WEBVTT 00:00:00.520 --> 00:00:03.879 And as we go to God's Word, we go specifically 00:00:03.879 --> 00:00:11.279 to Mark chapter 1, Mark chapter 1, 21 through 00:00:11.279 --> 00:00:16.160 34. What we've been doing of late is looking 00:00:16.160 --> 00:00:19.679 at a sermon series through some of the miracles 00:00:19.679 --> 00:00:25.440 of Jesus. Typically within this church, we do 00:00:25.440 --> 00:00:28.300 consecutive preaching where we take a book, We 00:00:28.300 --> 00:00:31.399 take a passage and we make our way through it 00:00:31.399 --> 00:00:34.159 kind of systematically. With this sermon series 00:00:34.159 --> 00:00:35.719 we do it a little bit differently in that we're 00:00:35.719 --> 00:00:38.820 not marching through one book, but we're seeing 00:00:38.820 --> 00:00:42.939 the miracles of Jesus throughout all four Gospels. 00:00:43.100 --> 00:00:45.299 And so the last two Sundays we have been in the 00:00:45.299 --> 00:00:48.439 Gospel according to John. Today we go to the 00:00:48.439 --> 00:00:52.700 Gospel according to Mark. And as you look at 00:00:52.700 --> 00:00:59.329 this here, you see Mark waste no time jumping 00:00:59.329 --> 00:01:02.429 into the action, right? There is so much that 00:01:02.429 --> 00:01:08.069 is jam -packed into Mark chapter 1. So as I read 00:01:08.069 --> 00:01:12.930 this from 21 to 34, I want you to listen for 00:01:12.930 --> 00:01:16.489 the three components of Jesus' ministry that 00:01:16.489 --> 00:01:20.750 he does within this text. And would you please 00:01:20.750 --> 00:01:24.719 listen, because this is God's holy word. Mark 00:01:24.719 --> 00:01:31.379 1, 21 through 34. And they went into Capernaum, 00:01:31.939 --> 00:01:35.140 and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the 00:01:35.140 --> 00:01:39.299 synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished 00:01:39.299 --> 00:01:41.920 at his teaching, for he taught them as one who 00:01:41.920 --> 00:01:47.400 had authority and not as the scribes. And immediately 00:01:47.400 --> 00:01:52.340 there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean 00:01:52.340 --> 00:01:56.439 spirit. And he cried out, what have you to do 00:01:56.439 --> 00:02:00.000 with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to 00:02:00.000 --> 00:02:05.140 destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One 00:02:05.140 --> 00:02:10.419 of God. But Jesus rebuked him, saying, be silent 00:02:10.419 --> 00:02:15.300 and come out of him. And the unclean spirit convulsing 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:18.659 him and crying out with a loud voice came out 00:02:18.659 --> 00:02:22.500 of him. And they were all amazed. so that they 00:02:22.500 --> 00:02:25.099 questioned among themselves saying, what is this? 00:02:25.599 --> 00:02:29.039 A new teaching with authority. He commands even 00:02:29.039 --> 00:02:34.419 the unclean spirits and they obey him. And at 00:02:34.419 --> 00:02:39.199 once, his fame spread everywhere throughout all 00:02:39.199 --> 00:02:42.840 the surrounding region of Galilee. And immediately, 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:47.180 he left the synagogue and entered the house of 00:02:47.180 --> 00:02:51.340 Simon and Andrew with James and John. Now Simon's 00:02:51.340 --> 00:02:54.960 mother -in -law lay ill with a fever and immediately 00:02:54.960 --> 00:02:57.939 they told him about her and he came and took 00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:01.080 her by the hand and lifted her up and the fever 00:03:01.080 --> 00:03:06.280 left her and she began to serve them. That evening 00:03:06.280 --> 00:03:09.259 at sundown they brought to him all who were sick 00:03:09.259 --> 00:03:13.300 or oppressed by demons and the whole city was 00:03:13.300 --> 00:03:16.659 gathered