Jesus in the House!
Mark 1:21-28
Three things – 1) Jesus regularly gathers with the faithful on the Sabbath. 2) Whenever Jesus is present, new and exciting things are in store. 3) In this first public appearance of Jesus in Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is presented as healer.
1) Jesus regularly gathers with the faithful on the Sabbath.
Our Scripture tells us these events take place on the Sabbath, so, naturally Jesus went to the synagogue to worship and enjoy a time of fellowship with other Jewish believers. Remember that Jesus was a faithful Jew! Being fully Jewish was one of the requirements of being Messiah. …and not only was he Jewish, but He was also sinless before the Law!
Gathering on the Sabbath was not something Jesus just began when he started his ministry! …For all of his life, Jesus had been attending weekly gatherings of the faithful. No doubt this was the regular custom in Joseph and Mary’s household. …Regularly attending synagogue, spending time in community praying, worshiping and learning had become a part of Jesus' spiritual DNA.
Folks, this is important for us to understand, because Jesus is often seen as the guy who was always bucking the system. …the guy who called the leaders and rulers of the Temple System to task. …but the only way he could do that effectively was by being a person who was in regular attendance …a person who knew the ins and outs of the worship system!
Another reason this realization is important for us is that … Jesus always leads by example.
My friends, you need to hear this loudly and clearly. I fully and firmly believe that Jesus meets us right where we are spiritually, physically, and mentally whenever we call on his name and confess Him as Lord! ….but he doesn’t allow us to stay there!
Even if he meets us in the largest cathedral ever built, He calls us to grow beyond that place where he encountered us and to enter into new relationship with God!
Now, this is something that is going to hit some people right between the eyes, but I have to proclaim it because I see it in God’s Word! …with very VERY few exceptions …People who claim that they can have a relationship with God through Jesus by the Holy Spirit and never take part in the regular gatherings of the faithful for worship are lying to themselves! …Satan had succeeded in convincing them that they can ‘go it alone’ …because Satan knows …just like wild animals on the African plains …anyone alone is easy pickings!
Now, folks, I need to carry this further. …Watching a preacher on TV or listening to one on the radio is a poor substitute for being in regular communion with believers gathered for worship.
For some, that is the best they can do because of their circumstance, and in this day …because of the worldwide pandemic.
But my friends, these are exceptions to the rule! God instituted the church for the faithful to be able to grow with one another, support one another, hold each other accountable, learn from one another, so God can bless us as His people, and so we can BE the church in the world. Folks, the church is relevant in our world and we CANNOT BE COMMITTED CHRISTIANS IN OUR WORLD TODAY AND NOT BE A PART OF A GODLY CHURCH GATHERING!
If you are not physically gathering with believers in a way that you can look them in the eye and speak frankly and personally with them, you are missing out on one of the primary blessings God has given to us!
…and quite honestly, I question the integrity of your profession of faith.
…and I don’t want to hear all the excuses! …Jesus is greater than excuses! …and He has given us the example of gathering regularly with the faithful, and that is the standard of our faith! …Period! …End of paragraph!
2) Whenever Jesus is present, new and exciting things are in store.
As we look at this passage Mark gives us, we see that the heart of the story is that in Jesus, God in the Flesh, the God of Covenant and of Creation has shown up in this Synagogue.
In this living, breathing person, God is fully present and very much alive in a new and amazing way! Israel's long-awaited Messiah has come to rescue, redeem and restore the hearts of people everywhere.
Now, in that day, any male Jew of age could stand up and request to both read and comment upon the Scripture in the Synagogues. Of course, there were social customs to follow, but at any rate, Mark tells us that Jesus got up to teach, and things were never more the same.
And on this day, from the moment Jesus entered into the synagogue, it was apparent that things were different. As He began to teach them, they became increasingly aware that Jesus was no ordinary Rabbi. Oh, how I wish I could know what Jesus taught that morning!
Jesus had come on the scene. He held no Rabbinic degree. He had not been to seminary. There is no indication that he had sat at the feet of a great Rabbi like Gamaliel who had taught Paul. He came with no letters of recommendation or ordination certificate from Jerusalem. These are the conventional ways that authority is granted.
No, Jesus just appeared and taught. His authority came from the teaching itself, …and the people noticed how superior it was to the regular instruction they had been receiving from the Scribes.
And this Jesus of Nazareth spoke differently. …He spoke as if He intimately knew the Lord God Almighty! …He spoke with such a passion that the passion alone stirred their minds and hearts!
What Jesus said resonated. What Jesus said made sense …and it touched their hearts and lives. His message was understood by all present, …and it was filled with truth and righteousness.
The people were excited. We see from the second verse of our passage this morning that the people in attendance were ‘astounded’ by what they heard.
My friends, whenever Jesus is present, new and exciting things are in store!
What about the times you gather as the church? …do you know the presence of the Holy Spirit? …does Jesus bring new and exciting possibilities to your life when you gather with the faithful? …if not, maybe you don’t know, or maybe you haven’t been taught the wonderful truths about Jesus ….about how He enters our lives, and as John 10:10 tells us; brings LIFE and life in ABUNDANCE!
Are you living life in abundance right now? If you are not, I would suggest to you that you need an encounter with Jesus because that is exactly what Scripture tells us He brings to us! …and if you are not meeting that Jesus, and if you don’t know that Jesus, …the Jesus of Scripture …then folks, you need to go somewhere where that Jesus gathers with the faithful and meets the people!
Now, I have to acknowledge that services like we see in this Synagogue in Capernaum are not the norm, …but the reality is …when Jesus is present, there is a great chance that something wonderful is going to happen!
