What is Your Reaction to Jesus? (Mark 1: 21-34)

 
Introduction.

Have you ever sat in a public place and just watched the word go by? Have you ever just sat somewhere and watched people? My only experience is very occasionally sometimes when we have gone shopping, I would sit on a bench outside a shop while my wife and/or daughter are inside, and I would sit outside on a bench and people watch. One of the great privileges of being your Preacher is I get to watch your reactions whilst I preach, and it is indeed very interesting. Some people look at you with the look of a wife or a husband, waiting expectantly at an airport for their loved one to return from a trip and are about to emerge through the arrival’s door. That’s I very encouraging look. Some people have a look of expectation on their face when someone is talking about the Bible or spiritual things. Some less so. Oher reactions range from exited expectation, through to indifference and sometimes occasionally even hostility.

This morning, I would like to make the simple observation that Mark’s Gospel account also pays close attention to how people reacted to the message of Jesus. This is a challenging piece of scripture to get our heads around in the 21st century, but let’s give it a try.

This passage easily divides into three sections.

Firstly, Jesus preaches a message in the synagogue.

Secondly, he casts out a demon from a man who is in the synagogue.

Then finally he spends a period of time in Peter’s house healing people.

I want us to look at these three things, but I want us to look at them and especially note how the people reacted in these three situations.

How they reacted too what Jesus said, and how they reacted to what he actually did. 

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.

(Mark 1: 21)

Capernaum was a city that sits on the north of the Sea of Galilee and the text tells us, “That when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. Let’s just pause for a moment to say a word about the synagogue. In the Old Testament God instructed Moses to build a tabernacle. Then later we see David wanted to build a temple, and God eventually allowed that temple to be built during the reign of Solomon.  The temple became the place that the Nation of Israel used as a place of worship. Then the exile came, and the people were conquered and taken into captivity then what happened is they didn’t have the temple in Jerusalem to go to anymore, so they created multiple synagogues, and they went their instead. A Synagogue could be formed any place there were ten adult males, over the age of 12. Each Synagogue would have Elders who had the oversight of it, and one further man who would be designated as what was called, “The Ruler of the Synagogue.” Here is the format of what they did in the Synagogue. They prayed, they read the scriptures, and then somebody explained them.

Different men who were recognized as teachers were called Rabbi’s and they would be called upon the read a scripture, and then speak about it. In this case we see Jesus goes to a synagogue at Capernaum, and he is the one who stands up and teaches. So, no doubt the ruler of the synagogue must have acknowledged him as a Rabbi in some way and allowed him to stand up and read the  scriptures and then teach from what it said. The next verse tells us the people’s reaction to his teaching.

The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

(Mark 1:22)

So, it tells us they were amazed, at his teaching, it also tells us why they were amazed. Those who taught from the scriptures said that they taught from a tradition going all the way back to Moses. Which meant as you taught you quoted previous Rabbi’s as authority as to what you were saying. Like what modern academics call referencing, or peer reviewing. But Jesus comes along, and he doesn’t teach like that at all. Because is says “he taught them as one who had authority, in other words, not referencing to previous teachers of the law”.

Jesus said, “I say to you”, the absolute opposite of what Rabbi’s would normally say. The teachers of the law would normally say, “you have heard it said”. But, Jesus says, “I say to you”. Christ also says, “believe on me and you shall have eternal life”, and they are astonished by this message. The people hear for the first time that all they have to do is believe in order to get to heaven, and they are shocked.

The point I want to make is this, the text says, the people were astonished, but it does not say they believed. They weren’t amazed in a good way, that led to faith, they were shocked, for shocked sake, just shocked. It might be appropriate to be shocked and amazed at the word of God, but if it is not accompanied with faith and belief then it has no real value and that’s the point Mark is making here.

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out.

(Mark 1: 23)

Look at verse 23 closely, there is a man. Where is this man? “In the synagogue” and he is demon possessed. This is someone, who is openly declared to be demon possessed, so what is he doing in the Synagogue. And let me point out he seems happy enough there, he doesn’t make any kind of commotion, until Jesus comes in. This Bible passage suggests to me that sometimes Satan shows up at church.

Maybe you think the devil spent his whole time in the bars, and the nightclubs. That’s not the case, at all. Let me be so bold as to suggest, that you shouldn’t believe everything you hear just because it in a church building. You should check out anything, anybody, says in the name of Jesus and measure it against scripture…. Including me. If Satan could put words in Peters mouth, he can put words in my mouth, and yours.

Peter took Jesus aside and began to rebuke Him, saying, “Far be it from You, Lord; that this shall not happen to You!” Jesus turned and said to Peter, “Get behind Me, Satan!”

(Matthew 16: 22-23)

If Satan can influence the words of Peter himself, we should always be mindful that he can influence the words that come out of our mouths also. In this text in Mark, we have a demon possessed man and here he is sitting in the Synagogue, so what does this demon possessed man say?

‘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!’

(Mark 1: 24)

Please note, the demon knew who Jesus was, he recognised who he was, and frankly he also had some pretty good theology. He knew he was the “Holy One of God”, he recognised he was from Nazareth and he also knew he had come to destroy all the demonic forces. This demon got it all correct, he knew absolutely who Jesus was.

“Jesus rebuked him saying, be quiet, and come out of him now” The impure 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 impure spirits, and they obey him.

