Scripture Reading : Mark 1:21-34
Theme : The Ministry of the Servant I
Jesus and His disciples came to Capernaum, a fishing village located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee. It was the hometown of Simon and Andrew (Mark 1:16; 1:29), who were fishermen by trade before they followed Jesus. Jesus’ ministry was characterized by:
- Authority in Teaching. The synagogue was established during the time of Israel’s captivity/exile (586 – 537 BC). The temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, and the Israelites (also known as the Jews) in exile established the synagogue in order to worship God. After the Israelites returned from the exile, they rebuilt the temple, but the synagogue continued to be a place where the Jews met for worship on the Sabbath day, because many Jews lived far away from the temple in Jerusalem. Jesus came to the synagogue and “taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22)
- Authority over Demons. Jesus not only taught with authority, but He also demonstrated His authority by casting out a demon in a man. Jesus would not allow the demon to speak, even though the demon acknowledged that Jesus is “the Holy One of God.” (Mark 1:24) This is because Jesus did not need the testimony of a demon. He is the Son of God (Mark 1:1) and God the Father already testified concerning Jesus (Mark 1:11). Jesus also cast out many other demons, not permitting them to speak for the same reason (Mark 1:34).
- Authority over Illnesses. Jesus also demonstrated that He is the Son of God by healing people of their physical illnesses.
Praying the Scripture
- The people who saw and heard Jesus acknowledged that He taught with authority. Similarly, many people today think of Jesus as a great teacher who founded another religion. However, Jesus was not an ordinary human teacher: He is the Son of God (Mark 1:1). Let us pray that we will submit to Jesus as our Lord, rather than just give credence to His teaching.
- Jesus did not permit the demons to proclaim His identity, because in the mouth of a demon, what appears to be praise is actually blasphemy. James 2:19 says: “You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe—and shudder!” Let us pray that our proclamation of Jesus as Lord is not similar to the demons, but the kind that is coming from the lips of a born-again believer.
- Healing diseases and casting out demons authenticated that Jesus is the Son of God. It is not for the purpose of producing faith in the people who saw the miracles. Also note that the Gospel of Mark distinguished physical diseases from demon possession. Pray that we will genuinely repent from our sins and trust in Jesus to save us, not for the wrong reasons (e.g. for physical healing).
经文：马可福音1:21-34
主题：仆人的事工（一）
耶稣和祂的门徒来到位于加利利海以北的渔村迦百农。那是西门与安德烈的故乡（16, 29节）；他们跟随耶稣之前是全职渔夫。耶稣的事工有以下的特质：
- 教导上的权柄。会堂是在以色列被放逐的时候建立的（公元前586-537年）。耶路撒冷的圣殿遭毁灭，而以色列人（也称为犹太人）被放逐的时候盖了会堂，为要敬拜神。回到以色列后，他们重建圣殿，但会堂仍旧是犹太人在安息日会聚集敬拜的地方，因为许多犹太人的住处离圣殿太远。耶稣到了会堂，“教训他们正像有权柄的人，不像文士”（22节）。
- 对恶魔的权柄。耶稣不但在教导上有权柄，祂还从人的身上驱走魔鬼，显示祂在这方面的权柄。虽然魔鬼承认耶稣是“神的圣者”（24节），耶稣却不允许牠说话。这是因为耶稣无需魔鬼作见证；祂是神的儿子（1节），而天父也已经为祂作见证了（11节）。耶稣也赶走其他不少魔鬼，并为同个缘故不允许牠们说话。
- 对疾病的权柄。耶稣也藉着医治人的疾病，证明祂就是神的儿子。
用经文祷告
- 看到并听闻耶稣的人都承认祂在教导上有权柄。同样的，今日有许多人认为耶稣是创造另一个宗教的伟大教师。然而，耶稣并不是一个平凡的人类教师；祂是神的儿子（1节）。让我们祷告我们会顺服耶稣为主，而不是仅认为祂的教导很可信。
- 耶稣不容许魔鬼宣扬祂的身份，因为从魔鬼口中出的，看似赞美的话实际上也是亵渎。雅各书2:19说：“你信神只有一位，你信的不错！鬼魔也信，却是战惊。”让我们祷告当我们宣告耶稣为主时，那并不同于魔鬼的宣告，而是出于重生得救的信徒之口所出的。
- 医治疾病及赶鬼证实了耶稣是神的儿子。它的目的不是要让看见的人产生信心。我们也要留意到马可福音清楚将肉体的疾病及被鬼附身区分出。让我们祷告我们会从罪中真实悔改，信靠耶稣拯救我们，而不是为其他错误的理由亲近祂（例：肉体的医治）。