together at the door and he healed many 00:03:16.659 --> 00:03:20.280 who were sick with various diseases. cast out 00:03:20.280 --> 00:03:23.659 many demons and he would not permit the demons 00:03:23.659 --> 00:03:28.400 to speak because they knew him this is God's 00:03:28.400 --> 00:03:35.000 holy word let's pray father we thank you for 00:03:35.000 --> 00:03:39.379 your word we thank you that it's true we thank 00:03:39.379 --> 00:03:43.199 you that you give us what we need and yet we 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:47.199 also ask that as we now study this text Lord 00:03:47.819 --> 00:03:51.039 You would help us to hear it well, to interpret 00:03:51.039 --> 00:03:54.840 it well, and to apply it well. These things we 00:03:54.840 --> 00:04:03.580 pray in Jesus' name, amen. As this is the season 00:04:03.580 --> 00:04:06.599 of Advent, we've got our candle lit. Some of 00:04:06.599 --> 00:04:11.180 you will show up on Tuesday to help decorate 00:04:11.180 --> 00:04:14.979 the sanctuary. We might ask an important question. 00:04:16.180 --> 00:04:21.389 What happened in the incarnation of Jesus. What 00:04:21.389 --> 00:04:26.329 happened in the incarnation? It's simple in a 00:04:26.329 --> 00:04:30.589 way, but it's also very complex. It's a bit mysterious, 00:04:30.709 --> 00:04:34.069 isn't it? How to explain it? That Jesus, who 00:04:34.069 --> 00:04:40.790 is eternal, took on flesh. Jesus, as you know, 00:04:40.910 --> 00:04:45.850 has always been. Jesus is one with the Father. 00:04:46.079 --> 00:04:52.720 equal in power and glory. So Jesus, the second 00:04:52.720 --> 00:04:56.600 person of the Trinity, who has always been, takes 00:04:56.600 --> 00:05:01.160 on flesh and becomes a man. This has been a challenge 00:05:01.160 --> 00:05:05.300 for many to understand. This has been a challenge 00:05:05.300 --> 00:05:08.240 for many to communicate to others. And so the 00:05:08.240 --> 00:05:11.379 church recognized very early on, hey, we need 00:05:11.379 --> 00:05:13.360 to know what we're talking about. We need to 00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:16.019 study the Bible on this. And so if you know your 00:05:16.019 --> 00:05:18.379 church history, you know that there were different 00:05:18.379 --> 00:05:21.060 councils that were held in the early centuries 00:05:21.060 --> 00:05:24.860 after the ascension of Jesus, councils like Nicaea 00:05:24.860 --> 00:05:28.420 and Chalcedon, where the church gathered together 00:05:28.420 --> 00:05:33.040 to discuss these important matters, especially 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:38.920 the matter of the hypostatic union, how Jesus 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:43.420 can have two natures, a divine nature and a human 00:05:43.420 --> 00:05:48.699 nature. in one person, that the Son of God, what 00:05:48.699 --> 00:05:52.000 he did when he came to earth is that he who is 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:56.180 divine, who is God, added this human nature. 00:05:57.040 --> 00:06:01.639 And what all of this means is that Jesus is fully 00:06:01.639 --> 00:06:07.240 man and Jesus is fully God, completely. He is 00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:12.350 of the same essence. He's the same substance, 00:06:12.430 --> 00:06:14.790 as some have said, as the Father. Jesus is of 00:06:14.790 --> 00:06:22.370 the same stuff as the Father. And so Jesus, when 00:06:22.370 --> 00:06:26.990 he speaks, he speaks as having the authority 00:06:26.990 --> 00:06:35.089 of God. In Mark chapter 1, you see people confronted 00:06:35.089 --> 00:06:39.720 with this for the very first time. Who is this 00:06:39.720 --> 00:06:43.160 who speaks with this authority as the people 00:06:43.160 --> 00:06:47.240 listen they realize something this