LOC 033: Life of Christ:
The
Capernaum Synagogue
Last week we saw the power inherent in Christ’s words as he called
four disciples to follow him and as he called many fish to come into Peter’s
fishing nets as an illustration of Christ’s power to compel whatever needs
compelling to accomplish his good purposes.
The lessons were inescapable, following the Lord Jesus may have its
costs, but it is worth giving up everything in order to gain all things in him.
This morning we meet with Jesus in the synagogue at
Capernaum. It is here that Jesus speaks
with great authority and accomplishes what he refused to do in Nazareth. And, consequently, the reaction to him, at
least at the outset, is very different.
We should not think that the people in Capernaum were ignorant of
what went on in Nazareth, but on the contrary, had likely heard of all that had
happened. At the end of this narrative,
in Luke 4, we will see that rumors about Jesus were quick to fly throughout the
entire region of Galilee. I would
speculate that the same thing happened from Nazareth to the surrounding regions
of Galilee.
Let’s read the text from Mark 1:21-28 under five headings:
1. Jesus and the Disciples on
the Sabbath
2. The Reaction of the
Congregation
3. The Reaction of an unwanted
Visitor
4. Jesus Contradicts the Demon
5. The Congregations talks
among themselves
6. The results of his work on
the Sabbath
The TEXT:
1. Jesus and the Disciples on
the Sabbath
Mark 1:21 ¶ Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He
entered the synagogue and taught.
2. The Reaction of the
Congregation
22 And they were astonished at
His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the
scribes.
3. The Reaction of an unwanted
Visitor
23 Now there was a man in their
synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You,
Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are — the Holy
One of God!”
4. Jesus Contradicts the Demon
25 But Jesus rebuked him,
saying, “Be quiet, and come out of
him!” 26 And when the unclean
spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of
him.
5. The Congregations talks
among themselves
27 Then they were all amazed, so
that they questioned among themselves, saying,
“What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands
even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”
6. The results of his work on
the Sabbath
28 And immediately His fame
spread throughout all the region around Galilee.
Let’s look a little more deeply at the text and compare it with
some additional information from Luke.
EXPOSITION
1. Jesus and the Disciples on
the Sabbath
Mark 1:21 ¶ Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath
Mark uses this word immediately again to show the action does not
have a lot of downtime. It is a
constant, or nearly constant flow. The
calling of Peter and Andrew and James and John must have been on a Friday
because the next immediate or adjacent thing is that the disciples and Jesus go
to the synagogue on the Sabbath.
This is what Jesus did: He
entered the synagogue and taught. He
went back to the custom he had established most likely in Nazareth.
Jesus had no qualms about seizing opportunities to teach. He was accepted as a Rabbi and
respected. In this passage we do not
know what he taught, we only know how he taught. He spoke authoritatively.
2. The Reaction of the
Congregation
22 And they were astonished at
His teaching,
This word translated as astonished means to be so amazed as to be
practically overwhelmed — ‘to be greatly astounded, breathtakingly overcome.
The Jews who heard him were overcome with the manner in which
Jesus taught. But it wasn’t his
theatrics or his ability to pound a pulpit that astonished them, in the words
of the text....
for He taught them as one
having authority,
Jesus did not teach in a way as to leave any doubt about what
should be believed and how that ought to affect the life. He taught authoritatively.
Do you realize how out of step he would be with modern man? When it comes to WWJD, the answer given today
does not consider that Jesus could be meek and mild while being dogmatic and
authoritarian. What would Jesus DO? He
might contradict you in your sin in order to extract repentance. That’s what he
might do, even through the preaching. If you ever feel as though the Holy
Spirit has punched you in the gut and knocked all of your air out during or
after a sermon, do something about it, lest he leave you to yourself and your
sin. The other group who would not have
been able to accept Jesus’s preaching style is the liberals who see Jesus as
the great example of love. They view
love as a wishy-washy feeling that does not ever rock a boat or do what is
difficult. Sometimes love demands
telling someone as it really is. And
that can be hard. Well, there is a third
group who would not like Jesus’s teaching methodology. They are the
seeker-sensitive preachers who believe everything should be done to make
unbelievers comfortable and accepted.
They have taken the guts out of the Gospel and the authority out of the
Gospel. Men need to be told to repent
and to believe the Gospel. And they need
to be told so with great authority behind it.
There are a number of ways in which this word for authority in
Mark and power in Luke is translated in English. So much so, one would not recognize it as
occurring as often as it does in the NT.
Various forms occur over 100 times.
The most basic meanings are:
30.122 exousi÷ah, the right to judge on the basis of
having the potential to evaluate rightly — In this sense it can mean a right,
freedom of choice, freedom of action, power to evaluate. ‘but see to it that
your freedom of choice does not become a cause of offense to those who are weak
(in the faith)’ 1Cor 8:9.
37.13 exousi÷ae, a state of control over someone or
something — ‘and after it was sold, (the money from the sale) remained under
your control’ Ac 5:4.
