Mark continues: “The report of him went out immediately everywhere into all the region of Galilee and its surrounding area” (Mark 1:28 WEB). And the report about Jesus still goes out. The gospel of the forgiveness of sins in Jesus continues to spread. He has died, for you! He has risen, just as he said! He lives and pleads for you! The news of salvation from all our sins and sorrows is the very best of news. Thank you, Lord Jesus.

“They were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching? For with authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him’” (Mark 1:27 WEB). New, and yet not. Promised at the beginning, now fulfilled. God he is, Son of the Father from eternity, never lacking in absolute authority—yet also man, born in time, born of a virgin by the power of the Holy Spirit: Immanuel, God With Us.

“And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him” (Mark 1:26 WEB). Demonic possession is real, and can only be overcome by the Word of God and prayer. But all of us start out spiritually owned by Satan, and our spirits are unclean. Therefore baptism, when the Holy Spirit comes and graciously takes possession of us, is a violent coup in which our souls die to sin and are born again—into Christ!

Mark continues, “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’” (Mark 1:25 WEB).  The battle for your soul is a war of words.  The devils want to pile up lying words to confuse and overwhelm you, but Jesus has a Word of power that stills them and rescues you.  At the Word of Jesus, Satan is silenced and driven out, but your mouth is opened to proclaim the wonders of God and all that he has done for you in Christ.

Good morning!  As we continue, a demon cries out “saying, ‘Ha! What do we have to do with you, Jesus, you Nazarene? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are: the Holy One of God’” (Mark 1:24 WEB).  The demon knew who Jesus was and what he would do, and Jesus allowed him to say just that much before silencing him.  But for us, the coming of Jesus is gospel!  May the Holy Spirit convict us that Christ came not against but FOR us.

Good morning from St. John the Baptist Lutheran Church!  Mark continues, “Immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out” (Mark 1:23 WEB).  We thank God that he is with us, in Jesus and through his Spirit—because so is Satan!  The demons take voice through human lips, even in the church.  They try to obscure the Word, in our day, too.  Who will we hear?  Jesus gave us the words of eternal life!

Mark continues about Jesus, “They were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22 WEB).  This is the surprise of God's Word, and it has two parts.  What?  You say God expects me to love him with all my heart, soul, mind and strength, and my neighbor as myself?  And then, you say God in Jesus has paid for my sins, forgives them, and through baptism raises me to new life?!

“They went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath day [Jesus] entered into the synagogue and taught” (Mark 1:21 WEB).  This word "immediately" keeps coming up.  It refers to time, and its frequency gives the gospel of Mark a rushed feel.  But there is something more behind it.  Jesus ministers im-mediately, that is, without mediation.  In Jesus, God is with us, in person, in the flesh, in time and space, right away—for you!

Mark says of Jesus, “Immediately he called them, and they left their father, Zebedee, in the boat with the hired servants, and went after him” (Mark 1:20 WEB). Jesus called, and James and John left everything and followed him. It was hard! And, ever wonder about Zebedee? What a shock and sorrow! The sons God had given were taken away. But they were dedicated to the ministry of God in Christ, and through them, Jesus built his church.

Good morning!  We continue to hear from Mark, “Going on a little further from there, [Jesus] saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who were also in the boat mending the nets” (Mark 1:19 WEB). James will serve for a short time and die a martyr for the name of Jesus. John will serve the longest of any apostle and die peacefully. Both were thankful that of all the fishermen on the shore that day, Jesus saw and called them.