Day 111: Mark 1:21–28

They were all amazed . . . saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him” (v. 27).

The disciples saw Christ perform some eye-opening miracles almost from the start. Although we are saving further comments on the wedding at Cana for later, we know that it was the location of Christ’s first miracle and that John’s reference to the time frame of the wedding was “the third day” (John 2:1). The next occurrence in sequence was Christ’s trip to Capernaum with His mother, brothers, and disciples (John 2:12). The events we will study next probably happened during the same stay in Capernaum, so imagine them falling next in sequence.

Jesus had just called Andrew, Peter, James, and John. Mark tells us they went to Capernaum (Mark 1:21). Picture these four fishermen mingling in the crowd gathered that Sabbath in the synagogue. I have an idea Christ’s new disciples didn’t just watch Jesus as He preached. I have a feeling they watched the reaction of others who were listening to Him as well. Mind you, at least Peter and Andrew lived in Capernaum at that time (v. 29). A town this size had only one Jewish synagogue, so they worshiped with virtually the same people week after week. They knew them personally. Some were relatives. Others were neighbors or business associates. Imagine the kinds of reactions the disciples saw on these familiar faces as Jesus preached.

Talk about an interesting service! If an “amazing” message were not enough excitement, just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” (v. 24 hcsb). Suddenly their heads turned toward the opponent, almost like spectators in a tennis match.

I wonder if the crowd knew this man had an evil spirit before this moment or if they had been oblivious for years to the nature of his problems. Had they known, I’m not sure they would have allowed him in the synagogue, so my feeling is that the man may have kept it covered to some extent. Goodness knows Satan loves a good disguise. Somehow, however, when the authority of Christ was released in that place, the demons lost their cover. Jesus has a way of bringing the devil right out of some people, doesn’t He?

Yes, the mere presence of Jesus had caused the man—or should we say the demon?—to cry out at the appearance of divine authority. Jesus commanded the demons to come out of the man, but He also added something more. He commanded the spirit to be quiet.

Picture John witnessing these events. Many scholars believe he was the youngest of the disciples. One strong basis for this deduction is his positioning and apparent role at the Passover meal just before Jesus’ crucifixion. We’ll examine those events later, but for now keep in mind that the youngest at the Passover meal usually sat nearest the father or father figure so he could ask the traditional questions. I will refrain from building any doctrines on this deduction (since I could obviously be off base), but I am personally convinced enough that John was the youngest that I’ll adopt this philosophy. If he was, can you imagine his face in particular while Jesus encountered—then cast out—these demons?

I think he probably experienced an entire concoction of emotions. Young men dearly love competitions, so he must have savored seeing his new team “win,” even if only one Player was involved in the match. I have to think the encounter also scared him half to death. One thing that might have offset his fear was that he had to be indescribably impressed with his new mentor.

He wasn’t the only one. Mark 1:21 tells us the crowds were generally amazed and astonished by Christ’s teachings, but Mark 1:27 intensifies the adjectives by saying they were “all amazed” by His demonstration of authority over the demons.

We do love a show, don’t we? When I think how patient Christ has been with our human preference for divine fireworks, I am more amazed than ever. Christ knows us intimately. He knows how to get our attention, but He also desires that we grow up and seek His presence and glory more than the display of His might. John and the other disciples would see many miracles, but Jesus was after something more. He was out to build maturity into this group.

I have a feeling by the time the fishermen reached Capernaum with Jesus, something more tagged along—the news of their leaving Zebedee holding the net. I don’t doubt for a minute that these young men whose reputations were on the line reveled in the grand reaction people in the community had to their new Leader. What could be more exciting than being associated with the most powerful and popular new man on the scene?