The question we have to ask ourselves is - "Do we come to worship expecting Jesus and the Holy Spirit to be present in a mighty way." …Or have we gotten so use to nothing happening …that we no longer come with any expectations? We pretty much know what is going to happen:
+We gather together + We say a quick prayer or two
+We sing a few songs +We put some money in the plate,
+We try our best not to zone out during the message,
+ We wait for the benediction and then we hurry out to go home.
…Unless someone falls completely asleep and begins to snore or falls off the pew, nothing interrupts our services! …No one stands up and testifies that the person speaking is the Holy One of God! …and no demons are cast out as a regular part of the service!
I am afraid if some of those things happened, we really would not know how to respond! We would not only be shocked beyond belief, we would wonder if we were in a real church or in some kind of cult!
So, was Mark merely including this story to give us some kind of insight; or as an epiphany of who Jesus is? …Or was Mark letting us know here at the beginning of his testimony what it means to invite Jesus into your worship space and life?
Was Mark letting us know up front that when we let Jesus speak, we should expect not only new insights, revelations and the like, but we can also expect to see Evil, Sin and unclean spirits be cast out and people experience true freedom and worship?
And that brings me to the third thing I want you to see from our Scripture this morning…
3) Jesus brings healing into our lives.
Look with me at verse 26; 1:26 “And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him”. I want you to see as we consider this Scripture this morning that this man was healed by Jesus. Scripture doesn’t explicitly state it, but this man was healed! Can you imagine what this man must have felt like all of a sudden? …to be free of a controlling demon? ….Folks, this man received healing from Jesus!
My friends, I am here to proclaim to you today that Jesus is still in the healing business! …Jesus is still in the freedom business! …Jesus is still in the demon casting business! ….Folks, Jesus is alive! Jesus is well! …and Jesus is with us!!!
I want you to see as we look at this short passage of Scripture this morning that Jesus is presented here as healer, …conqueror, …liberator, …Lover of people, …He is full of justice, ….Folks, Jesus is LORD!
…and when we allow Him place in our lives, …He brings healing ….healing in the form of freedom. Freedom from the stain and guilt of sin. …healing in the form of forgiveness …forgiveness for ourselves and for those who have wronged us and jailed us in a prison of hatred and anguish …healing in the form of love …love of God …love of humanity …and yes, …even love of self!
Jesus knows exactly what is going on in our lives, and what needs to be healed …and exactly how to bring that healing! …are you allowing Jesus to come into your Temple?
Because folks, I am here to tell you …when you do Jesus comes in and …Jesus conquers! Did you notice this morning how, when the demon spoke up in this peaceful orderly gathering, that Jesus was not flapped at all! …Jesus was neither surprised nor caught off guard! …we have no indication that Jesus even raised his voice, but simply commanded that demon to shut up! …and then ‘come out’ of the man.
Please see here with me … Jesus conquers demons! …And, my friends, whether you believe it or not, demons are real ….and demons still come into our lives …and the best news out of all of this is that Jesus still kicks demons out of our lives!!! …and the Church said …AMEN!
…so, what kind of demons are in your life? …is there a demon of fear in your life today? …with all the uncertainty of living through a global pandemic has a demon of fear invaded your life?
….how about a demon of addiction? …does alcohol or drugs rule your life? …or maybe you are addicted to something else …something more palatable in our society …like an addiction to food or eating. …are these demons of addiction destroying your family and your relationships? …folks, do you see that that is exactly what Satan does in our lives …ruins our families …and our relationships?!?!
Perhaps you have a demon of depression …or a self-confidence demon in your life. …you know what I am talking about …those demons who take our self-confidence away from us and leave us doubting our worth and our abilities and our place in this world!
Folks, Jesus conquers demons! … and because Jesus loves people …and wants people to know life, and life abundantly …Jesus is always ready to cast these demons out of your life just like He did that man in the temple 1990 years ago!
And not only is He conqueror, …Jesus is liberator! …when he kicks these demons out of your life, he liberates your life …and causes you to be free! Free to live the abundant life God wants for you …Free to live a liberated life that draws others to the foot of the cross …so that they, too, can know some freedom!
And because Jesus is full of justice …now hear this! ….because Jesus is full of justice …He not only brings healing and freedom into our lives …and He not only casts out the demons that destroy your lives …He also justifies us to be able to stand before our Holy God …pure and spotless …as his very own! Praise God!
A final thought…
Notice, very carefully that Mark does not tell us that this man was evil. To read such a thought into this passage I believe is to misread this passage. Mark does not tell us that Jesus condemned this particular man in any way, shape or form.
What we do read about is Jesus rebuking the unclean spirit and commanding it to leave the man alone. What we do read about is the story of how that man was free to worship, to learn and to give thanks like he had never be able to do before.
I wonder …are there any unclean spirits in our worship gathering today? …you bet there are! …but folks, I’ve got some Good News for you this morning! …I want to you to rejoice in the reality that Jesus came to free any and all of us from the penalty and power of sin! Jesus came to bring us life; abundant life. …Jesus came to heal us, redeem us and restore us into His Holy Image! An image which enables us to stand before a Holy God, and enter into His joy, peace, love and abundance!
Mark has given us wonderful insight into Jesus this morning ...and in the story, we see a man who needed freedom. This man needed some major spiritual help …and Jesus came to his rescue. Mark shows us that when Jesus is in the House people who have been suffering, people who have been enslaved by evil are able to be released, find freedom, healing and wholeness!
My friends, will you allow Jesus to enter your life?
NOTE: In preparing this message, I gleaned insight and material from several sources, including sermons posted on Sermon Central by Mark A Barbor, “The Authority of Jesus” and Ernie Arnold “Jesus in the House!”. I recommend both these authors to you!