Jesus He is 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:51.259 unlike any teacher we have ever heard before 00:06:51.259 --> 00:06:55.540 Jesus is not one of many great teachers Jesus 00:06:55.540 --> 00:07:00.560 is one of one in that category Now as they listen 00:07:00.560 --> 00:07:03.439 not everybody is converted right then and they're 00:07:03.439 --> 00:07:07.129 on the spot But they realize they are listening 00:07:07.129 --> 00:07:12.790 to one who has supreme authority. Now before 00:07:12.790 --> 00:07:15.389 I read the text, I asked you to listen for three 00:07:15.389 --> 00:07:18.870 components of Jesus's ministry. This is what 00:07:18.870 --> 00:07:23.069 he does within the passage. Jesus teaches. Jesus 00:07:23.069 --> 00:07:27.949 casts out demons. And Jesus heals. And Jesus 00:07:27.949 --> 00:07:32.329 accomplishes these three things as the God -man. 00:07:32.750 --> 00:07:36.189 Let's look at his authority to teach in verses 00:07:36.189 --> 00:07:43.930 21 22 and 27 You see verse 21. Jesus is in Capernaum 00:07:43.930 --> 00:07:47.889 He's in the synagogue Where else would you expect 00:07:47.889 --> 00:07:52.149 Jesus to be on the Sabbath? He's in the synagogue 00:07:52.149 --> 00:07:56.829 on the Sabbath and he enters in to do some teaching 00:07:56.829 --> 00:08:01.850 The text says the word immediately three times 00:08:02.110 --> 00:08:04.670 Jesus doesn't waste any time. When he gets to 00:08:04.670 --> 00:08:08.930 the synagogue, he begins to teach. Now, I'm not 00:08:08.930 --> 00:08:12.569 exactly sure on this about why he immediately 00:08:12.569 --> 00:08:15.050 teaches, but I imagine it would be because there 00:08:15.050 --> 00:08:18.610 are other teachers, right? There are other rabbis 00:08:18.610 --> 00:08:21.850 within the synagogue. And so Jesus goes there 00:08:21.850 --> 00:08:25.610 to teach. And this highlights what I said about 00:08:25.610 --> 00:08:29.970 Jesus's humanity and his divinity. Jesus... who 00:08:29.970 --> 00:08:33.909 is divine takes on flesh so that he can stand 00:08:33.909 --> 00:08:37.289 in the synagogue and rightly teach people Jesus 00:08:37.289 --> 00:08:40.830 is the greatest teacher and at the same time 00:08:40.830 --> 00:08:44.710 if we say that Jesus is only a teacher we do 00:08:44.710 --> 00:08:47.850 a great disservice to him and we speak in sin 00:08:47.850 --> 00:08:51.590 because Jesus is more than a great teacher he's 00:08:51.590 --> 00:08:55.889 the divine teacher he is the godly teacher when 00:08:55.889 --> 00:09:03.049 Jesus teaches mouths drop open. People are astonished 00:09:03.049 --> 00:09:07.490 at his teaching. Jesus teaches in a way that's 00:09:07.490 --> 00:09:10.210 completely different from every other teacher. 00:09:10.970 --> 00:09:13.629 Now, this text does not tell us what Jesus is 00:09:13.629 --> 00:09:16.870 teaching. Jesus doesn't give us his study guide, 00:09:16.870 --> 00:09:20.250 right? But we see how his teaching contrasts 00:09:20.250 --> 00:09:23.110 that with others. For you might remember in Jesus' 00:09:23.450 --> 00:09:27.070 greatest teaching, the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus 00:09:27.070 --> 00:09:29.590 will say something like, You have heard it said 00:09:29.590 --> 00:09:34.610 this, but I say to you this, right? He says something 00:09:34.610 --> 00:09:36.909 like, you've heard it said, love your neighbor 00:09:36.909 --> 00:09:40.769 and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your 00:09:40.769 --> 00:09:44.250 neighbor and pray for those who persecute you. 00:09:44.289 --> 00:09:47.990 God's word never says to hate your enemy. But 00:09:47.990 --> 00:09:51.509 the religious leaders don't have the right interpretation. 