A New Teaching

Mark 1:21-29

Key Verse 1:27

In this passage we can learn what makes one to be an excellent Bible teacher, and what makes one to be a horrible Bible student. 

Read verse 21. Who are “they”? What does the Bible say about “Capernaum”? What is a “synagogue”? Jesus went into the synagogue on the Sabbath. Why on the Sabbath? Jesus went to the synagogue to “teach”. Why is teaching necessary? 

** Jesus and the first batch of the disciples he had just fished (John and James; Andrew and Peter); Jesus took them to the synagogue to give them OJT (on the job training).

** Capernaum was the most populous area among the towns developed around the Sea of Galilee. It is the place where Jesus performed the most number of miracles. Obviously Jesus established his headquarters for the Galilean ministry there.  

** It is a Jewish community building where people gathered to worship, pray, and study the word of God, and then have fellowship together.

** It was because on this day the most number of people came to this place. So it was a good place to find people who needed to listen to God’s word.

** Teaching is necessary because people are to learn to fear the Lord God, develop deep love for the Lord, and obey the Lord. 

Read verse 22. How did people respond to Jesus’ teaching? How was Jesus’ teaching different from that of the teachers of the law? What is authority? 

** They were amazed at Jesus’ teaching. It does not mean that they believed in Jesus. 

** He spoke as one who had authority. 

** Authority has to do with “author”. Jesus is the author of the living word of God. He knows that God’s word is living and active. It was with His word that he created the universe and everything in it. Because he made it he knows it inside out. He knows how to use it powerfully. 

Read verses 23-26. What is an “evil spirit”? What does this passage show us about “evil spirits”?  

** Two characteristics: evil and spirit. Evil can also mean “unclean”. Spirit is used as opposed to flesh (or that which is purely physical). Evil spirit is incorrigible. Unlike man’s physical body, spirit has no room for it to hold both what is good and what is evil all at the same time. Apparently God created every entity as a pair, all in two categories: good category and evil category. So is the case with the spirit, so that just as there is an evil spirit there is a good spirit. 

** It can get into a man’s body. It is allowed to operate until it is destroyed by God at God’s time; it causes man to be a horrible Bible student, preventing that person from listening to and accepting God’s word, and thereby be transformed. It does not want to build a relationship with Jesus. It can speak using the vocal system of the man it possesses.  

Read verses 27-28. What do the following expressions indicate about Jesus and his teaching? 

The people were all so amazed;

“What is this?”;

“A new teaching!”;

“And with authority”;

“He gives orders to evil spirits”; 

“And they obey him”; and

“News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee”. 

** Jesus’ teaching is amazing.

** It is challenging in that it goes way beyond what we think we already know.

** It is fresh or “new”, meaning it is not boring, or old-fashioned, but fresh to our ears and minds. Find in the dictionary what the word “new” means. 

** Jesus is the man of authority. He is charismatic. His teachings come with power. 

** It produces the fruit of obedience. [In case of human beings, when one is humble enough with all other conditions being equal the listener of Jesus’ word will come up with obedience.] 

** It was Jesus’ teaching that turned peoples’ attention to him.

The end

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