Mark 1:21-28

Last week, Jesus called his Disciples for the first time, this week they're going to see him in action, confronting a demoniac in the synogogue. Synogogues were not commanded in the Old Testament, they were initiated after the return from captivity from Babylon with a people group known as the Sophrim, or scribes, started by Ezra. Their point was to make certain that people wouldn't fall into the sin that lead to their exile. They started off correctly, but fell into the trap of creating things that God did not command. Through a process called PilPol, they took a majority vote on creating new laws, and even made these new laws equal, in their view, to the Word of God. They justified it by saying that Moses gave them a Written Law, but this was an Oral Law that was also passed down, which, of course, wasn't true.
 They are also in Capernaum, which will become Jesus' base of operations from this point forward. He will often return to Capernaum before setting out for another location. While in the synagogue at Capernaum Jesus encounters the demoniac who asks Jesus what business He has being here. The demoniac was upset because Jesus was teaching in the synagogue. Everyone was impressed with Jesus because He spoke with authroity, something not done by other Rabbis in that day. Rabbis had a common practice of quoting other Rabbis to make their points and arguements. Jesus, however, did not do this. He quoted only from God's Word and exposited according to only His own counsel. This, obviously, would have been unheard of .
The unclean spirit, however, proceeded to tell everyone who Jesus was! Jesus did not want this to happen. Rather, He chose to work within established religious means, that God had ordained. He also did not wish to accept the testimony of a demon for His ministry. They were not exactly the most reliable of witnesses and even though what demons spoke of Jesus was true, Jesus did not accept their testimony. Instead He bid it to be quiet and to leave the possessed man.
 Obviously this created quite a stir in the locals who saw this, but more importantly for the Disciples with Jesus. The common people went and told all of Galilee about Jesus, which will have ramifacations in Galilee from now on.
 The amazing thing about this passage is just how much authority Jesus has. He has entered God's house where He was most at home and taught about the Word. He did not teach as man did, but taught as someone who had more intimate knowledge. Let us consider what teachings we're relying on. Are we regarding teachers or men as higher than what God says? Do we add things to the Word of God that aren't in there so that we feel more Holy? This week, brethren, as we read God's Word let's take it at face value and not read into it anything else. Let's not judge others for things God does not Judge in His Word. Instead, let us become gracious and full of wisdom so that we might have an intimate knowledge of God and His Word, as Jesus did, and now allows us to do.