.“They went to Capernaum
and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to
teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as
one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.” (Mark 1:21-22)
“Just then a man in their
synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, "What do you
want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who
you are--the Holy One of God!" "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out
of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him
with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other,
"What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders
to evil spirits and they obey him." News about him spread quickly over
the whole region of Galilee.” (Mark 1:23-28, NIV)
Observations:
I asked myself who are all
involved in verses 23-28:
1. Man
2. Evil spirit
3. Jesus of Nazareth
4. People
Observations/Interpretations:
I asked myself what
function do each play?
Point 1:
Man
- A man is in their synagogue.
- The man was possessed by an evil spirit.
- The man questions Jesus 2 times.
- The man makes a declarative statement
regarding Jesus.
I asked myself why it’s
significant that ‘a man in their synagogue’
is mentioned.
Reading about it really touched me because what
came to my mind is that the synagogue was not just populated with people
whose lives were going well. This man belonged to their synagogue and
yet we learn that he was far from well. He was dealing with an evil
spirit or demons in his life that were in control of him.
I am reminded that the man only questions Jesus
after Jesus teaches with authority in the synagogue and the people are
amazed. It is possible that the man was dealing with this captivity for
a long time but kept attending the synagogue but for the first time, he
saw a way out. He did not give up.
Point 2:
Evil Spirit
The man cried out but the evil spirits seem to
be doing the talking. There is a battle within the man. An evil spirit
possesses the man and talks to Jesus through the man regarding 3 things:
- What do you want with us Jesus of Nazareth?
- Have you come to destroy us?
- I know who you are—the Holy One of God!
I asked myself what is
significant about these two questions!
I found it very significant that an evil spirit
in the man felt that Jesus was interfering in the man’s life. The evil
spirit wanted to destroy the man but now felt opposition and names the
opposition to be Jesus of Nazareth. The evil spirit does not seem to be
speaking just on his behalf but on the behalf of all his demons. This is
evident by the phrases ‘with us’ and ‘destroy
us’.
I asked myself what is
significant of the declarative statement ‘I
know who you are—the Holy One of God!’
This is such a powerful statement that the evil
spirit makes after mentioning the name of Jesus because the evil spirit
is admitting to Jesus being ‘the Holy One of God’.
Let us remember that Jesus was tempted in the wilderness by Satan who
sends out his evil spirits to do his dirty work but Jesus overcame the
temptations of Satan by focusing on God and the Scriptures.
By admitting Jesus to be the
‘Holy One of God’, I get the feeling the
evil spirit was telling Jesus not to bother with the man in their
synagogue who is not holy. The evil spirit wants the man to be left to
them. Yet, Jesus does not ignore the man’s plight. Knowing it is an evil
spirit that is controlling the man and making him captive, Jesus
intervenes after the teaching.
Point 3:
Jesus of Nazareth
I asked myself what Jesus
does?
1. Jesus commands the evil spirit sternly to
‘Be Quiet’!
2. Jesus commands the evil spirit sternly to
‘Come out of him’!
I asked myself the
significance of these commands!
First, Jesus quiets the evil spirits from
revealing more about Jesus. It is interesting how much the evil spirits
seemed to know about Jesus. Now, Jesus performs a miracle by removing
the evil spirit from the man by commanding it to come out of him. The
evil spirit had to obey Jesus and came out of the man with hesitation.
This is evidenced by the verse, ‘The evil spirit
shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.’
Whatever the man was facing, Jesus healed him.
This man was someone in their synagogue who was possessed and Jesus
intervened. This causes a reaction among others in their synagogue which
is evidenced by point 4.
Point 4:
People
I asked myself what
happened after the healing took place!
1. The people were all so
amazed.
2. They asked each other,
“What is this? A new teaching—and with authority!”
3. They announced that
Jesus even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.
4. They spread the news
about him over the whole region of Galilee.
