Mark 1:16-27 8/3/25 a.m.
“Let’s Hear What the Devil had to Say”
I really find it interesting how that the four Gospels really compliment each other. How that each book tell us MORE of the story of Jesus. Each Gospel even start differently.
A. Matthew Chapter 1 gives us the lineage of Jesus all the way back to Abraham. And it gives us the most detail when it comes to the actual birth of Jesus.
B. The Book of Luke, Chapter 1, goes into Zacharias the Priest and his wife Elisabeth. How that they were blessed with a son at an old age, who became John the Baptist. And then Luke goes into how the lives of Mary and Elisabeth were intertwined even before their babies were born. In the 41st Verse of Chapter 1 it tells us that John LEAPED in the WOMB of his mother when Mary, carrying Jesus, spoke to Elisabeth.
C. And then the first five Verses of John, Chapter 1 goes straight into who Jesus was and still is today.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
2 The same was in the beginning with God.
3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
5 And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehended it not.”
Jesus was “The Word” that spoke the world into existence before He became the Son of God.
He has always been a part of the TRIUNE GOD.
And He is the GIVER of LIFE.
Most scholars believe that the Book of John was written at least 10 years after the other three Gospels. And so that was plenty of time for John to read what the others had to say concerning Jesus and that gave him the ability to answer some of the questions that the other Gospels had brought up.
D. And so that gets us down to the Book of Mark. Mark Chapter 1 refers back to the prophecy of John the Baptist. Isaiah 40, Verse 3 and Malachi 3 Verse 1 tell of a forerunner of Jesus. And John the Baptist was that forerunner. And John the Baptist preached JESUS. The COMING MESSIAH. Get ready, He’s coming.
And so going on THROUGHOUT each Gospel, we see what Jesus SAID. We see what the Disciples of Jesus had to say. What they thought about Jesus.
But in Verse 24 of Mark Chapter 1, we’re going to see what a DEMON, a DEVIL, had to say about Jesus. So let’s go ahead and turn to Mark 1 and we’ll begin reading at Verse 16 and we’ll read down through Verse 27.
“Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers.
17 And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men.
18 And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him.
19 And when he had gone a little farther thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets.
20 And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him.
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.”
So we see here that Jesus has begun His earthly ministry. We see that He has begun calling His disciples. He is doing His Father’s business. He is going into the Synagogues TEACHING the people. People are ASTOUNDED at what He has to say. The way He is TEACHING. He is TEACHING THE WORD with authority. As a man who really understood it. And of course he did UNDERSTAND IT because He was the One who wrote it. And I would also imagine the way He spoke was down on the level that people could really understand and GRASP what Jesus is saying. What a wonderful thing. But then, something happened. One of the people there that day wanted to speak. And that’s what I want to talk to you about today. We’re gonna hear what the DEVIL had to say about Jesus.
But before we do let’s go to the Lord in Prayer.
Brother ____, would you lead us in Prayer?
“And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
I. And so, first of all, I want to look at WHY this man was in the Jewish Synagogue.
Mark doesn’t tell us how how often he came. Whether he ever took part in the reading of the Torah. Listen, we don’t know very much about this fellow but I think he had been there before. He was probably known around the area. And so, up until this day, how could a DEMON POSSESSED MAN feel comfortable in a Jewish SYNAGOGUE? A place that was supposed to be used to WORSHIP GOD?
Well, I’ll tell you. I don’t think God was there until Jesus showed up that day. I don’t think the Spirit of the Lord had been there for a while. The Nation of Judah was in bondage to the Roman Government. The Jewish Leadership of that day was so corrupt that Jesus called them HYPOCRITES, BLIND GUIDES and BLIND FOOLS. He called them SNAKES and VIPERS. He used WHITE WASHED TOMBS to describe what they were. All PRETTY on the outside but DEAD on the inside.
Think about this. For over over 400 years God had not spoken. From 430 B.C. when the Book of Malachi was written to the time that Jesus came around 4 B.C., God was SILENT.
So why was this DEMON POSSESSED MAN there at this SYNAGOGUE? I’m afraid he felt right at home. Maybe I’m taking this too far but I betcha he had friends there. Neighbors. People he had known for years. Relatives. But LISTEN, THIS DAY was like NO OTHER DAY, this man had ever KNOWN.
This DAY he heard a MESSAGE straight from GOD. JESUS SPOKE THAT DAY. I believe the HOLY SPIRIT of GOD was with Jesus that day. People’s HEARTS were TOUCHED THAT DAY.
