Ransom for Many

And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “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.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 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.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

In this passage it is clear that Jesus has power over evil and evil spirits. To get a more complete grasp of this power, we need to understand what these evil spirits are and see what information Scriptures gives us concerning where they came from.

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And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes (Mark 1:22).

Teaching was the priority of Jesus. But notice the power of His teaching. He is the Author of the Law and so He is the One who has authority to teach. And when He teaches, people can't help but take notice. When we read Scripture or hear biblical preaching, may we pray to have attentive ears and hearts.

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And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching... (Mark 1:21-22a).

The priority of Jesus while He walked the earth was teaching. He did many wonderful things, but the thread running through every miracle was His teaching. Our priority must be learning and teaching. Not just head knowledge, but heart knowledge.

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And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him (Mark 1:19-20).

When James and John left their father, their servants, their business, and they nets. It's not that those things no longer existed. They were still sons, masters, employees, and fishers. But after answering the call to Jesus they had new priorities. Have you turned to the higher priority of Jesus today?

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Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:16-18).

What is the central purpose of any Christian? To serve. And we serve God by being fishers of men. Simon and Andrew were skilled fishermen. Jesus promised to call and train them to be skilled fishers of men.

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Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:16-18).

Notice the power of Jesus over the human heart. The heart is that which is the hardest on planet earth to conquer. We can tame all types of animals and control mighty rivers. But the human heart desires to be the captain of its own ship. Jesus alone has the power to conquer this rebellious this.

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Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:16-18).

This passage begs the question, "What is a Christian?" The simplest answer is "One who follows the Lord Jesus Christ." We are saved to follow our own will, but the will of Jesus. So if you want to know if you are a Christian, seek to know whose will you follow, your own or that of Jesus.

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Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him (Mark 1:16-18).

Who are the key people who make an eternal difference in God's economy? It isn't the kings, prime ministers, presidents, or stars. It is normal people who have been called by the Lord Jesus Christ.

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Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).

Repentance and belief are inseparable twins. If someone truly believes in Christ, they will repent. And if they biblically repent, they will believe on Jesus Christ. Have you repented and believed? If you have, continue in the life of repentance of believing on Jesus.

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Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:14-15).

Now we come to the first recorded words of Jesus in the book of Mark. The time has come to repent and believe!

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