Mark 1:23-26

Passage

Immediately in the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit.  The man, together with the unclean spirit, cries out to Jesus.  They want to know what Jesus will do about them.  He wonders if Jesus has come to destroy them.  He then identifies Jesus as the Holy One of God.  Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit by first commanding him to be silent and then commanding him to come out of the man.  The unclean spirit shrieks in a loud voice and obeys Jesus.

Thoughts for Today

First Thought:

Again we have the word immediately.  No sooner did Jesus begin to teach with authority than that authority was challenged.  This is actually a pretty cool point.  So often when we step out in faith we are immediately challenged.  We often hear the challenge and our first instinct is to retreat.  But there are two points that we should consider.  First, if the powers and principalities of evil challenge Jesus as soon as He steps out, why should we expect anything different?  Second, it only makes sense that they would want to challenge Jesus.  If Jesus is going to be knocked down, it is going to happen when He is just starting out, not once He has gained a bunch of experience.  If this is true for Jesus, why would it not be true for us as well?  Why wouldn’t Satan and his powers want to attack us just when we begin to grow in our faith and are most vulnerable?

How often do you think about growing in your faith?  How often do you think about stepping out into new faith?  How often do you genuinely consider how much Satan would prefer to see you fail the first time you step out?  Why is it important to consider such things?

Second Thought:

The unclean spirit comes at Jesus with questions.  The unclean spirit wants to know Jesus’ intent.  There is something neat about this point as well.  The powers of darkness do not know the future.  This unclean spirit did not know what Jesus would do with it.  It assumed Jesus was there to destroy it, but it did not know.  So often we assume that the powers of evil know as much as God.  This passage strongly suggests otherwise.

What does it say about the powers of evil that they do not know the future for certain?  What does it say about those who choose to serve evil instead of God, who does know the future?

Third Thought:

The unclean spirit shrieks and comes out.  It is obedient.  Granted, the obedience of the unclean spirit is resistant.  It doesn’t willingly obey.  But in the end, it does obey.  I believe this will be the state of everything in the end.  All will come face to face with God and be forced to bend their knee at God’s supremacy.  Some will be obedient willingly and pass on into God’s glory.  Others will bend the knee only under God’s judgment and they will pass on into that judgment.  But all will obey God.

Which one are you?  Do you bend your knee to God willingly?

Passage for Tomorrow: Mark 1:27-28