Verse 22 tells us that the people were “astonished at his doctrine.”
Can I tell you once again, “THIS DAY WAS LIKE NO OTHER DAY, this man had ever KNOWN.”
I love our church. I love you people. Every one of you.
ILLUS: I love what Ron Orr, a visitor from OKC told me last week. He’s a friend of Mike Fisher and he came up to hear Mike preach. This is what he said,
“You’ve got a good church here. Friendly people. In fact, I feel like my arms gonna be shook off. I haven’t shook hands with this many people in a long time.” I LIKE THAT!!!
And my chest puffed up. Man, I’m proud of you all. You know how to make someone feel welcome. I don’t care WHO a person is, when they walk through those doors back there, I want them to feel welcome here. I don’t care if they’re living in DEEP DARK SIN, I want them to be welcomed by not just me but you all. I want their arm to be SORE from shaking so many hands.
In Luke 14, Jesus gave a parable of a banquet, a BIG MEAL that a RICH MAN had prepared. And in Verse 23 he says,
“And the lord said unto the servant, Go out into the highways and hedges, and compel them to come in, that my house may be filled.”
I think of COMPELLING as ENCOURAGING people to come in. Making them feel welcome.
And Proverbs 18:24 tells us,
“A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.”
I believe being FRIENDLY to people opens the door to share with them about this FRIEND who will stick closer than a brother. His name is JESUS.
WE MUST BE FRIENDLY. WE MUST BE WELCOMING. I think we do a pretty good job with that. But listen, when people get here and the Holy Spirit SHOWS UP, I want it to be a DIFFERENT DAY, a DAY LIKE NO OTHER DAY, a DAY like they have never KNOWN BEFORE.”
Why was the DEMON POSSESSED MAN there that day? Just to be honest, I believe he probably felt comfortable there.
II. Secondly, this fellow probably had NO INTENTION of saying a WORD THAT DAY.
Like I said earlier, I don’t know this for sure but I bet he had been there before and he probably had set through the readings of the SCRIBES and PHARISEES. He, being a Jew, had attended because he was EXPECTED to attend.
He may have had a MAMA who hounded him to attend the SYNAGOGUE. Just like GOOD MAMAS do today. AMEN!!!
He may have gone because he had nothing else to do that day.
Maybe he was married and had a wife and children so he’s gonna take them to church.
I don’t know this but I betcha he had NO INTENTION of saying a word that day UNTIL ... GOD SHOWED UP THAT DAY. JESUS WAS THERE. And when Jesus showed up, it CHANGED EVERYTHING!!!
“And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
This fellow CRIED OUT. He began to TALK. This DEMONIC SPIRIT TOOK OVER!!!
He didn’t feel so WELCOME ANYMORE did he? He didn’t want to be in the SAME ROOM as JESUS. He didn’t want to be CLOSE to JESUS. He couldn’t be QUIET anymore could he?!!!”
“Leave us alone Jesus. We don’t want anything to do with you Jesus. Why are you here today Jesus? Have you come to destroy us Jesus?”
Man, I bet this caused quite a stir. I bet people didn’t know what to think. Most were AMAZED at what Jesus had to say.
Most of the people probably enjoyed the MESSAGE that Jesus brought. Most people there that day had a better understanding of the SCRIPTURES. Most people were probably GLAD that Jesus was there. But this man wasn’t. He just wanted JESUS TO GO AWAY!!!
I said earlier that I want folks to feel welcome when they come into our church. I NEVER WANT folks to FEEL UNCOMFORTABLE by something that I say. I want folks to ENJOY the MESSAGES that I bring.
But listen, my EARNEST PRAYER is that the HOLY SPIRIT of God will do HIS WORK in your life today. Not me ... The Holy Spirit. Jesus promised us in John 12:32 that He would draw ALL MEN to Himself. If you’re here today and you don’t have that PERSONAL RELATIONSHIP with Jesus, I pray that you’ll FEEL the HOLY SPIRIT drawing you today. And if that makes you UNCOMFORTABLE, so be it.
And my EARNEST PRAYER is that if the Holy Spirit of God is dealing with you about something going on in your life today, that you’ll listen to Him. You’ll begin to make things RIGHT. Maybe it’s SIN that nobody else knows about. Maybe it’s ANGER at someone and you just need to let it go. Maybe a SPIRITUAL BATTLE is raging in your life. God is calling you to TOTAL COMMITMENT. If you don’t like the way that makes you feel, I’m sorry.
