Mark
1:14-28
Lesson 64
1:14-28
Lesson 64
Mark: 1:14-28
The ministry begins 14 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel. 16 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. 28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee. |
Margin notes:
"John was put in prison." (1:14) - John the Baptist was arrested for condemning King Herod's incestuous relationship with his niece, Herodias. Herod eventually had John beheaded (Mark 6:21-29). "Sea of Galilee." (1:16) - Also called the Sea of Chinnereth (Numbers 34:11; Joshua 12:3; 13:27), Lake of Gennesaret (Luke 5:1) or The Sea of Tiberias (John 6:1; 21:1), it is a large freshwater lake, thirteen miles long, seven miles wide, 150 feet deep, and in Jesus' day, surrounded by approximately thirty fishing towns. The fresh water of Galilee also supported a large agricultural base as well as other industries such as boat making and tanning. The Sea of Galilee sits 680 feet below sea level in a basin surrounded by mountains and suffers many unexpected storms. According to "Matthew, the Life Change Series", (Published by NavPress Books, Colorado Springs, Colorado; pg. 65), "Cool air from the Mediterranean is drawn down through the narrow mountain passes and clashes with the hot, humid air lying over the lake" causing storms that sometimes include twenty foot waves. "And straightway they forsook their nets." (1:18) - Means, "And immediately they left their fishing nets" (to follow Jesus). "Capernaum." (1:21) - A large city on the north-west shore of the Sea of Galilee and hometown to several disciples. In addition to its thriving fishing industry, Capernaum was located on the main highway from Damascus to Acco and Tyre and became a bustling center of commerce. A customs station (Matthew 9:9; 17:24; Mark 2:14; Luke 5:27) and a large contingent of Roman soldiers were stationed there, and the city became known for its moral excesses. The disciple Peter owned a house in Capernaum and Jesus made it His center of operations while in Galilee (as prophesized in Isaiah 9:1-2 and discussed in Matthew 4:13-16). Because its citizens witnessed many divine miracles (Matthew 8:14-16; Mark 1:30-34; Luke 4:38-41) yet still rejected Christ, the city was denounced in Matthew 10:15,11:23 and Luke 10:15. It's ancient remains have been excavated near the town of Tell Hum. Among its ruins are the remains of a synagogue unearthed in 1905 that could be the one built by the Roman centurion who came to Jesus seeking a miracle (Matthew 8:5-8; Luke 7:1-10). "Synagogue." (1:21) - Jewish place of prayer, worship, and teaching (Mark 1:21; 6:2; Luke 6:6; 13:10). Members of the congregation and out of town visitors could teach or speak to the assembly on the Sabbath. "They were astonished at his doctrine." (1:22) - They were astonished, amazed, dumbfounded at Jesus' teachings. "Scribes." (1:22) - Often called "doctors of the law" (Luke 5:17) or "lawyer" (Matthew 22:35; Luke 7:30; 10:25), scribes were experts on Mosaic Law and the Old Testament prophecies. Predominantly Pharisees (one of four Jewish sects), they interpreted Mosaic Law, taught Judaism, and helped settle religious disputes. They were highly regarded in Jewish society, to the point where "If a man's father and teacher have lost anything, the teacher's loss should have the precedence - i.e., he must first be assisted in recovering it - the burden of a teacher is to be born in preference to that of a father, a teacher must be ransomed from captivity before one's own father." (From "Unger's Bible Dictionary" by Merrill F. Unger, published by Moody Press, Chicago, Illinois; page 981). Because scribes hindered people in their religious journey, burdened them with unnecessary religious legalisms and tried to entrap Jesus (Luke 11:52-54), He condemned them as hypocrites (Luke 11:44). "Unclean spirit." (1:23) - An evil spirit or demon. Demons are fallen angels allied with Satan. According to verse 1:24, Matthew 8:29, Mark 1:24, 1:34, 3:11, 5:7 and Luke 8:27-28, demons know full well who Jesus is. They also believe in God (James 2:19). "Hold thy peace." (1:25) - Means "Be quiet." "When the unclean spirit had torn him." (1:26) - "After the demon had convulsed him." |