Mark 1:21-28 - Jesus Begins His Public Ministry
Mark 1:21) They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22) They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23) Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24) and he cried out, “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) They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28) At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
The Historical Present: Verse 21 sets the stage and tone for most of what follows in the next long section of Mark’s Gospel, all the way to chapter 8:26. The verb translated as “went” in this verse is actually “come”. It is known as a historical present tense, and it’s intended for use when talking about a past event that one can enter into experientially in the present. We are to understand that what happened in Jesus is happening in us now.
Capernaum was a city on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was an economic center and a prosperous fishing village that became the base of operation for Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Some later referred to it as Jesus’ home town.
The Synagogue: Synagogues were common throughout Palestine, but not every town had one. A synagogue could only be formed when there were at least 10 Jewish men available to support and govern it. The word “synagogue” comes from a Greek root that means “to bring together”. Synagogues were not only places of worship. They were also local courts where judgments were rendered regarding the Law. They usually had grammar schools and were centers of Jewish social life.
Scribes: By the time of Jesus, scribes were no longer the mere secretaries of the religious community. They were extremely powerful, usually wealthy, interpreters of the Law. They were the experts. They were the ones who got to decide what the Law meant and how it should be applied in specific cases and daily life. They loved to research and recite long precedents in support of their judgements. They got prominent seats in the synagogue and were very highly respected.
Jesus’ Teaching Ministry in Mark: In Mark, Jesus’ acts are as much a part of his teaching ministry as his formal speaking. Teaching is declaring the truth of God and God’s new realm in Jesus. Jesus does that in words, but also by healing and exorcising.
Authority in Mark: This entire section is about the declaration and affirmation of Jesus’ authority. Authority is not just his job description. Authority is both the “right and the power” to do what he does and teach what he teaches. This was important because the scribes largely spent their time making decisions about what was and was not permitted in a business-as-usual world. Jesus spoke and acted in a radically different way. Many recognized this new realm power immediately. Others sought to undermine his authority so that his new points of view would not take hold and disrupt the community and its orderly structures.
Exorcism in Mark: Exorcism was common and accepted in Jesus’ day. People understood there to be spiritual realities or powers which were at work in the world to destroy and undo human life. The exorcisms of Jesus are uncommon in their form, but their purpose is the same; to rid stricken people of bondages that made life not worth living. In Mark, the exorcisms are examples of Jesus’ authority to overcome everything that subverts the will of God for blessing in life. His exorcisms are also ways to declare that the new messianic age has come since there was a common belief that when Messiah came, evil would be rendered powerless.
Setting: This story unfolds in the local synagogue during regular Sabbath observance. At this time the Temple in Jerusalem was the site for sacrifice and was attended by many priests. Lay committees ran the local synagogues. Anyone could speak or teach with the permission of the leaders. Times of instruction were often dominated by violent disputes about small points of law.
Word study
Vs. 21 – It is important to note that Jesus goes to the synagogue, the center of Jewish life, to start his teaching ministry. We are not told the content of his message here. We learned earlier in the chapter that is was “the kingdom is at hand, repent, believe.” What was important was the authority with which he spoke.
Vs. 22 – astounded – amazed, awestruck, from the root “to panic”, carries connotations of surprise, fear, and uncertainty.
Authority – very important word from the root “the power to act”. It carries all of the following meanings at the same time: power to act, ability to accomplish, control, domain, dominion, jurisdiction, liberty, freedom, right.
Vs. 23 – Just then – immediately, the next moment
A man with an unclean spirit – demons, unclean spirits and evil spirits are used interchangeably in Mark. The differences are in the results of the possession. An unclean spirit was one that did not attack physical health necessarily. It could refer to what we call mental illness, or to minor physical complaints that interfered with a person’s capacity to live in community. An unclean spirit was utterly alien to holiness. It rendered the possessed person an outcast in the worship and communal life of the people.
Vs. 24 – destroy – strong word: utterly destroy, cause to perish, kill completely
I know who you are – some argue that the spirit is uttering a defense intended to dissuade Jesus from tampering with it. Because the spirit came from the spiritual realm and only abided in and spoke through the man, it was natural, although not without irony, to these early readers that the spirit would recognize Jesus for who he was when mere earthlings could not.
Holy One of God – Greek hagios, often translated as saint. It is reminiscent of the ancient phrase Holy One of Israel that referred to God. It often simply meant God’s messenger.
Vs. 25 – rebuked – a stern warning
Be silent and come out – lit. put on a muzzle. There were formal rituals for exorcism that usually included the handling of the possessed person and prayers and incantations. It was stunning that Jesus' word alone was enough.
Vs. 26 – convulsing – interesting and unusual word, from “to mangle”. The route to wholeness is not pain free.
Crying – lit. calling or crowing
Loud voice – blast of language, outcry
Came out – left and went away
Vs. 27 – new – lit. fresh. This word does not mean recent. It means unprecedented.
Obey – can be translated as listen, answer or heed
Vs. 28 – At once his fame began to spread – The consequences of Jesus’ teaching are immediate and so is the opposition. He has taken on the religious establishment, and he is gaining a following. From this moment on he is in danger.
Question for Reflection
- What are the things in your life about which you feel most helpless? What are the things that seem to run your life in negative ways? Make a list and ask God to heal you.
- How do you experience Jesus’ authority. Try reading verse 22 aloud using each of the possible translations listed above. How does each one feel in you? Does one seem to resonate more than the others? That may be a clue as to a unique need that you have in that area. Ask God for insight and help.
- This passage takes place in the context of the religious community. The historical present tense of the words reminds us that what happened then continues to happen now. We may not experience exorcism in the same way as the ancients most of the time, however the kind of release that the man in the verse received is also available to us. How do you see the church as a conveyor of release? Are there times when the reverse is true? If so, how then do we invite Jesus’ authority into our communities of faith?