What stuck out to me from these statements is
the phrase ‘He even gives orders’. This
tells me that they recognized the awesome teaching with authority that
Jesus had given before performing the healing. Now they know that Jesus
can even heal people possessed with evil spirits.
Implications:
I saw important implications for my own life
here. Just because someone is at church or coming to fellowships, etc I
should not assume that everything is ok in their lives. I should be
involved in their lives to see if they are troubled and need help. I
need to make myself available to others who may want to talk and need
help. Jesus calls us to be His Ambassadors and His servants to carry out
His work here on earth. Not all are given the same gifts but when we are
faithful, available, and teachable having a heart to reach out with the
love of Christ, He will use us in mighty ways for His Kingdom.
I ask you now dear friend,
what captivity are you facing today?
Dear friend, I do not know what captivity you
are facing but Jesus Christ knows. The captivities we face are here to
destroy us and to bring our hopes and dreams down. We do not have to
allow them to take control of our lives. Yes, friend whatever you face
or you know someone is facing, there is hope and the hope is in Jesus.
I do not assume anymore that if someone comes to
church regularly that everything is okay in their lives and they are
walking and growing strong in the Lord. This can be far from the truth.
Many of them can be facing silent bondage that only the Master’s Hand
can heal. But the Master uses His servants’ lots of time to bring His
healing. At times the healing of Jesus comes directly.
Captivities can come in many shapes and forms.
They do not just have to be demon possession but they can be an
unforgiving spirit, living in the past, having trouble to move on
because of things that have happened, loss of hope and dreams, guilt,
etc. If we dwell in them, they will control us but the Good News is that
Jesus wants to reach you where you are friend. Yes, He does! Allow Him
to come and work in your life. Allow Him to be the Lord of your life.
Don’t give up but keep holding on! If you know
someone who seems to be in captivity to something, what they need is
your understanding and love. This does not mean the action is condoned
but allowing the person to share with you and working with the person to
get help. There are couple of awesome churches I know that have done
that very well. I mention these because I have seen people’s lives
changed through these three churches ministries: Allegheny Center
Alliance Church, Covenant Church of Pittsburgh, and New Hope Christian
Community. This does not mean other churches do not have healing
ministries. I am speaking from people who have shared with me.
Whatever you are dealing with, allow Jesus to
heal you and believe He will. He loves you friend. He will give you the
strength and endurance to deal with these captivities. Yes, He will! His
Blood was shed for you and can heal you where you are. Yes, He can!
Don’t give up! Jesus wants to be the Lord of your past, the Lord of your
present, and the Lord of your future. As Jesus works in your life, you
can be the one to bring light into someone’s life with the Light of
Jesus.
The people were amazed with Jesus not only
because of His teaching but because He personally got involved in
people’s lives and brought healing to them. The news of what Jesus did
started spreading across Galilee. If churches and individuals do that,
the news will spread that something is happening there. It is not for
our glory but for the glory of Christ.
May you know the Lord that can heal you and will
heal you as you wait upon Him! May you know the strength He gives you as
you depend on Him to endure through the issues that you are facing!
Amen!
Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, I want to
thank you so much for the healing you performed in the man’s life. Even
though you are Holy and the man was far from holy, you intervened in his
life and healed him. You cared for Him in his weakness. You do that for
us too. Thank you Jesus so much for what you have done and what you
still do in our lives. I pray now for all those who are in captivity to
different things in their life. Sometimes they feel they cannot go on
and just want to give up but you Oh Lord are a God who heals the
brokenhearted and bind up their wounds. You meet us where we are and we
ask you for your healing in people’s lives that need your amazing love.
Help us be the vessels you want us to be to carry out your work in this
broken world. May our actions bring your Light into people’s dark and
aching souls! Please be the Lord of their past, present, and future.
Help us to be instruments of love and heal us in our own lives please
Jesus. We want you to be lifted higher and higher. Help us to be
sensitive to those around us and reach them with your love Jesus. Thank
you so much Jesus for your help. Thank you for your healing and you hear
and answer us! In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!
Love in Christ, Ramesh
