Chapter # 1 Paragraph # 9 Study # 1
March 26, 2019
Moss Bluff, Louisiana
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Thesis:   One of the darker aspects of "humanity" is that people are not principally interested in the truth about God; they are principally in pursuit of what they "want" and "God" is an "Ok" issue as long as they get what they want (whether He wants it, or not).

Introduction:   Thus far in our studies, we have seen Mark "build his case" that Jesus of Nazareth is "The Authoritative Executor of the Plan of God". This is essential to "The Gospel of Jesus Christ", and to its "appropriation methodology": Good News (repentance before God will bring about the forgiveness of sins) must be believed in order to be effective. And to this "essential" is added Mark's beginning (starting point) thesis: Jesus of Nazareth has both "authority" and a "new doctrine".

We have seen Mark present Jesus as He presents the issues to the synagogue with an exorcism as the "persuading" element, and we have seen Mark present Jesus as He presents the issues to His "original four" in the house with an instantaneous "healing" as the "persuading" element.

This evening we come to a new paragraph which, when casually read, presents a kind of "summation" of both of these lines of "persuasion".

But, there is a significant "problem" that has the capacity to derail "faith" in the "new doctrine": the dominating appetites of the human beings to whom the Gospel is being presented.

• I. The Commitment of Men to Their Own Agendas [Their Dominating Appetites].
  • A. The first hint of trouble.
    • 1. "Evening having come, when the sun set...".
      • a. This is clearly a form of adherence to "the old doctrine".
        • 1) The "law" demanded observance of the "Sabbath" as the mark of the covenant of Law between God and Israel (Exodus 31:13).
        • 2) A key aspect of this "observance" was the cessation of "work" on the Sabbath (Exodus 20:10; 31:14-15; 35:2) buttressed by the nature of failure as a "capital crime" (Numbers 15:32-36).
        • 3) The people's "waiting for the sun to set" figures into the story at this point because of their bondage to the "old" doctrine in its "twist" by demonic doctrine into the methodology of "Life".
      • b. This is also clearly an indication that the "new" doctrine, with all of the "authority" issues sustaining it, has not "taken hold".
    • 2. "...they brought unto Him...".
      • a. There had to be a basis for this action.
        • 1) Bringing those possessed by demons has this basis in the events in the synagogue.
        • 2) But whence is this basis for bringing to Him all who were diseased?
          • a) There is no "basis" for this except the healing of Peter's mother-in-law.
          • b) We are forced to reason from this that the word of this healing was spread all over town during the afternoon.
      • b. The "problem" is this: Jesus had already "worked" on the Sabbath and the people knew it, and did not care.
        • 1) Luke 13:14 reveals the "problem".
        • 2) Mark 3:2 tells us that this is a serious "sticking point".
      • c. That they "did not care" meant that they wanted what they wanted and it did not matter whether Jesus was "from God", or not.
  • B. What is At Stake?
    • 1. They were bringing "all those who had 'evil' afflictions".
      • a. In respect to the "old" doctrine, Exodus 15:26 and Deuteronomy 7:15 make "evil afflictions" in Israel an indication of failure on the part of the people to be loyal to Yahweh.
      • b. When "Life" is rooted in performance issues, and failure is guaranteed, "evil" consequences are inevitable.
      • c. Their lack of concern regarding Jesus' "work on the Sabbath", and their commitment to their "health" as an over-riding "lust", are indicators that all is not well in Capernaum.
    • 2. They were bringing "all those who were demon possessed".
      • a. Clearly, they wanted to be "free" from all of the problems associated with demonic activities.
      • b. But at what cost?
        • 1) "Demons" by their very nature are extremely deceptive.
          • a. Mark 3:30 in context identifies "unclean spirits", "demons", and "Satan" as all of one group.
          • b. Therefore, we need to understand whey Mark started with "an unclean spirit" and then turned to "demons".
            • i. "Unclean spirits" (as a category) has to do with the "spirits who have no common ground with Jesus" in terms of the "push to do/act".
            • ii. "Demons" (as a category) has to do with the deliberate intent to frustrate the will and plan of God.
        • 2) The records of both the events at the synagogue and Jesus' refusal to allow the demons to "speak" means that the demons wanted to say things about Jesus; even true things.
        • 3) Demons, by definition, are purveyors of false, but deceptive, doctrines, so that their wish to speak meant that they knew their words could derail "faith in the Gospel".
        • 2) Any time a human desire can only be fulfilled by "fudging", the desire is idolatrous.
      • c. Matthew 7:22; and 12:45 both tell us that having a demon cast out of oneself isn't always a good thing.
        • 1) Those many who "...cast out demons in Thy name..." are false teachers whose impact on others can not be good.
        • 2) Those who want to be delivered more than they want the pleasure of God may well find themselves in a far worse condition down the road.

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This is article #060.
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