Knowing Jesus through the gospels-part 2
Mark 1:21-34
By Ysrael De la Cruz
We began to journey through the gospel of Mark last week so we can get to know Jesus better. The four gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John) tell the story of Jesus and if you want to truly know Jesus, then it is imperative to study these writings. They tell us who Jesus was, his life, teaching, death and resurrection.
Mark begins his writing introducing Jesus as the Son of God. “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”
We talked about the title “Son of God” refers to Jesus’ divinity. Being called the Son of God is the same as calling Jesus God in the flesh.
Mark tells us what Jesus as the Son of God did while he was on earth.
He preached the good news of the kingdom of God calling people to repent and believe the gospel. (v.15)
He called disciples to follow him and learn from him. “Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.” (v.17)

Jesus the powerful teacher.(v.21-22) He taught in the synagogue of the Jews. People were astonished at his teaching because he taught as one with authority and not as the teachers of the law (scribes). People could see Jesus was a different teacher than the teachers of the law. He taught as one with authority and they had not seen this in the teachers of the law (scribes).

Jesus’ power over the demonic realm (v.23)
There was a demon-possessed man or demonized man. (he had an unclean spirit)
Demons are fallen angels or unclean spirits.
They truly knew Jesus’ identity; every time they encountered Jesus they too recognized one more powerful than them was there.
“What have you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are- the Holy One of God.”
They knew who Jesus is and they also knew that Jesus had the power to destroy them right in there.
-They knew Jesus was the Holy one of God, the Messiah, God in the flesh in their midst and it was time for them to panic.

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit (v.25)
Be silent and come out of him. And he came out because Jesus commanded it.

People’s reaction: (v27)
What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. People were seeing the power of God in their midst. They had never seen anything like this.

Mark is helping us get to know Jesus better. He is portrayed as the Son of God who came preaching about the kingdom of God. He called people to repent and believe the gospel. People got to witness Jesus’ power even in the way he taught. He taught as one with authority and not as the scribes. People witnessed Jesus’ power over the spiritual realm, over demons. They had to subject to Jesus.

V.28 Jesus’ fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Jesus, the powerful healer (v.29-34)
Jesus healed Peter’s mother-in-law from a fever; then she began to serve those in the house.
Jesus healed many who came to him for healing, and he cast out many demons.
Notice in verse 34 that Jesus did not permit the demons to speak because they knew him. The time for Jesus to truly reveal himself to the world had not come yet. His time to be made known had not yet come and he silenced the demons who truly knew who Jesus is.

Jesus, God in the flesh came preaching and teaching with authority. People noticed his teaching was different from that of the scribes. He taught as one who had authority. Jesus’s power was displayed not only in how he taught. His power was witnessed in his subjecting demons to his command; his power is shown in healing any disease. The God we worship, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ has a message that contains power, power to change our lives. He is greater than the demonic realm; they must subject to him. Our Lord has the power to heal any disease. He is powerful, don’t miss how great and powerful our God is. Mark let us know all this in his first chapter. Truly there is power in the name of Jesus.