37.35 exousi÷aa the right to control or govern over —
‘authority to rule, right to control. ‘go with the authority to rule over ten
cities’ Lk 19:17.
37.36 exousi÷ab, the domain or sphere over which one
has authority to control or rule — ‘jurisdiction. ‘learning that he was from
the jurisdiction of Herod’ Lk 23:7. In translating exousi-ab in the sense of ‘jurisdiction,’ it is often
possible simply to use terms such as ‘territory’ or ‘land’ or even ‘peoples,’
as in the case of Lk 4:6.
37.38 exousi÷ad, one who has the authority to rule or
govern — ‘an authority, ruler. ‘when they bring you (to be tried) before … the
authorities, do not be worried’ Lk 12:11.
Jesus taught as the one who had the right to govern and compel
them to believe and do what he required.
He taught as the ruler and judge.
He was the authority. He was the one who spoke out of eternal existence,
realities and power. Jesus does not have
the potential to judge rightly, he actually judges rightly, he represents and
inspired the standard. He has the right to govern and direct the affairs of all
men, especially those who come under the sound of his words, even if it is only
once.
The teaching ministry of Christ was revolutionary. People like to look at Jesus as being a great
teacher so they don't have to submit to what he says. They figure if they compliment him, he has no
claim on their attention and affection.
How wrong they are. If Jesus was
only a great teacher and he taught as one with the authority and prerogatives
of God behind him, and if he did not have the right to teach in this way, he
would not have been a great teacher, but a deluded man whom nobody in their
right mind should follow. But, if he did
actually teach with the authority of God with the right to govern and rule over
those who heard him, then all who hear him ought to bow their knee and cry out
as Peter did last week, “ Depart from me Lord for I am an unclean man”.
Jesus has authority. He has
it now. And, he sends pastors and elders
to rule God’s people with that same authority.
To despise and not listen to the preaching of Christ through his
messengers is to despise the Lord Jesus Christ.
Why must men stand in pulpits in order to bring the Word of God to
others? It is because God has ordained for it to be the means whereby he would
do his work of convicting men of sin, righteousness and judgment. Preaching ought to come with the power and
authority of God behind it. God says it,
that settles it. PERIOD. If he says,
Follow Me. We follow on his terms -- not our own.
But notice the following phrase:
and not as the scribes.
An interesting contrast.
The Scribes taught with a derived authority. The authority of men. Rabbi A says, “This” Rabbi B says, “That”
somewhere between this and that lies an important lesson to instruct us all. But
since we follow Rabbi A, we need to listen more carefully to his writings. Follow this because our Rabbi said so. Jesus did not teach this way. He taught as
one who possessed authority and had every right to govern men and expect them
to submit. Jesus does not pussy-foot
around with those who would not listen, nor follow. Sometimes I think we are too patient.
Patience can turn from a grace into an excuse to tolerate what is intolerable
to our Lord. Jesus was not afraid to
dogmatize in his teaching, nor in his application.
This authoritative teaching of Jesus had real tangible
effects. It left the hearers in wonder,
it left another hidden guest to react.
3. The Reaction of an unwanted
Visitor
23 Now there was a man in their
synagogue with an unclean spirit.
What, you may ask is an unclean Spirit? JFB puts it this way, that
is, [a spirit of a man] so entirely under demoniacal power that his personality was sunk for the
time in that of the spirit. The frequency with which this character of “impurity”
is ascribed to evil spirits — some
twenty times in the Gospels — is not to be overlooked.
During the ministry of the Lord Jesus Christ he met the forces of
darkness head on and conquered them utterly. His presence upset their work and
the comfort they enjoyed among unbelieving men.
This is not to say that there are no evil forces present in the world
today, we know better as Scripture tells us that we don't battle against flesh
and blood, but against principalities and powers in high places. However, for the Christian, the powers of
darkness have been destroyed forever by the work of Christ in his life and on
the cross. He has authority to compel
men and as we will see, to compel unclean spirits to do what he requires. They are no match for the exousia, the power
and authority, of the Lord Jesus Christ.
They man affect us, or desire our downfall, but God is control of them
too.
This is what the man, or the unclean spirit in a man did:
And he cried out, 24
saying, “Let us alone! What have we to
do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are
— the Holy One of God!”
First important application: there can be some are associated with
God’s people who only have an outward attachment to the things of God while
being utterly defiled on the inside.
Notice the place where this man with an unclean spirit was on the
Sabbath--he was in the congregation.
Although the preacher is to pastor the congregation as if they were
believers, he must not ever presume that all are inwardly what they appear to
be outwardly. I have know too many
people who fooled me for a while only to walk away from the faith or to be
exposed as self-serving hypocrites.
There can be among any congregation those living a life of uncleanness
and debauchery.
Christ’s words had so much power that the unclean Spirit had to
cry out in wonder. He wanted to know if
the Lord Jesus Christ had come to destroy them.
He adds, I know who you are, you are the Holy one of Israel.
