By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, February 6, 2011
Sermon Text: Mark 1:21-28
Sermon Theme
In the first five chapters of Mark, Jesus’ confrontation with the demonic is emphasized (Mark 1:13, 21-28, 32-34, 39, 3:11-12, 15, 22-27, 4:14-15, 5:1-20). Jesus’ first miracle in the gospel is the casting out of a demon. Mark, then, perhaps more than the other gospels, emphasizes the victory of Jesus over the forces of evil, over Satan, the “strong man.” It is striking that these forces often function in a religious context. Mark wants to make clear that Jesus’ ministry has its origin and character in this war against the powers of evil. He begins by contrasting the Holy Spirit in Jesus with the unclean spirits of Satan. He then proceeds with a major emphasis on Jesus’ spiritual war, a war in which religion itself can be a form of the demonic.
Sermon Outline
- Fear. Jesus begins his invasion of Satan’s domain by confronting a demon possessed man in the synagogue on the Sabbath, in Mark’s first account of a miracle. The demon cries out in fear at the sight of Jesus (Mark 1:24). The irony here is that the demons operate on a system of fear. People lived in fear of the demon possessed person who had broken free repeatedly from the shackles and chains others had used to seek to bind him (Mark 5:3-4). John says that fear has to do with punishment (I John 4:18). Religion based on fear is a sign of the demonic. This fear is often grounded in feelings of guilt and failure (Romans 8:14-15, Galatians 2:12). Jesus identifies with those whom religion condemns (Mark 2:16, John 8:1-11). Jesus inspires “great awe” (Mark 4:41). On the other hand, to those in the grip of the demonic, Jesus can appear fearful (Mark 5:15). The word of the Lord again and again is “Do not be afraid” (Genesis 15:1, Mark 6:50).
- Futility. The unclean spirit is at home in a religious setting where the leaders no longer exercise authority. Power is found in the scriptures alone, not in any human source (Mark 12:24). One of Satan’s key goals is to give the impression that life is futile. This is especially the case with parents of demon possessed children (Mark 7:24-30, 9:14-29). These parents hold on to a desperate faith in the face of what have been futile efforts for their children’s release. Even Jesus’ disciples may seem powerless (Mark 9:17-18). Jesus himself at times may appear remote (Mark 7:26-27). Satan delights in offering us the splendor of this world, knowing that it will never satisfy us and we will once again be left with a feeling of futility (Matthew 4:8). More seriously, the religious leaders dismiss Jesus’ power as simply another form of Satanic influence (Mark 3:22). They offer no hope. Satan’s religious ideal is to get us in an unending pattern of spiritual effort, which leads nowhere but to feelings of guilt and resignation (Romans 7:14-20, I Corinthians 15:56).
- Freedom. Jesus in the power of the Holy Spirit casts out the demonic spirits (Mark 1:25-26, 5:15, 9:25-27). This is true freedom. Jesus came into a religious setting in which the demons were at home. It is the religious leaders who confuse the Holy Spirit with the power of Satan and thereby come close to committing the unpardonable sin (Mark 3:28-30). Satan delights in offering counterfeit faith, misquoting Scripture and adding elements of power and magic (Matthew 4:1-7). Even the disciples are victims of this kind of faith until the day of Pentecost (Acts 1:6). To them even Jesus can appear as a ghost rather than the Son of God (Mark 6:49). The irony in Mark’s gospel is that it is only the demons who really know who Jesus is (Mark 1:24). Faith in Jesus is freedom from Satan’s power and lies (Matthew 7:15-23). Yet we must intentionally focus on Jesus because Satan’s world is all around us (Mark 8:33). Jesus’ freedom enables us to welcome the despised and rejected (Mark 2:15-17), not to be bound by religious rites and observances (Mark 2:18-20, Colossians 2:16-23) and finally to see the law itself as a guide rather than an inflexible standard (Mark 2:23-27). We need to realize that Satan is the one who wants us to worry and be anxious (Matthew 6:25). We can never be complacent, much less boastful, about our faith in Christ (Matthew 6:15-23). Our faith does give us confidence in Jesus who is victorious over Satan and all his powers including the law itself (Galatians 2:19-20). In him and him alone we are free indeed (John 8:36).
Questions for Us
- Have you experienced fear as part of religion at some time in your life? How does Jesus casting out the demon in the synagogue free us from fear?
- Why do you think the religious leaders of Jesus’ day accused him of being in league with Satan?
- How can we separate true faith in Jesus from the counterfeit religion that Satan offers?
