Background and Study AWS
STUDY GUIDE They Won’t Show This On TED
by Dave Mullins
MARK 1:21-28 / SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
Background and Study They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28 NIV84) Capernaum was a fishing village on the north edge of the Sea of Galilee. This was the hometown of Peter and Andrew. After Jesus’ rejection in his hometown of Nazareth he settles into Peter’s home for His base of ministry. To read about Jesus rejection in Nazareth read Luke 4:14-31. Mark does not give us any idea about what Jesus taught. He only tells us that the people were amazed at His teaching because of the authority He taught with. Rick on Sunday told us how the teachers of this time referred to others for their authority. They would point to Moses or another well known respected teacher. Jesus does not look to any of these for authority. Read Luke 4:18-21. What does this passage tell us about Jesus and His authority? Look at Matthew 5-7. In the Sermon on the Mount how many times does Jesus refer to what had been taught and then say, “I say”?
In the next few verses we read about an interaction between Jesus and a demon. There is a man in the synagogue that was possessed by an unclean spirit. This demon addresses Jesus in the middle of the crowd. How do you think we might respond if that happened on a Sunday morning at E91? We probably would at least be tempted to bring peace to the congregation by removing the person and dealing with him privately. Jesus deals with this situation in front of everyone. Why do you think He would deal with this so publicly? Look again at the message Jesus shares in Luke 4:14-31. How is this message reflected in this interaction? How does Jesus bring peace to this situation? Where is Jesus most focused during this moment? The demon recognizes and announces Jesus as the Holy One of God. Jesus tells it to be quiet. Some think that Jesus tells it to be quiet because He is not ready for people to know who He is? Why would Jesus not want people to really know who He was at this point? People were expecting the Messiah to rule in Jerusalem and to throw off the Roman rule. What do you think they would have done if they knew that was who He was? For an idea of what they might have done, read John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6:1-1. Having a demon announce who Jesus is could have repercussions down the road. What negative results could come from demons recognizing Jesus’ authority? In Mark 3:20-30 Jesus is accused of casting out demons by the authority and power of Beelzebub or Satan. What impact do you think it would have if Jesus had accepted the announcement from the demon in Mark 1? I was recently talking with a group of people and one of the ladies in the group was well study in horoscopes and
E AST 91 ST STR E E T C H R I ST I A N C H U R C H • w w w.east 91 st .o rg
astrology. She would find out a person’s birthday and then tell them about their personality based on their sign. She was able to get really close on a number of people she had only just met. I was asked what I thought about her ability to do that and astrology in a more general sense. I have heard it said that all truth is God’s truth. Do you agree with this statement? Is the source that truth comes through important? Why? In this case it would be easy for people to put their trust in horoscopes and astrology rather than on the God who created both man and the stars. What are some things that either you have been tempted to put faith in rather than God, or what have you seen other people put faith in because it had some piece of the truth? In verses 27,28 Mark tells us Jesus’ teaching, and the authority that He showed amazed the people. Even the evil spirit obeyed him. This seems similar to what happened in Nazareth in Luke 4:14-31. Here in Capernaum though news about Jesus spreads throughout all of Galilee. Why do you think Jesus may have gone from amazing to rejection in Nazareth and here news of Him is taken throughout the region? Why do you think that for some people Jesus is amazing and they come to Him and share the news about Him while others who find him amazing end up rejecting Him? Do you think that familiarity might have been involved in Nazareth? Are you still amazed by Him and His teaching? What is most amazing to you about Jesus and His teaching? What about His authority?
Thoughts from the Sermon Jesus is a Teacher Discuss what of Jesus’ teachings are having the biggest impact on you right now. What teaching has been the most life transforming for you?
Rick brought out the discussion of the authority of Jesus. Where do you struggle with His authority? What are some of the hard teachings that you struggle to really submit to? What issues have you witnessed in others dealing with Jesus’ authority? Jesus is the Holy One of God Read James 2:14-26. What does this passage have to say about the relationship between faith and action? What does it really mean to believe in Jesus? James tells us that the demons believe and shudder. What is the reaction by those who believe and submit their lives to His authority? Jesus has complete power over Evil Was does this thought stir in you? What questions does it raise? How do the things that we have covered to this point in our series on Mark play into those thoughts and questions? Rick talked about the personal care Jesus had for the man who was possessed by this evil spirit. It is easy for us to take a more theological approach to stories like these and learn principles and life lessons from them. But for Jesus and the man who was possessed this is a very personal moment. Jesus cared about this man. Are you more drawn to dealing with situations or people? When a person comes to you with a problem or a struggle which focus do you usually have the person or the problem? Is it important which focus you have? What is the strength and weakness of focusing on the problem or situation? What is the strength and weakness of focusing on the person? How do you strike a balance between the two focuses? Take some time to think about what message about Jesus you would take to others the way the people of Capernaum carried news of Jesus throughout Galilee. What are we waiting for?
