Chapter # 1 Paragraph # 7 Study # 3
February 19, 2019
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis: Mark considered Jesus' "authority" over the spirit world as evidence that the "authority" of His words in teaching was genuine.
Introduction: Last week we considered the issue of "authority". We saw in our first study of this paragraph that Mark considered "authority" to be the necessary center of focus ("...immediately..."), and in our study last week we argued that "authority" is at the root of all "love" and "faith" issues and that those issues are what determine just how much of the "Life" of God we will experience, both in this world and the next.
This evening we are going to look into Mark's use of the presence and reaction of an "unclean spirit" in the synagogue. It is significant that this part of this paragraph begins with another "And immediately..." phrase because, as we have said, this is Mark's method of pointing to what is most crucial in his record.
- I. Mark's Use of the Reaction of the Unclean Spirit.
- A. In his presentation of John and his country-wide impact, there is no record of any significant "miracles" and no "exorcisms".
- 1. This means that "miracles" and "exorcisms" are not crucial to "faith" [Note Luke 16:31 in this regard] as its roots.
- a. As Mark demonstrated, the fulfillment of prophecy is the "root" of faith.
- b. But, there is the emphasized need in the New Testament for something to sustain faith, once it has a place in the heart, and "evidence" that the "sensed" authority is genuine seems to be what God uses to "sustain" faith.
- 2. This also means that the stakes must be higher in respect to "Jesus" than they were to "John".
- a. There is, in the record of Jesus' dealings with the Samaritans in John 4:42, an illuminating comment made by the men: "Now we believe, not because of thy saying: for we have heard [Him] ourselves, and know that this is indeed the Christ, the Savior of the world".
- b. This means that John's words carried sufficient "authority" to "prepare the people" for the Coming Mighty One, but that "authority" was replaced and buttressed by both Jesus' words and works.
- B. As soon as Mark begins to present "Jesus" as the Object of Faith, the supporting arguments for His identity become more intense.
- 1. Because John's message was, and is, crucial to "Life", John needed to be believed and he was because of the work of the Spirit.
- 2. But, Jesus' message is not rooted in what He had to say; it was rooted in Who He is; both the "unclean" spirit's identification of Him is evidence of this and Jesus' absolute authority over that spirit is greater evidence.
- C. For those in the synagogues of Israel, what Jesus had to say was going to be significantly more critical so that "evidences" of genuine "authority" had to be given.
- 1. The reason for more evidence of "authority" is introduced by the presence of the unclean spirit in the synagogue.
- a. "Spirits" are the effective agents of all action.
- b. All "spirits" motivate actions based upon their perceptions of "values" and "truth".
- c. The principle characteristics of "unclean" spirits is their "uncleanness": moral depravity presented as "filth".
- d. This "filthiness" consists of "twisted values" and "lies" presented as "truths".
- e. The presence of the "unclean spirit" in the synagogue suggests...
- 1) That the synagogue has already been sufficiently corrupted so as to not be an agent of "faith" in the life of the community.
- a) There is no "authority" in the teaching going on there.
- b) Unclean spirits are on the scene as "comfortable", but alert, monitors of what is "taught".
- i. Ephesians 2:2 indicates that the "prince" of the power of the air has the ability to direct "the sons of disbelief" (as rooted in an absence of persuasion).
- ii. Without omnipresence, this "prince" is forced to use "unclean spirits" to spread and dominate what is "taught".
- c) But, it is because the place where this is all going on -- the synagogue -- is so foundational: it is the center of "Theological" truth and, thus, the most important place in Capernaum.
- 2) That the spirit world is fully aware of the significance of "Theological" truth for all of "Life".
- 2. The presence of the unclean spirit gives Jesus the opportunity to demonstrate that His "authority" is more than "obvious words of truth".
- a. The unclean spirit screams in terror as he comes to grips with the Who? of Jesus.
- b. And Jesus shuts him up and casts him out of the man.
- c. And the people realize with some reluctance that Jesus is seriously important.
