Mark 1 Part 6: Jesus’ Authority and Ministry in Capernaum
Mark burst into his account of the Gospel of Jesus. In just twenty verses, we’ve seen Jesus being baptized, Jesus being tempted, John being arrested, and Jesus preaching that the kingdom of God is at hand. Now, in Mark 1:21-28, Jesus goes to a synagogue in Capernaum, and He enters the synagogue, and their world is turned upside down. There’s no “on your mark, get set, go”—no time to get to know Jesus. He walks in, starts to teach, and all hell breaks out. Jesus kicks off His public ministry in Mark’s Gospel with confrontation—between old religious expectations and new authority, between spiritual/demonic wickedness and the pure, holy incarnate Son of God. This confrontation happens in a Jewish synagogue. Let’s read the text.
Jesus Teaches with Authority
[Mark 1:21 NKJV] 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.
Capernaum becomes Jesus’ home base for ministry, a town on the northwestern side of the Sea of Galilee. Mark doesn’t tell us what Jesus taught that day, but it must have been powerful. The next verse emphasizes His authority.
[Mark 1:22 NKJV] 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
The Greek word for authority is exousia (ex-oo-see’-ah), meaning power of choice, liberty of doing as one pleases, and the power of authority (influence) and of right (privilege).
Comparison with Luke and Matthew
[Luke 4:31-32 NKJV] 31 Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. 32 And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority.
[Matthew 7:28-29 NKJV] 28 And so it was, when Jesus had ended these sayings, that the people were astonished at His teaching, 29 for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
[John 7:45-49 NKJV] 45 Then the officers came to the chief priests and Pharisees, who said to them, “Why have you not brought Him?” 46 The officers answered, “No man ever spoke like this Man!” 47 Then the Pharisees answered them, “Are you also deceived? 48 Have any of the rulers or the Pharisees believed in Him? 49 But this crowd that does not know the law is accursed.”
Jesus Confronts an Unclean Spirit
[Mark 1:23-24 NKJV] 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let [us] alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!”
How could a demon-possessed man attend synagogue unnoticed? Many were probably playing religion, worshiping themselves rather than God, like the Pharisee in Luke 18:9-11. It was the unclean spirit, not the man, that cried out, compelled by the presence of the Holy One of God.
[Mark 5:6-7 NKJV] 6 When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshiped Him. 7 And he cried out with a loud voice and said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I implore You by God that You do not torment me.”
[Luke 8:28 NKJV] 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”
[James 2:19 NKJV] 19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
Satan’s Infiltration and the Church
Demonic infiltration into communities and religious institutions is not new. Jesus warned about such things. Consider His parables:
[Matthew 13:24-30 NKJV] 24 Another parable He put forth to them, saying: “The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat and went his way. 26 But when the grain had sprouted and produced a crop, then the tares also appeared. 27 So the servants of the owner came and said to him, ‘Sir, did you not sow good seed in your field? How then does it have tares?’ 28 He said to them, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants said to him, ‘Do you want us then to go and gather them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, lest while you gather up the tares you also uproot the wheat with them. 30 Let both grow together until the harvest, and at the time of harvest I will say to the reapers, “First gather together the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them, but gather the wheat into my barn.”‘ “
[Matthew 13:36-43 NKJV] 36 Then Jesus sent the multitude away and went into the house. And His disciples came to Him, saying, “Explain to us the parable of the tares of the field.” 37 He answered and said to them, “He who sows the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is the world, the good seeds are the sons of the kingdom, but the tares are the sons of the wicked one. 39 The enemy who sowed them is the devil, the harvest is the end of the age, and the reapers are the angels. 40 Therefore as the tares are gathered and burned in the fire, so it will be at the end of this age. 41 The Son of Man will send out His angels, and they will gather out of His kingdom all things that offend, and those who practice lawlessness, 42 and will cast them into the furnace of fire. There will be wailing and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth as the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who has ears to hear, let him hear!”
Jesus Heals on the Sabbath
[Mark 1:29-31 NKJV] 29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon’s wife’s mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them.
This demonstrates the fruit of a redeemed life. When born again, we should display the fruit of the Spirit.
[Galatians 5:22-26 NKJV] 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law. 24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.
[Ephesians 5:8-9 NKJV] 8 For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth).
[Romans 8:28-30 NKJV] 28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 29 For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. 30 Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.
[Matthew 20:25-28 NKJV] 25 But Jesus called them to Himself and said, “You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and those who are great exercise authority over them. 26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant. 27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave—28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.”
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