1. Miracles at Capernaum Mark 1:21-34

2. In the fellowship room Living the Abundant Life

3. Mark 1:21 (ESV) And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. Today’s lesson is set very early in Jesus’ ministry. Mark’s account of the Gospel has it following the calling of the apostles. Capernaum served as the “home base” for Jesus during his Galilean ministry.

4. Mark 1:21 (ESV) And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. Capernaum was “evidently a Roman military post along the highway which went through Galilee en route from Damascus to Jerusalem. - Charles F. Pfeiffer, Baker’s Bible Atlas Why would this be a good place for Jesus to start His ministry?

5. Mark 1:21 (ESV) And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. Who? When? Where? Why? What? How?

6. Mark 1:22 (ESV) And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. How did the worshippers at the synagogue respond to Jesus’ teaching?

7. Mark 1:22 (ESV) And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. How did the worshippers at the synagogue respond to Jesus’ teaching? “Though the teaching of Jesus differed from the teaching of the scribes as to matter, the contrast here drawn is as to manner.” - JW McGarvy and Philip Y. Pendleton, The Fourfold Gospel

8. Mark 1:22 (ESV) And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. How did the worshippers at the synagogue respond to Jesus’ teaching? “Though the teaching of Jesus differed from the teaching of the scribes as to matter, the contrast here drawn is as to manner. They spoke on the authority of Moses or the elders, but Jesus taught by His own authority.” - JW McGarvy and Philip Y. Pendleton, The Fourfold Gospel

9. Mark 1:23-24 (ESV) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Who else recognized the difference in the teacher?

10. Mark 1:23-24 (ESV) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Who else recognized the difference in the teacher? What did the demon have to say about Jesus?

11. Mark 1:23-24 (ESV) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Who else recognized the difference in the teacher? What did the demon have to say about Jesus? Is it common in the New Testament for demons to address Jesus?

12. Mark 1:23-24 (ESV) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Who else recognized the difference in the teacher? What did the demon have to say about Jesus? Is it common in the New Testament for demons to address Jesus? Is it common for demons to confront Jesus in the synagogue?

13. Mark 1:23-24 (ESV) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” “Demons never spoke disrespectfully of Christ, and their information concerning Him was always accurate. Thought Satan works, his range of wickedness is limited, and God permitted demon possession for a limited period of time to demonstrate the power of His Son.” -Wayne Jackson, A New Testament Commentary

14. Mark 1:23-24 (ESV) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” Put yourself in the assembly at the synagogue that Saturday. Hearing His teaching. Recognizing His authority. Hearing the confrontation by the demon. Tell me about it. What’s going through your head?

15. Mark 1:25 (ESV) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” What is Jesus’ response?

16. Mark 1:25 (ESV) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” What is Jesus’ response? Since your right there, tell me about it. What’s going through your head? How does the assembly react?

17. Mark 1:25 (ESV) But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” What is Jesus’ response? Since your right there, tell me about it. What’s going through your head? How does the assembly react? Why do you think Jesus told the demon to “be silent” and not simply “come out of him”?

18. Mark 1:26 (ESV) And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. What is the response of the unclean spirit to Jesus’ rebuke? Is it silent?

19. Mark 1:26 (ESV) And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. What is the response of the unclean spirit to Jesus’ rebuke? Is it silent? Who won this confrontation?

20. Mark 1:26 (ESV) And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. What is the response of the unclean spirit to Jesus’ rebuke? Is it silent? Who won this confrontation? Were the demon’s comments accurate? Mark 1:23-24 (ESV) And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.”

21. Mark 1:26 (ESV) And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. Why do you think Mark left us hanging without any more details? What happened to the unclean spirit after it came out of the man? What happened to the man?

22. Mark 1:26 (ESV) And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. “The healing of the man and the exorcism of the demon are important only insofar as the reveal who Jesus is. Having served this purpose, Mark leaves them without dealing with such speculations as where the demon went or what happened to the man, for his Gospel is not about them but about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” - Robert H. Stein, Mark

23. Mark 1:27 (ESV) And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” How did the assembly react? Can you hear it?

