Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit

Meditations of the Gospel of Mark

July 29, 2020

Jesus Casts Out an Evil Spirit

“The news about Jesus spread quickly

throughout the entire region of Galilee.”

Mark 1:28

Read: Mark 1: 21-34

Why did the news of Jesus spread quickly? The first indication in today’s passage comes in verse 27: “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority!” We heard this earlier this year when we read through the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 7:28-29). As John noted, “So the Word became human and made his home among us” (John 1:14). Jesus is his own authority.

The second indication is the completion of verse 27 and verse 34:

27 - “What sort of new teaching is this?” they asked excitedly. “It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”

34 - So Jesus healed many people who were sick with various diseases, and he cast out many demons.

Jesus taught with confidence and authority. Jesus had such compassion for the people he spent half the night in Peter’s home healing the sick and casting out demons. That was Good News for the people and they were drawn to him. I believe it is still Good News, and authoritative teaching, relying fully on God’s Word, coupled with compassion for people still draw people to God.

My Takeaway: A friend recently posted this quote on his Facebook page: “If the Holy Spirit was withdrawn from the church today, 95 percent of what we do would go on, and no one would know the difference.” (A. W. Tozer)

You think this observation is true for your church?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com. The BLOG is also available on Amazon Kindle, by subscription.

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

Publications by Alex M. Knight:

• Seeking the Life in Christ, Meditations on the New Testament and Psalms has been published and is now available at Amazon.com in paperback and Kindle.

• The second edition of  First Think – Then Pray is available on Amazon Kindle.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.