Dear Friends,

I hope you can join us tonight as we continue our study in the Gospel of Mark. Tonight we look at Mark 1:16-34. Lots to talk about! Notes are attached.

LIVING THE CHRISTLIFE

WAYNE BARRETT

HILLTOP LAKES CHAPEL

APRIL 24, 2024

Mark 1:16-34

16 Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net

into the sea, for they were fishermen. 17 And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you

become fishers of men.” 18 And immediately they left their nets and followed him. 19 And going on a

little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the

nets. 20 And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired

servants and followed him.

21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was

teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and

not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he

cried out, 24 “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.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of

him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new

teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28 And at once his

fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and

John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And

he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.

32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the

whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various

diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew

him.

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vv. 16-20 – “Passing alongside …”

We are not given information about Jesus’ decision-making process. Why did he call these

particular men? Why choose this particular way?

Jesus had relocated to Galilee (Capernaum). He could not have been there long, as he had

already been baptized, i.e. his public ministry had begun.

We still do not know why God chooses the particular people to do the particular things to which

he calls them.

Only God would know that this is the “team” that would be used to change the world.

“Follow me…”

From the very beginning, it is personal: “Follow me!” Not follow “my teachings.” And it was a

bold, simple, imperative; it still is.

His invitation is to receive what he will do with them: I will make you to become fishers of men.

Our part is to follow—but that allows Jesus to shape us and use us

Jesus was personal and creative in his encounters (cf the woman at the well); he did not have a

“pat” or “canned” approach

2

He took what they knew, what they were doing, and turned it into a metaphor for exactly what

they would do as his disciples

This helps us clearly to see the intentions of Jesus for his disciples (including us)

As I mentioned recently in a sermon, fishermen are intentional and devoted.

James and John

were “in the boat mending the nets”—eye-witness detail

“immediately [eutheós] he called them”—interesting that Jesus call them “immediately”

This is how the call of God can come—and often does

And their response was one they could be thankful for forever

v 21 – “And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath…”

Some more on “immediately,” used 35 times in Mark

It is certainly a part of his action-oriented style

We might think of his use of the word “immediately” as similar to our use, at times, of the word

“then”—which essentially can indicate the same thing, but our use of “then” is more

common

more lit. “And they go into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbaths, having entered into

the synagogue, he was teaching.”

—filled with life and action

v 22 – “and they were astonished…”

astonished – ekpléssó. We would say they were knocked out, dumbstruck

Scribes and Pharisees quoted scripture and accepted oral interpretations, citing authorities and

legal precedent

Jesus claimed that his own personal authority was greater! From the very beginning.

His preaching centered and depended upon his own person, the Son of God.

vv 23-24 – “And immediately there was in their synagogue…”

Here Jesus demonstrates his authority over the devil and unclean spirits

What was this man doing “in the synagogue?”

It is not uncommon for demon-possessed people to associate with Christians and

Christian communities

Demon possession can manifest itself in different ways

Corrie ten Boom and Trudy

Even though the man is speaking, it is apparently the unclean spirit speaking through him, since

it is to the unclean spirit that Jesus responds

more lit. “What to us and to you, Jesus of Nazareth?”

“us” – either the man and the demon, or the demon speaking, one might say, on behalf of the

demon realm

interesting that he calls him “Jesus of Nazareth”

“Did you come to destroy us? I know who you are…”

The spirit is alarmed and afraid, speaking as to someone he knows, “What are you doing

here? What are you up to? You’re not fooling me! I know who you are!”

The spirit seems to be implying, but cannot say, you have no right to be here!

An accusatory tone with Jesus, although there was nothing the spirit could accuse him of

The spirit thought, perhaps, that he was able to hurt or impede Jesus by declaring who he

was—the Holy One of God—as if Jesus was an intruder

3

He recognized also, perhaps, that Jesus was not fully disclosing himself, which was

Jesus’ right to refrain from doing

vv 25-26 – “But Jesus rebuked him…”

“him”—the spirit, Gk autos, could be translated “it”

“Be silent” – phimoó, based on phimos—a muzzle. So, more literally, be muzzled!

“and come out of him”

The focus here is on Jesus’ authority—more than on the man delivered from an unclean spirit;

we don’t know much about him

The spirit left, throwing the man into spasms and crying out—quite a scene, but such is the

nature of the devil’s world

v 27 – “And they were all amazed…”

His teaching was with authority, and he “backed up” that authority by casting out a demon.

v 28 – “And at once his fame…”

“fame” – akoé, lit. hearing – so – news, rumors, report…

Indeed it would, particularly after the incident with the unclean spirit

vv 29-31 – “And immediately he left the synagogue…”

Jesus often went home with people!

He and the four new disciples went to Simon’s [Peter’s] and Andrew’s house

The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law (yes, Peter was married) is told in a matter of fact way, put

with personal details (“took her by the hand…”)

lit. she “lay fevering, and immediately they speak with him about her.”

And here, Jesus demonstrates his authority over illness

“and she began to serve them” – and interesting postscript. She jumped right up and got busy

serving others. We’ve all known (know?) people like that.

vv 32-34 – “That evening at sundown…”

“that evening” – news traveled fast!

Mark is more picturesque: “Now evening having come, when the sun went down, they were

bringing to him…”

“oppressed by demons” – daimonizomai, demonized, under the power of a demon

“And the whole city was gathered…

Then, and now, people will beat a path to anyone who can heal them or deliver them from

demons

Unfortunately, the crowds thin as Jesus teaches more about repentance and righteous living

“And he would not permit the demons to speak…”

Some manuscripts add “to be Christ”

With that or not, it is certainly the meaning of the phrase.

Jesus’ revealing of himself as the Christ was to be according to his own plan