(Mark 1: 25-27)

In verse 22 the people were amazed at his teaching and now again in verse 27, they are now amazed at the miracle he has done. That’s their reaction, they are amazed but what do they do in response to the amazing things they have heard and seen? They ask questions about this “new” teaching, and they question by what authority he teaches. In a few words he is able to transform someone life, and they are amazed, astonished perhaps even a little fearful, but nowhere does it say they believed. In other words, they didn’t connect the dots. Jesus, saying believe in me and you will have eternal life, then he casts out a demon by just commanding it. They should have, immediately, believed he was the son of God. These people catch on to this, but the demon did, he recognised what was going on and he cried out, “you are Jesus the holy one of God”. The demon knew it, yet the religious people in the Synagogue didn’t get what was going on, isn’t that hugely ironic. They just saw Jesus transform a life in a second, and they still didn’t get it.

However, let me suggest this happens all the time. Being amazed is fine, but if that amazement doesn’t lead to faith, then the amazement is of no spiritual value. You can be excited, enthusiastic and emotional, but if it is not combined with faith and obedience, then it is of no spiritual value.

News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew.

(Mark 1: 28-29)

First, we see that his fame spreads throughout all of Galilee and then we see Jesus going to the house of Peter and Simon, with James and John. Next it tells us.

Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So, he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her, and she began to wait on them.

(Mark 1: 30-31)

So, they take Jesus home, and the minute they find they have a problem, they take it to Jesus. That’s also a good thing to do, take Jesus home with you, don’t leave him behind in some religious building, and another good thing to do is that if you find you have a problem, immediately give it to him. Jesus takes Simon’s mother-in-law by the hand, and immediately the fever leaves her. He doesn’t even speak on this occasion; he just takes her by the hand and she is made well. Minutes earlier she was sick and helpless, next she recovers and then uses her recovery to minister back to them.

That evening after sunset the people brought to Jesus all who were ill and demon possessed. The whole town gathered at the door.

(Mark 1: 32-33)

So, the Sabbath ends, and they bring to him, “All who are ill, and demon possessed”. Please notice they bring two kinds of people being brought to Him. Those who are sick physically, and those who are sick spiritually, and, “The whole town gathers at the door”. Then this passage closes by saying.

And Jesus healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons, but he would not let the demons speak because they knew who he was.

(Mark 1: 34)

Let me make a simple observation, these people were attracted to Jesus, the whole town was in fact attracted to him, because he was healing people. The reason they turn up at the door, is because they have heard he is healing people. Their interest is not what he is teaching, they didn’t flock on mass to the Synagogue when he was teaching, but they come to Peter’s house in their masses when they hear he is healing people. The crowd were attracted to Jesus because he appeared to be offering them something physically. Not because of what he offered spiritually. Some were astonished at this message, they were amazed at his miracles, and they were attracted by his healings. 

Conclusion.

The first is this, everything Jesus taught as well as the miracles that he did were demonstrations of his power and authority. These events are always more than just Jesus being compassionate. They are signs, demonstrating who he is. Signs that are supposed to open their minds to recognize who he is. Jesus has come as the Messiah, the Holy One of God and ironically this passage suggests the only one who fully recognizes that is a demon.

So, I say, it fine to be astonished, it good to be amazed and excited (even a little fearful). But if that’s all there is, if that does not lead to faith and obedience then all of it is of no spiritual value. These people were astonished at what Jesus taught, they were amazed at what he did, they flocked to him, but probably many initially only for selfish reasons. They were not moved by the message of the kingdom of God, they were not motivated by the call to follow him; they were only interested in the physical benefits. They wanted to see miracles; they didn’t want to hear a message that demanded a change of direction in life.

It’s the same for some today. For some people today, Christianity is just a habit. For others it’s because it is where their social life exists.

It’s where they meet with their friends. All these things are good and are indeed benefits of being part of a Christian Community, but really, why should we go to church?

The main reason is – to be taught the word of God and to be made a disciple, to be equipped for works of service, and always done with faith. One preacher I heard of said this about this passage. This was written over 50 years ago; it could have been written yesterday.

They did not come because they loved him, they did not come because they caught a glimpse of some new vision. In the final analysis they wanted to use him. This is what many people want to do with God. For every prayer that goes up to him in the time of prosperity a thousand go up at a time of adversity. Many a man who has never prayed when the sun was shining, begins to pray when the cold wind comes[i].

(Martin Luther King)

All of that is for me totally humanly understanding, but when we pray for or see healing among the people, its only purpose, and the reaction we should be hoping for is that by that people are , A, amazed, B, astonished, and C, they choose to believe in what God has done for them that day, and know also why he did it. It seems to me many people believe the Christian faith is an emergency service who you only contact in an emergency. Christianity to them is a crisis management system which you only use when life is in a mess. But friends God is not someone just to be used at a time of misfortune.

He is someone to be loved and worshipped every day of your life. 

How do you respond to Jesus? Are you sometimes astonished, are you sometimes amazed, do you sometime even get excited? That’s OK, but do you also listen to the words of Jesus, and he say, I need to also believe and be obedient. You need to believe what God says, and do what God says?

As Professor Howard Hendrix of Dallas Theological Seminary put it. 

“The revelation of God always demands a response”[ii].

If you sit and read or hear the word of God being explained and gain some new insight through the teaching and you do nothing about it, that is still a response. A bad response but doing nothing is still a response. The good response, the proper response is to trust the Lord and the trust he has revealed to you and go live in the light of that revelation. In other words, follow him, and follow by acting upon what you have learnt. You best response, the ultimate response, is to decide in your heart to do what he said, which means obeying him. I hope you agree.

[i] Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Sermon titled "The Drum Major Instinct," Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta, Georgia. (February 4, 1968.)
[ii] azquotes.com/author/22943-Howard_G_Hendricks