Maybe God is calling you to do something and you just don’t want to do it. I’ve been there. You just want to be left alone but GOD’S SPIRIT keeps on working on your heart ... I’m sure sorry but I’M GLAD HE’S HERE TODAY. I’m THANKFUL that He LOVES you and I enough to work on our HEARTS and DRAW US to HIMSELF.
So if you just want Jesus to go away. Leave you alone. Please don’t stand up and start hollering at me OK. Don’t throw tomatoes at me. It’s GOD DRAWING YOU!!!
So WHY was this fellow at the Synagogue? I’m not sure but I can guarantee you he didn’t surprise Jesus. He knew he was gonna be there.
WHY did he get up and SPEAK? Well, of course we know it was the DEMON SPEAKING through him. He wanted NOTHING to do with Jesus.
III. This DEMONIC MAN begins to TESTIFY to who Jesus really was and is today.
“And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
You know, this was at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist was preaching that the Messiah was coming.
But even John the Baptist didn’t know at this time whether Jesus was the Messiah or not. Most people didn’t know Jesus was God in the flesh.
No doubt some thought He was a GREAT TEACHER.
According to the disciples in Matthew 16, some people thought he was one of the prophets REINCARNATED.
But here, a DEMON KNEW EXACTLY who Jesus was. This DEMON POSSESSED MAN SAYS,
“I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.”
“Leave me alone Jesus, I don’t want nothing to do with you because I KNOW WHO YOU ARE, you’re God in the FLESH!!!”
ILLUS: I want to say something here. Just a little side note. I’ve been around demon possessed people and I’ll be honest, they give me the HEBEJEBES!!! I’ve heard different VOICES coming out of their mouths. I’ve heard their BLASPHEMY. I’ve PRAYED for them. And let me tell you something, you think it’s just a MENTAL CONDITION. Or it’s just MADE UP. Or it’s all DRUG INDUCED. You may be scoffing at me right now but believe me, it’s REAL. It was REAL back when Jesus dealt with it and it’s REAL today. Just like those DEMONS wanted nothing to do with Jesus, the DEMONS of today want nothing to do with Jesus. And they want NOTHING to do with those who have Jesus in their lives. Don’t MESS with things of the DEVIL. Don’t let your children play GAMES with things of the DEVIL. Listen to me ... IT’S REAL!!!
And so we see this DEMONIC MAN standing up right there in the SYNAGOGUE TESTIFYING ... EXACTLY ... who Jesus is. Does anyone else find that AMAZING? For centuries God had been SILENT. He had NOT SPOKEN. And then, just at the RIGHT TIME, He sent His only begotten Son to the Earth and most people didn’t even realize who He was EXCEPT ... A DEMON. I’m not even sure at this point, whether the DISCIPLES really understood who Jesus was. But a DEMON KNEW.
The Book of James gives us some really good practical teaching. He tells us in James 2, Verses 19 and 20,
“Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble.
20 But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead?”
So I guess that brings me to a close. Do YOU BELIEVE in JESUS? DO YOU BELIEVE IN GOD? Most people say they do. Right around 81% of Americans SAY they BELIEVE in a GOD.
James says that’s great!!! Wonderful!!! But so do the DEVILS. This DEVIL that dwelt inside this fellow knew EXACTLY WHO JESUS WAS AND HE SURE BELIEVED IN HIM DIDN’T HE?
BELIEVING IN GOD IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE IT TO HEAVEN. Did you hear me? IT’S NOT ENOUGH.
Romans 10: 9 and 10 tells us,
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.
10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.”
I’m afraid there are a lot of people who have been deceived today. And listen, I’m afraid there may be some people here who may be DECEIVED. I HOPE AFTER THIS MESSAGE YOU AREN’T TOO COMFORTABLE. I hope you’ve given up on this idea “Oh well, I believe in God. That’s all I need.” Because that’s not true. That DEMON who was in the SYNAGOGUE that day that Jesus read from the scriptures PROBABLY believed in God more than anyone else there that day.
So let me ask you something. Have you put your TRUST in Jesus today? Have you really committed your life to Him?
Jesus goes on to cast the DEMON out of the man. He is delivered to start a brand new life free from the BONDS of the DEVIL. Listen, Jesus can deliver you today from whatever it is that has you bound. There are people here today who have been delivered from Drugs, Alcohol, Pornography, Lust and so on. Listen, whatever it is, it is NO MATCH for the power of the Lord Jesus Christ. Do you know Him today? He loves you enough to draw you to Himself. Won’t you come.
Let’s Pray