24. Mark 1:27 (ESV) And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” How did the assembly react? Can you hear it? “Jesus had a new and special type of authority. He was not merely discussing law, ethics, or even theology as the scribes might have done. Rather, demons were being confronted face-to-face and defeated. Needless to say, such news spread around the region because people were not accustomed to such events.” - Darrell L. Bock, The Gospel of Mark

25. Mark 1:28 (ESV) And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. Who would tell about what you experienced that day?

26. Mark 1:29 (ESV) And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Why do you think Jesus immediately left the synagogue? Why do you think He went to a more private place?

27. Mark 1:30 (ESV) Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. What news is Jesus given as He arrives?

28. Mark 1:30 (ESV) Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. What news is Jesus given as He arrives? Why do you think they gave Him this news?

29. Mark 1:30 (ESV) Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. What news is Jesus given as He arrives? Why do you think they gave Him this news? 1) They were concerned about their loved one. 2) They believed He had the ability to heal her.

30. Mark 1:30 (ESV) Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. Side note: What tidbit of insight are we given about the apostles in this verse?

31. Mark 1:31 (ESV) And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. What did Jesus do after He heard that she was sick?

32. Mark 1:31 (ESV) And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. What did Jesus do after He heard that she was sick? How did her health respond to His involvement?

33. Mark 1:31 (ESV) And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. What did Jesus do after He heard that she was sick? How did her health respond to His involvement? What was her reaction immediately after being healed by Jesus?

34. Mark 1:31 (ESV) And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. What did Jesus do after He heard that she was sick? How did her health respond to His involvement? What was her reaction immediately after being healed by Jesus? What can we learn from her reaction?

35. Mark 1:31 (ESV) And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. What can we learn from her reaction? “Serving is the way of Jesus and those who attend him, and thus it describes an essential characteristic of the kingdom of God that Jesus introduces and exemplifies. For Mark, the proper response of one who has been touched by Jesus is to serve ‘them’, that is, the Christian fellowship.” - James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Mark

36. Mark 1:31 (ESV) And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. Why do you think Jesus performed this miracle in private with only a very small audience?

37. Mark 1:32-33 (ESV) That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. What was the response as word about Jesus spread?

38. Mark 1:34 (ESV) And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. Did Jesus exorcise more than just the man in the synagogue? Did He heal more than just Simon’s mother-in-law?

39. Mark 1:34 (ESV) And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. Did Jesus exorcise more than just the man in the synagogue? Did He heal more than just Simon’s mother-in-law? Why do you think Peter left out details of these miracles?

40. Mark 1:34 (ESV) And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. Did Jesus exorcise more than just the man in the synagogue? Did He heal more than just Simon’s mother-in-law? Why do you think Peter left out details of these miracles? Why do you think He silenced the demons “because they knew him”?

41. Mark 1:34 (ESV) And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. Why do you think He silenced the demons “because they knew him”? “Until the consummation of Jesus’ work on the cross, all speculations about Him are premature. Only on the cross can Jesus be rightly known for who He is.” - James R. Edwards, The Gospel According to Mark

42. The reaction of the crowd to Jesus’ teaching reminds us that His teaching is different from all others. He did not merely repeat truths; He provided them. Rather than appealing to ancient sources for authority, Jesus spoke with authority.

43. Although we are often interested in the details of Jesus’ miracles, the details are never as important as the miracles. Mark’s willingness to cite various miracles without going into great detail places the focus on Jesus, where it rightly belongs. As we consider the various miracles Jesus performed, we would do well to learn from the crowds who witnessed them firsthand.

44. The power of Jesus is illustrated in His healing Simon’s mother-in-law. According to Mark’s account, her healing was instantaneous and complete. Immediately after, she reacted by serving Jesus and His followers. This provides an excellent example of how all who follow Jesus should behave.

45. Jairus and a Woman of Faith Luke 8:41-56