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Jesus, God's Servant A Survey of the Gospel of Mark CHAPTER TWO: THE SERVANT WORKING by Massimo Lorenzini II. The Servant Working (1:14-3:35) A. The Servant Begins His Ministry (1:14-45) Summary of Jesus' Preaching vv. 14-15 14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel." v. 14 John was put in prison - See Mark 6:17-29 for the fate of John the Baptist. Galilee - The northernmost region of Palestine and the most populated. preaching the gospel - It is from God and about God; the Good News about God's Kingdom drawing near. v. 15 the kingdom of God is at hand - In Jesus' actions God's rule had invaded this world. The kingdom is both present and future. Bruce Metzger said, "The kingdom of God in its essences is the reign of God, the personal relationship between the sovereign God and the individual. Thus there is no point in asking whether the kingdom is present or future. It is both." Calling of First Disciples vv. 16-20 16 And as He walked by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea; for they were fishermen. 17 Then Jesus said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you become fishers of men." 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him. 19 When He had gone a little farther from there, He saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the boat mending their nets. 20 And immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants, and went after Him. v. 16 Simon and Andrew - They had been disciples of John the Baptist. They had known Jesus (see John 1:35-42). casting a net - It is interesting to note that Jesus never called anyone from idleness. He called people who were already faithfully doing God's will as they knew it to be. v. 17 fishers of men - Evangelism was the primary purpose for which Jesus called the apostles, and it remains the central mission for His people today (Matt 28:19-20; Acts 1:8). Fishing is an art, so is fishing for people. It requires patience. Often there are lonely hours of waiting. It requires skill in the use of bait, lures, and nets. It requires discernment and common sense in going where the fish are biting. It requires persistence. A good fisherman is not easily discouraged. It requires quietness. The best policy is to avoid disturbances and to keep self in the background. v. 18 They immediately left their nets and followed Him - Notice that they did not waste any time in responding to Jesus' call. This also shows something of the price of discipleship by the breaking of family ties, the leaving of their father's business. Let's also be quick to obey the Lord when we know what He wants us to do. A New Teaching: Casting out an Unclean Spirit in the Synagogue vv. 21-28 21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, "Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are--the Holy One of God!" 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be quiet, and come out of him!" 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him." 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee. v. 21 Capernaum - Located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was Jesus' ministry headquarters and is mentioned 22 times in the Gospels. synagogue - The synagogue originated during the Jewish Exile to Babylon as a result of Jews meeting together for prayer and study of the Torah, the OT. In NT times synagogues were found all over the Roman empire wherever there were sufficient numbers of Jews to maintain one. and taught - When visiting teachers were present, synagogue leaders would invite them to lecture. v. 22 they were astonished at His teaching - Jesus' teaching was different from what the people were used to hearing because He did not lean on the wisdom of other teachers and rabbis. His authority came from Himself. Rather than quote so-and-so, He was His own source of authority and spoke in that manner. v. 24 What have we to do with you? - The demon understood very well that he and Jesus belonged to two radically different kingdoms, and thus had nothing in common. Wherever God works, Satan opposes. All who set out to serve the Lord can expect to be opposed every step of the way. "For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places" (Eph 6:12). Healing of Simon's Mother-in-Law and Many Others vv. 29-34 29 Now as soon as they had come out of the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 But Simon's wife's mother lay sick with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. 31 So He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and immediately the fever left her. And she served them. 32 At evening, when the sun had set, they brought to Him all who were sick and those who were demon-possessed. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 Then He healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and He did not allow the demons to speak, because they knew Him. v. 31 And she served them - God blesses us so we can be a blessing to others. vv. 32-33 At evening . . . the whole city was gathered - This was after the Sabbath of v. 21. The Sabbath goes from Friday sunset to Saturday sunset. The Jews waited until after the Sabbath was over before they came to Jesus for healing. v. 34 they knew Him - The demons' theology is absolutely correct (Jas 2:14-26); but though they know the truth, they reject it and God, who is its source. Application. We must be careful to not just understand who Jesus is, but to embrace Him as our own Lord and Savior. Christ demands absolute submission of our wills as well as our minds. Prayer in a Lonely Place Before Going out to the Whole of Galilee vv. 35-39 35 Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a solitary place; and there He prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37 When they found Him, they said to Him, "Everyone is looking for You." 38 But He said to them, "Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth." 39 And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons. v. 35 He prayed - If the Son of God needed to pray before He undertook His work, how much more should we pray? Perhaps our lack of success in life is because we fail at this point. We have not because we ask not. Jesus' prayer life was successful because it was planned, private, and prolonged. He got up early enough, got far enough away, and stayed at it long enough. A good challenge for us to follow. v. 37 Everyone is looking for you - Why did Jesus not return to Capernaum seeing that the crowds wanted Him? Jesus was interested in people repenting and believing in Him, not just a crowd that wanted to see miracles. He had already ministered sufficiently in Capernaum for people to repent and believe. Now He wanted to give other towns the same opportunity. He did not want crowds to distract Him from His ministry. Healing of a Leper vv. 40-45 40 Now a leper came to Him, imploring Him, kneeling down to Him and saying to Him, "If You are willing, You can make me clean." 41 Then Jesus, moved with compassion, stretched out His hand and touched him, and said to him, "I am willing; be cleansed." 42 As soon as He had spoken, immediately the leprosy left him, and he was cleansed. 43 And He strictly warned him and sent him away at once, 44 and said to him, "See that you say nothing to anyone; but go your way, show yourself to the priest, and offer for your cleansing those things which Moses commanded, as a testimony to them." 45 However, he went out and began to proclaim it freely, and to spread the matter, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter the city, but was outside in deserted places; and they came to Him from every direction. The account of the leper gives us an example of the prayer that God answers: It was earnest and desperate - imploring Him. It was reverent - kneeling down before Him. It was humble and submissive - "If You are willing." It was believing - "You can." It acknowledged need - "make me clean." It was specific - not "bless me" but "make me clean." It was personal - "make me clean." It was brief - only five words in the original Greek. Notice what happened! v. 41 He touched him - Under the law a person became ceremonially unclean when he touched a leper. Also, there was the danger of contracting the disease. But even the darkest effects of sin do not keep the Son of God at a distance from us. v. 44 say nothing to anyone - Why? Jesus wanted to maintain a low profile and not draw large crowd seeking only miracles. He also wanted to avoid a confrontation with the religious leaders. show yourself to the priest - Jesus was aware of the stigma associated with leprosy (see Lev 13:45) and He wanted the man to be officially declared clean so he could reenter society and a normal life. Application. The real value of a person is inside, not outside. No person is too disgusting for God's touch. In a sense, we are all lepers because of sin. But God has touched us by sending His son to us. When you feel repulsed by someone, stop and remember how God feels about that person--and about you. Next lesson, Chapter Three: The Servant Teaching

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