An unclean Spirit makes a true profession, but not a saving
profession. There is a difference. He
professed what was true out of fear for himself. That is no basis for a saving profession. Yet, some think it is, including those
influenced by demons.
4. Jesus Contradicts the Demon
25 But Jesus rebuked him,
saying, “Be quiet, and come out of
him!” 26 And when the unclean
spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of
him.
Jesus commands the unclean Spirit directly and simply. He told him to be silent, he had the
authority to tell even the demons what to do,
and Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of the man. Remember, this is in the middle of the
congregation in the synagogue in Capernaum.
The unclean spirit made the man convulse or literally to cause a person
to shake violently in convulsions — ‘to throw into convulsions, to throw into a
fit.’ During this the spirit cried out
something in a loud voice, we do not know what it was. After this, the unclean
Spirit complied with Christ’s authority.
A note of application.
Throughout this study there have been a few things we have mentioned
about the Lord Jesus Christ’s ministry then and now that have not changed. He can heal from a distance as he did from
Nazareth to Capernaum. He can know what
is going on in men’s hearts from a distance.
We can pray to him in heaven just as those who were with him talked to
him expressing themselves. This is
important to remember: Just because Jesus is in heaven, it does not follow that
he has relinquished authority to anyone else.
It is still his. Even from
heaven, Jesus has the authority and power to control all things--even unclean
and demonic spirits. They cannot do
anything without his knowledge and permission.
There is no need to fear the powers of darkness if you are walking with
Christ. He will guard you and protect
you.
If you ever doubt the love and care of the Lord Jesus Christ, if
you are ever obsessed with doubts or evil or unclean thoughts in your mind, the
remedy is to go to the Lord Jesus Christ in faith to cleanse you. If the thoughts are true accusations of
unconfessed sin, go to the Lord Jesus and say something like this, “Lord, I
don't know where these thought are coming from. But they have made me aware of
unconfessed sin. Please forgive me for
my sin because of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Continue to preserve and protect me.
I am weak and need your strong arm to hold me up in the midst of this
conflict. Glorify yourself and use these
things for my good. In the Name of the
Lord Jesus Christ, the one with authority and power over all things, AMEN.
Jesus alone can help you.
Turn to him in faith. Don’t use
your own strength and resolve. Turn to
him. Trust him, lean on him, not upon
your own understanding. Then he will
direct your paths.
Getting back to the text......
Again, look at the effect it had on those who saw it:
5. The Congregations talks
among themselves
27 Then they were all amazed,
This is a different word for amazement or astonishment than we
found in vs. 22. This word means to
experience astonishment as the result of some unusual event. And, what an
unusual event it must have been for them to learn what was really in this man
from their own congregation. It was the
unusual and extraordinary that brought about their further response.
so that they questioned among
themselves, saying, “What is this? What
new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits,
and they obey Him.”
It was surprise at Jesus and his complete authority over all
things in the physical realm like men, in the supernatural realm like unclean
spirits. Jesus is in control of all
things. Some might dismiss the fish
tearing Peter’s nets as a coincidence, they could not say that here. Jesus triumphed over the powers of darkness
decisively. And, he can still triumph
over them today. Actions have
consequences. What we do does not effect
us alone, but many others as well. The
same was true of Jesus in his ministry.
This is what the people of he Capernaum synagogue did.
6. The results of his work on
the Sabbath
28 And immediately His fame
spread throughout all the region around Galilee.
I like how Luke puts it:
loosely translated, he says and an echo went out concerning him to the
surrounding region. Rumor, news, perhaps
even amplified gossip, was broadcast.
Good news cannot be contained.
His cleansing of the man of the unclean spirit was a sign that pointed
to and verified his doctrine, what he said.
And, what he said had the authority of God himself behind it.
What will you do about his power and authority. It would be better for you to bow before him
now, while there is time to repent, than to dismiss his right to govern you by
his word now, only to find yourself before his judgment throne when it was too
late.
Are you one of those who can sit in a congregation with a proper
outward appearance, while on the inside is all kinds of filth and
uncleanness. Jesus came to make men
whole. But, it comes with a price of
following him through submission to his authority. And remember, the basic
message he preached everywhere is this,
Matt. 3:2 and saying, “Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven is at
hand!”
Matt. 4:17 From that time Jesus began to
preach and to say, “Repent, for the kingdom of
heaven is at hand.
The place of God’s rule and reign is now, repent and believe the
Gospel. Forsake your sins, come to
Christ for forgiveness. He alone has the
power to forgive and make you clean.
Submission to Jesus is not optional. If you are under his authority, there is a
certain hope. If you are not, I point
you to the cross and remind you of John 3:3 Jesus answered and said to
him, “Most assuredly, I say to you,
unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.”
Being a Christian is all about the rule of God in us and through
us. In our lives, in our families, in our friendships, in our churches and then
through God’s people it touches societies in unusual ways. What will you do with this one who has all
authority given to him in heaven and earth?
Will you dismiss him and become a fool? Will you submit to him and become his willing
subjects? Dismiss him to your peril,
come to him for your soul’s true need.
AMEN
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