Chapter # 1 Paragraph # 7 Study # 6
March 12, 2019
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis: Mark used the reactions of both the unclean spirit and the people in the synagogue to reinforce the fact of Jesus' "authority".
Introduction: In our study last week, we considered the sharp distinctions that exist in the realm of "spirits" (holy and unclean) and we saw that Mark used the record of the reaction of the unclean spirit to Jesus' presence in the synagogue to intensify the "authority" of Jesus as a most basic requirement for the Age of Faith in Grace.
This evening it is our intention to bring our study of this paragraph to an end. The last three verses of this paragraph are a record of the impact that Jesus' "command" to the unclean spirit created. There are three main "groups" of persons that were impacted by Jesus' "command" and Mark uses them to set the stage for "Faith in Grace".
- I. The First "Group".
- A. It is represented by one "unclean spirit", but his "representative" status is recognized by the attendees at the synagogue.
- 1. There was only one "unclean spirit" involved (1:26).
- 2. But the attendees in the synagogue extrapolated (drawing deductions from one to many) from the "one" to the "whole group" (1:27).
- a. The legitimacy of this extrapolation is rooted in the words of the "one" when he asked Jesus "what to 'us' and to you?".
- b. It is further legitimized by the "unclean" identifying Jesus as "The Holy One of God" Who had the power to destroy "us" (1:24).
- B. Jesus' impact upon this "group" was, ultimately, an absolute authority to command and get "obedience".
- 1. There is good evidence that this "unclean spirit" absolutely detested being "forced" to do the will of Jesus.
- a. He "threw his 'victim' into convulsions" [this verb is only used 4 times in the New Testament, 3 of which are in Mark and 1 of which is in Luke's record of the same event as Mark's record in 9:20, 26].
- 1) The attending, and graphic, visuals are laid out in Mark's second record of such an exorcism (Mark 9:20, 26).
- a) There were epileptic-like spasms in most of the muscle groups in the man's body.
- b) There was foaming at the mouth.
- c) There was grinding of the teeth.
- d) There was an after-effect of extreme weakness, as if seriously dehydrated.
- 2) This "demonstration" is one of "rage" and "hatefulness", indicating a powerful unwillingness to give heed to Jesus' demand.
- b. He uttered an extremely loud "sound".
- 1) It was apparently "wordless".
- 2) But the volume indicates extreme displeasure.
- 2. But, the bottom line is that he "came out", just as Jesus had demanded.
- II. The Second "Group".
- A. The attendees of the synagogue are used by Mark to highlight the issue.
- B. These attendees have significant problems.
- 1. First, they are described as "amazed" (not the same word as used in 1:22).
- a. The word used in 1:22 is used by Mark in five contexts and in four out of the five the issue is the content of Jesus' teaching.
- b. The word used in this text is only used in Mark 1:27, 10:24, 32 and Acts 9:6 and it is used when strongly held "theological tenets" are contradicted.
- 2. Second, they began to seek together to deal with both a "new" doctrine and "indisputable" authority.
- a. Their big problem was His "new" teaching: forgiveness at the point of repentance and the timing of the arrival of the Kingdom of God (1:15).
- b. But, even bigger, was the indisputable "authority" that made the "new" true.
- III. The Third "Group".
- A. All of the inhabitants of Galilee "heard" about Him.
- B. Mark's "point": Jesus is Someone with Whom Galilee suddenly had to reckon as to "doctrine" and "authority".
