Daily Devotions
Mark
Day 28
Text: Mark 1 "Searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating..." 1 Peter 1:11a
A STARTLING ENCOUNTER
All who heard Jesus expound the Scriptures were astonished. Who was this hitherto unknown Teacher, who had a small rag-tag following of disciples? More surprises were to follow. In that synagogue there was a man who was demon-possessed. He obviously disrupted the lesson Jesus was teaching.
“Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit.
And he cried out, 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!'”MARK 1:23-24
What was this man doing in the synagogue? Was he there on previous occasions? Did he manage to disrupt the Bible Lesson on other occasions? It is not unlikely that this demon-possessed man was a pain in the neck and an affront to the scribes who taught in the synagogue.
JESUS THE MASTER
What could this new Teacher do when confronted by this man who was possessed? Mark carefully noted how Jesus dealt with the situation at hand.
“But Jesus rebuked him, saying,
‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’MARK 1:25
Was that all Jesus said? Others might have easily uttered those words too? But wait, ponder the consequences after these quiet words were uttered.
“And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him
and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.”MARK 1:26
Looks of wonder, gasps of astonishment filled the synagogue that day! Never had they ever witnessed such a display of obvious divine power!
“Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned
among themselves, saying,
‘What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority
He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.'”MARK 1:27
THE FAME OF JESUS
If John had a large following, Jesus was destined to have an even greater multitude of followers. Never had anyone heard or see a Person who wielded such power and authority!
“And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region
around Galilee.”MARK 1:28