Consider these questions as we look at Mark 1:21-28.

1. How does the Gospel of Mark emphasize the theme of urgency, particularly in the way Jesus teaches and interacts with the people?

2. What is the significance of Jesus commanding the unclean spirit to be silent and come out of the possessed man? How does this action demonstrate Jesus' authority?

3. Pastor Mark mentions the "Messianic Secret" in Mark's Gospel, where Jesus often doesn't want people to know who he is. Why do you think this theme is important, and how does it contribute to the unfolding narrative of Mark's Gospel?

Transcript:

So as we start in the Gospel of Mark, we are seeing some themes develop and they're happening quickly. I've already pointed out the theme of the word immediately, the urgency of the preaching of Jesus, this idea that the kingdom of God is at hand, that this is going to be the message and we must get it out. Well, we see that again here. And if you're watching on video, I have highlighted in green the word immediately. Again, immediately.

 I did that when I saw the text because it's important that we continue to feel this urgency. But as we start here, I want to look at verse 22 as our main understanding of what is going on in this short passage today. And they were astonished at his teaching. It says, for he taught them as one who had authority and not as the scribes. Jesus, of course, has authority to teach.

 He is God incarnate. He is able to tell the people what not only what the scripture says, but what it actually means. He is teaching in a different way. And so this is what Jesus did and he did it immediately. He went into the synagogue and he's teaching this kingdom of God with authority.

 Now what happens after this? Another immediately. What happens? There's a man with an unclean spirit and he cries out, what do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?

 I know who you are. The Holy One of God. Well, why is this here? Now, you've probably heard me say from the pulpit several times that we have to remember that when we read these stories, the stories that we have in front of us are there for a particular reason, whether we're looking at Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David. They lived ordinary lives.

 They had a lot of stuff going on. And so when Holy Scripture inspires the writers to tell particular stories, it's doing it for a reason. And what we're meant to see here by telling this story, jesus did a lot of stuff, but suddenly this story is showing up for a reason. Well, that reason is we're to see and understand the authority that Jesus has to teach. And so this unclean spirit knows who Jesus is.

 The demons know who Jesus is, and so he has authority. Even the demons recognize this. But then we see this authority that Jesus has being amplified even more, because what does he do? He says to the unclean spirit, be silent and come out of him. And it happens so clearly.

 Jesus has the authority over these unclean spirits. He has authority over all things. And so this story is being told to help us see right here at the beginning of Mark how important Jesus is and what authority he has. Now, notice what Jesus says. Be silent.

 Now this is starting another theme right here at the beginning of Mark that we're going to see throughout the Book of Mark, we'll draw it out many times, but it's called the Messianic Secret. It's in some of the other gospels. But in Mark there's this continual idea that Jesus doesn't want people to know who he is. It's not time yet, while the kingdom of God is at hand, for people to actually know who he is. We're not quite there yet.

 And so that's why Jesus says, be silent. And so we're going to see that theme developing as the Gospel of Mark unfolds for us on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. So where does this lead in the text? We see in verse 27, the people see this and they get the message. What is this?

 A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey Him. They obey him. He has authority. And so this is who Jesus is.

 This is the Jesus that we are tracking through the Gospel of Mark. And we're going to see this continual authority and this reaction of people to Him. And notice what it says in verse 28. And at once, just so you know, in Greek, that's the word, you guessed it immediately. And you may have guessed that because I highlighted in green, like I have the word immediately.

 There's this idea that, again, the urgency of it. Because of this, the fame of Jesus spreads in all the surrounding regions. Why? Because he teaches as one who has authority. He teaches as one who has power, even over the demons, over the unclean spirits.

 And so he has power and we should listen to Him. And so for us, some application for us today, jesus has authority. We know this. And for us, it isn't just this story that shows us he has authority. The reason we know Jesus has authority is because he descended, he took on human flesh.

 He was in our very own flesh to bear the wrath of God for us. He suffered and died, defeated sin, death and hell and rose again. We absolutely know that Jesus has authority. But what does that do for us in our lives? Do we trust the authority of what Jesus has to say?

 Do we submit ourselves to his word? I know the answer to that, because not always right, because it is difficult. But as we live our lives, it's important that we put Jesus in that proper place, that we remember that he has authority and daily strive to live our lives in conformity to His Word. And so may we remember that authority that Jesus has and may we live in light of it today and of course, every other day.