. During the several weeks that are not mentioned by Mark, Jesus was carrying out His ministry in Nazareth, His hometown (with supernatural power - see Lk 4:14-15+). It was during this time that He preached the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) and called the rest of the twelve disciples (ED: Wuest agees but some passages suggest all members of the 12 were not actually called until later - see Mt 10:1, Mk 3:14, Lk 6:13). It was also during this period that Jesus suffered rejection at the hands of the people in His hometown of Nazareth. According to Luke 4:16-20+, Jesus preached in the synagogue at Nazareth and proclaimed Himself to be the Messiah Israel had long anticipated (cf Lk 4:21+). The people rejected His claims and even tried to kill Him (Lk 4:28-29+). As a result, Jesus and His men left Nazareth and moved their ministry to Capernaum, which would become His base for ministry. It is there that Mark picks up the narrative once again. (Sermon) - Precept Austin

Immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue - Mark keeps the pace moving with the use of the word immediately. It is as though he would draw our attention to the frantic pace at which the Lord is being approached. If ever there were someone who could heal like Him, that hell was so opposed to, we can imagine the news would spread rapidly and the approach to Him would be frenzied. People lose sight of the fact that it is the message, the gospel that He preaches which is so dire, of eternal consequence, and that the miracles only testify to Who He is and that what He is saying is God's Word. Satan will always make it about what you want here, but notice Jesus is going into the synagogues to teach. Synagogues are not temples, but were started during the Babylonian exile as places where Jews would have readings of the Word. Jesus taught with authority while the Pharisees always quoted from their favorite scribes. 

Euthus is used in Mark's Gospel as adverb to mean immediately, right away, at once. The use of euthus with the meaning of immediately is a key word in the Gospel of Mark as evidenced by 11 uses just in the first chapter! Mark has by far the most NT uses of euthus in the NT - it is used in 41v in Mark and 60v in the entire NT: - Precept Austin

A man with an unclean spirit - Buildings are no guard against sin, as many of the temple priests even proved themselves irreverent and unclean. This man apparently didn't like Jesus' teaching, and most certainly the evil spirit did not and wanted to be disruptive. There is a contrast between being possessed by an unclean spirit (demonically) and being controlled by the Spirit (Spirit of God), and each has it's own fruit.

…5Those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh; but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. 6 The mind of the flesh is death, but the mind of the Spirit is life and peace, 7because the mind of the flesh is hostile to God: It does not submit to God’s law, nor can it do so.… Romans 8: 5-7

…18But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law. 19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; 20idolatry and sorcery; hatred, discord, jealousy, and rage; rivalries, divisions, factions,…

…21and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. 22But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.… Galatians 5: 18-23

Be silent and come out of Him - Jesus had just gone through a very lengthy period of temptation in the wilderness, and now this demon acknowledges Who Christ is, that He is "the Holy One of God",  but Jesus commands it to be silent. What a contrast to those who think they can converse with demons, the dead, and other such nonsense. Jesus does not provide theatre as charismatics do, no, He delivers the man, and the example is clear because Christ is above us, His knowledge above ours, so men are fools who think they are spiritual gurus or that they are getting straight answers from this realm. The demon testifies to Christ's being set apart and of God, but the Lord doesn't need or desire such allies, so He dismisses him and with authority.

…18But someone will say, “You have faith and I have deeds.” Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by my deeds. 19You believe that God is one. Good for you! Even the demons believe that— and shudder. 20O foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is worthless?… James 2: 18-20

And immediately they told Him about her - This was Simon Peter's mother-in-law, so how gross a misrepresentation are the popes of our times and the dogmas of the Roman Catholic church that insist that the Apostles, including Peter, were not married? From this unsound doctrine, this ignoring Holy Scripture in favor of their traditions, these Pharisees come to insist that their priests be celibate as well, though the Bible mentions no such office, and it also declares Christ the head of the church, not popes. 

Lifted her up - Whatever she had she was incapacitated, and Jesus simply lifts her out of it. There is no gradual or subtle recovery, it is immediate, she goes to work straight away.

Because they knew Him - There was a set time for Christ to go to the cross, and it is not at this point in His ministry. He heals many, but silences the demons who would point to Him as the Messiah, this leading to a confrontation that would cut short His ministry, the proclamation of the gospel. 

For that is why I came out - He came to preach the Word, to set the record straight, to testify of sin, demand repentance and forgive the repentant. The miracles were secondary, they pointed to the Preacher.

…6Therefore My people will know My name; therefore they will know on that day that I am He who speaks. Here I am!” 7How beautiful on the mountains are the feet of those who bring good news, who proclaim peace, who bring good tidings, who proclaim salvation, who say to Zion, “Your God reigns!” 8Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, together they shout for joy. For every eye will see when the LORD returns to Zion.… Isaiah 52: 6-8

13children born not of blood, nor of the desire or will of man, but born of God. 14 The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15John testified concerning Him. He cried out, saying, “This is He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has surpassed me because He was before me.’ ”… John 1: 13-15

He stretched out His hand and touched him - This is one of the most feared diseases of that time, isolating and painful. No one would touch a leper, they would run away shouting unclean, unclean, but Jesus touched him. 

See that you say nothing to anyone - Jesus is getting mobbed, and this distracts from His teaching, but also many in these crowds are wanting Messiah, wanting for Him to reveal Himself and then destroy Rome. He didn't come to do that this time, He came to be their atonement, the Passover Lamb. The leper disobeys God and speaks freely anyway, so that we see the result, "Jesus could no longer openly enter a town." I think the devil doesn't mind Jesus going to the cross at the wrong time, as long as He fails to accomplish all that He sets out to accomplish, but God is sovereign. Jesus doesn't go to the cross till it's time, and Satan doesn't want Him to do this because Christ's death is victory, and the gospel is it's pronouncement.

…3When the wine ran out, Jesus’ mother said to Him, “They have no more wine.” 4“Woman, why does this concern us? ” Jesus replied. “My hour has not yet come.” 5His mother said to the servants, “Do whatever He tells you.”… John 2: 3-5

…5For even His own brothers did not believe in Him. 6Therefore Jesus told them, “Although your time is always at hand, My time has not yet come. 7The world cannot hate you, but it hates Me, because I testify that its works are evil.… John 7: 5-7