Mark Vol. 1 - Week 4 (1:21-34)
Mark 1:21-34
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The King Makes All Things New
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Mark 1:21-34 〰️ The King Makes All Things New 〰️
We're now in the fourth week of Mark. Although we're not even wrapped up with chapter one, it really does feel like we're moving fast. Mark's gospel is packed with careful detail and finely crafted structure and plot points. We've seen this already with the connections between 1:10-11 and 15:38-39. All of Scripture is God-breathed and inspired by Holy Spirit (2 Tim. 3:16), and Mark's gospel is no exception. But what we see in John Mark's writing are methodically chosen words, phrases, and themes that draw the reader in, creating reminders and leaving breadcrumbs to allow the reader to connect the dots on their own. This week, we encounter Jesus' first set of miracles in Mark. What is interesting is that they are all acts of healing.
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In verses 21-28, Jesus heals a man in the synagogue with an "unclean spirit," and in 32-34, he "healed many who were sick...and drove out demons." Some translations refer to it as an "impure spirit," but what Jesus is confronting is a demonic force or a spirit that is in opposition to God. Mark uses the term "unclean spirit" eleven times and "demon" fourteen times, all used synonymously.[1] Now, it can be easy for us to get the heeby-jeebies when we see something like this, but one thing to know is that as followers of Jesus, we are possessed and owned by Christ. Even though in Mark 1:32 we read "demon-possessed," we need to look at the original language, as some things can get lost in translation from Greek to English. In English, we have a lot of "catch-all words." One word can mean several different things based on the context. In Greek, there are often several words that get funneled down into one of these "catch-all words" when translating to English. So, the word "possess" could mean something more specific than what we think of in terms of "ownership." In 1:32, Mark writes of those who are "demon-possessed," using the word daimonizomai (δαιμονίζομαι), which is more specifically taken as "to be under the power of," rather than "to be owned by." [2]
In verses 21-28, Jesus heals a man in the synagogue with an "unclean spirit," and in 32-34, he "healed many who were sick...and drove out demons." Some translations refer to it as an "impure spirit" in v21-28, but what Jesus is confronting is a demonic force or a spirit that is in opposition to God. Mark synonymously uses the term "unclean spirit" eleven times and "demon" fourteen times.[1] It can be easy for us to get the heeby-jeebies when we see something like this, but one thing to know is that as followers of Jesus, we are possessed and owned by Christ. Even though in Mark 1:32 we read "demon-possessed," we need to look at the original language, as it can give us some relief because some things can get lost in translation from Greek to English. In English, we have a lot of "catch-all words." One word can mean several different things based on the context. In Greek, several words often get funneled down into one of these "catch-all words" when translating to English. So, the word "possess" here could mean something more specific than what we think of in terms of "ownership." In 1:32, Mark writes of those who are "demon-possessed," using the word daimonizomai (δαιμονίζομαι), which is more precisely understood as "to be under the power of," rather than "to be owned by." [2] So when we read "demon-possessed," although that's a term many are familiar with, it's worth noting that it does not exclusively mean ownership by the Enemy.
Paul's writing can help explain this a little bit further, too. In Romans 6, he writes using the analogy of enslavement. He is contrasting being a "slave to sin" (v17) to being a "slave to righteousness" (v18), showing that we're either owned by sin and this world (being separated from God by sin at birth) and being owned by God (redeemed and paid for by the Christ on the cross). Jesus teaches this concept as well in Matthew 11, telling us that His "yoke is easy" and His "burden is light" (v30). This indicates that those who have been paid for by Christ on the cross are the Lord's possession. Our Western ears recoil at first when we hear this, but we can find joy and rest, knowing the Lord and His ways are far better at directing my life than I am. While this can be a little fuzzy to wrap our minds around, the bottom line for us is this: those who have been redeemed and purchased by God are His possession, and nothing can take that away.
With that out of the way, let's return to Mark.
Next, we see several responses by the audiences to Jesus' first miracles, all of which are acts of healing. In v21-28, we see that "they all were amazed" (v27) and were in awe of Jesus' authority, saying, "He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." (v27). Continuing to the healing in Capernaum, we read of Jesus visiting the mother-in-law of Simon. Here, his mother-in-law is overcome with a fever, and Jesus simply takes her hand and raises her up, and the fever disappears. Now, her response to being healed is particularly interesting; after being healed, she serves Jesus and the others. This is what we want to look at in-depth this week: restoration by Jesus necessitates a response. Of all that is happening in this passage, we can hone in on verse 31 and see this reaction by Simon's mother-in-law. Encountering and being restored by the Lord always results in a shift or change. Let's look at some Old and New Testament examples of this:
1. Moses leaves changed with a mission from God after encountering His presence at the burning bush. He would eventually lead the nation of Israel out of slavery and on their way to the promised land.
2. There is an instantaneous response from the disciples in last week's passage, Mark 1:17-18.
"Follow me," Jesus told them, "and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him."
3. We see a radical change in Paul (then known as Saul) in Acts 9, where he encountered Jesus on the Damascus road. He responded in fear and awe of the Lord, turned from his zealous hate of Christians, eventually becoming the most influential theologian and biblical writer to live.
All throughout Scripture, there are examples of people who encounter a miracle or transformation by God and are moved into action because of it.
So this is what we want our people to walk away with. While it's rarely an instantaneous change of heart, attitude, or habit, encounters with God change us. Growing to know Him shifts how we see ourselves, others, the world, and sin. This is called sanctification. Sanctification is "a progressive work of God and man that makes us more and more free from sin and like Christ in our actual lives."[3] While we're called to repentance, and it's the Lord who sanctifies us, we are also called to faithful obedience. In Matthew 25, Jesus tells a parable to warn against passivity and apathy, whether driven by fear or something else (Matt. 25:14-30). Jesus cautions listeners against squandering a gift, whether blessings in the form of resources or giftings of redemption and restoration with the Father. We must take up our cross daily and follow Him (Matt. 16:24-28).
Key Terms and Doctrine
The authority of Jesus
Something for us to look at and consider in this passage is the authority of Jesus. In multiple places in Scripture, we see that Jesus holds authority given by God because He is God. In John 1, we see Jesus (in this passage, referred to as the "Word") written as always having been God. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God" (John 1:1). By this, we can determine that Jesus, having always been, has the authority of God. Jesus tells the same to His disciples, saying, "All authority has been given to me in heaven and on earth" (Matthew 28:18b). In Mark 1, we see the unclean spirits recoiling at the words of Jesus because they know the authority Jesus holds, as the Son of God. "You believe that God is one. Good!" James writes, "Even the demons believe-- and they shudder" (James 3:1).
Discussion Questions
What stood out to you from the passage?
What are some repeating words, phrases, or concepts in this passage?
Does anything in this passage remind you of another part of Scripture?
What do you think is the significance of the unclean spirit addressing Jesus as "the Holy One of God"?
How is Jesus' authority displayed in this passage?
How could it comfort you to know that the Lord is over everything, both good and evil?
What was Simon's mother-in-law's response to being healed by Jesus?
How would you respond if you were in her place?
What response do you think the Lord is calling you to?
1. Tremper Longman III, David E. Garland, The Expositor's Bible Commentary: Matthew & Mark (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing, 2005), 715.
2. G1139 - daimonizomai - Strong's Greek Lexicon (CSB), Blue Letter Bible. https://www.blueletterbible.org/lexicon/g1139/csb/mgnt/0-1/
3. Wayne Grudem, Bible Doctrine: Essential Teachings of the Christian Faith (Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Academic, 1999), 326.