E AST 91 ST STR E E T C H R I ST I A N C H U R C H • w w w.east 91 st .o rg
by Dave Mullins
MARK 1:21-28 / SEPTEMBER 23, 2012
Background and Study They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are–the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching–and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him.” News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28 NIV84) Capernaum was a fishing village on the north edge of the Sea of Galilee. This was the hometown of Peter and Andrew. After Jesus’ rejection in his hometown of Nazareth he settles into Peter’s home for His base of ministry. To read about Jesus rejection in Nazareth read Luke 4:14-31. Mark does not give us any idea about what Jesus taught. He only tells us that the people were amazed at His teaching because of the authority He taught with. Rick on Sunday told us how the teachers of this time referred to others for their authority. They would point to Moses or another well known respected teacher. Jesus does not look to any of these for authority. Read Luke 4:18-21. What does this passage tell us about Jesus and His authority? Look at Matthew 5-7. In the Sermon on the Mount how many times does Jesus refer to what had been taught and then say, “I say”?
In the next few verses we read about an interaction between Jesus and a demon. There is a man in the synagogue that was possessed by an unclean spirit. This demon addresses Jesus in the middle of the crowd. How do you think we might respond if that happened on a Sunday morning at E91? We probably would at least be tempted to bring peace to the congregation by removing the person and dealing with him privately. Jesus deals with this situation in front of everyone. Why do you think He would deal with this so publicly? Look again at the message Jesus shares in Luke 4:14-31. How is this message reflected in this interaction? How does Jesus bring peace to this situation? Where is Jesus most focused during this moment? The demon recognizes and announces Jesus as the Holy One of God. Jesus tells it to be quiet. Some think that Jesus tells it to be quiet because He is not ready for people to know who He is? Why would Jesus not want people to really know who He was at this point? People were expecting the Messiah to rule in Jerusalem and to throw off the Roman rule. What do you think they would have done if they knew that was who He was? For an idea of what they might have done, read John’s account of the feeding of the 5,000 in John 6:1-1. Having a demon announce who Jesus is could have repercussions down the road. What negative results could come from demons recognizing Jesus’ authority? In Mark 3:20-30 Jesus is accused of casting out demons by the authority and power of Beelzebub or Satan. What impact do you think it would have if Jesus had accepted the announcement from the demon in Mark 1? I was recently talking with a group of people and one of the ladies in the group was well study in horoscopes and
E AST 91 ST STR E E T C H R I ST I A N C H U R C H • w w w.east 91 st .o rg
astrology. She would find out a person’s birthday and then tell them about their personality based on their sign. She was able to get really close on a number of people she had only just met. I was asked what I thought about her ability to do that and astrology in a more general sense. I have heard it said that all truth is God’s truth. Do you agree with this statement? Is the source that truth comes through important? Why? In this case it would be easy for people to put their trust in horoscopes and astrology rather than on the God who created both man and the stars. What are some things that either you have been tempted to put faith in rather than God, or what have you seen other people put faith in because it had some piece of the truth? In verses 27,28 Mark tells us Jesus’ teaching, and the authority that He showed amazed the people. Even the evil spirit obeyed him. This seems similar to what happened in Nazareth in Luke 4:14-31. Here in Capernaum though news about Jesus spreads throughout all of Galilee. Why do you think Jesus may have gone from amazing to rejection in Nazareth and here news of Him is taken throughout the region? Why do you think that for some people Jesus is amazing and they come to Him and share the news about Him while others who find him amazing end up rejecting Him? Do you think that familiarity might have been involved in Nazareth? Are you still amazed by Him and His teaching? What is most amazing to you about Jesus and His teaching? What about His authority?
Thoughts from the Sermon Jesus is a Teacher Discuss what of Jesus’ teachings are having the biggest impact on you right now. What teaching has been the most life transforming for you?
Rick brought out the discussion of the authority of Jesus. Where do you struggle with His authority? What are some of the hard teachings that you struggle to really submit to? What issues have you witnessed in others dealing with Jesus’ authority? Jesus is the Holy One of God Read James 2:14-26. What does this passage have to say about the relationship between faith and action? What does it really mean to believe in Jesus? James tells us that the demons believe and shudder. What is the reaction by those who believe and submit their lives to His authority? Jesus has complete power over Evil Was does this thought stir in you? What questions does it raise? How do the things that we have covered to this point in our series on Mark play into those thoughts and questions? Rick talked about the personal care Jesus had for the man who was possessed by this evil spirit. It is easy for us to take a more theological approach to stories like these and learn principles and life lessons from them. But for Jesus and the man who was possessed this is a very personal moment. Jesus cared about this man. Are you more drawn to dealing with situations or people? When a person comes to you with a problem or a struggle which focus do you usually have the person or the problem? Is it important which focus you have? What is the strength and weakness of focusing on the problem or situation? What is the strength and weakness of focusing on the person? How do you strike a balance between the two focuses? Take some time to think about what message about Jesus you would take to others the way the people of Capernaum carried news of Jesus throughout Galilee. What are we waiting for?
E AST 91 ST STR E E T C H R I ST I A N C H U R C H • w w w.east 91 st .o rg