00:09:52.429 --> 00:09:55.110 And so they would continue to teach things throughout 00:09:55.110 --> 00:09:58.549 the years, throughout the generations. That's 00:09:58.549 --> 00:10:02.110 just simply not true. And yet at the same time, 00:10:02.210 --> 00:10:04.269 the religious leaders, the scribes, were kind 00:10:04.269 --> 00:10:07.309 of the experts in the law. And so people listened 00:10:07.309 --> 00:10:12.850 when they taught. They were the authority. And 00:10:12.850 --> 00:10:16.610 yet the way that they taught does contrast how 00:10:16.610 --> 00:10:19.250 Jesus teaches. Because what the scribes would 00:10:19.250 --> 00:10:23.259 do in Jesus' day, how they would teach, is they 00:10:23.259 --> 00:10:26.259 would actually take what others had taught, what 00:10:26.259 --> 00:10:28.820 other scribes had taught and teach it themselves. 00:10:29.159 --> 00:10:31.679 So they wouldn't speak with their own authority 00:10:31.679 --> 00:10:34.159 and they wouldn't speak always on the authority 00:10:34.159 --> 00:10:37.519 of scripture, but they would reference some other 00:10:37.519 --> 00:10:42.139 scribe, some other rabbi. And this is how they 00:10:42.139 --> 00:10:45.580 would teach. Kind of like how I might use a quote 00:10:45.580 --> 00:10:50.139 within preaching or how a newspaper article might 00:10:50.139 --> 00:10:54.070 reference somebody else. But notice something 00:10:54.070 --> 00:10:58.710 about Jesus. He doesn't reference anybody else. 00:10:59.850 --> 00:11:04.370 He only speaks what is true to the Scriptures. 00:11:05.149 --> 00:11:09.230 He preaches, he teaches what he knows to be true 00:11:09.230 --> 00:11:13.350 from the Bible, right? And so Jesus doesn't have 00:11:13.350 --> 00:11:18.690 to appeal to other teachers because he is the 00:11:18.690 --> 00:11:21.730 authority on Scripture. We know from John chapter 00:11:21.730 --> 00:11:27.950 1 that Jesus is the Word. The Word made flesh. 00:11:29.490 --> 00:11:31.570 So he doesn't appeal to the authority of others. 00:11:31.950 --> 00:11:35.009 I like how Matthew Henry put it. He said, Jesus 00:11:35.009 --> 00:11:40.049 taught as one who knew the mind of God and was 00:11:40.049 --> 00:11:44.330 commissioned to declare it. Friends, when we 00:11:44.330 --> 00:11:48.889 hear the Bible rightly taught, rightly preached 00:11:49.230 --> 00:11:53.509 When we hear the Bible read, this is how we should 00:11:53.509 --> 00:11:59.250 be. We should think this is the Holy Spirit talking. 00:12:01.250 --> 00:12:05.509 Most of you probably cannot remember when you 00:12:05.509 --> 00:12:08.049 first heard the Bible taught to you, rightly. 00:12:08.870 --> 00:12:11.470 Most of you probably cannot understand the very 00:12:11.470 --> 00:12:15.389 first time that you understood the incarnation 00:12:15.389 --> 00:12:18.269 of Jesus. Maybe some of our children can remember. 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:22.840 when you first heard the Christmas story, imagine 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:29.000 what it would be like to hear the birth of Jesus 00:12:29.000 --> 00:12:32.440 rightly taught and comprehend it for the very 00:12:32.440 --> 00:12:37.600 first time. You would be astonished. The word 00:12:37.600 --> 00:12:42.580 became flesh and dwelt among us, mind completely 00:12:42.580 --> 00:12:45.559 blown. If we could only take ourselves back to 00:12:45.559 --> 00:12:49.690 the first time. that we ever heard this, because 00:12:49.690 --> 00:12:53.690 the incarnation of Jesus is astonishing news, 00:12:53.850 --> 00:13:00.570 isn't it? And yet I'm afraid that many of us 00:13:00.570 --> 00:13:03.429 have become apathetic to the birth of Jesus. 00:13:05.629 --> 00:13:09.330 We've heard it all before, haven't we? Friends, 00:13:09.529 --> 00:13:14.220 this Christmas season, Would you receive the 00:13:14.220 --> 00:13:16.820 good news with the excitement of the shepherds 00:13:16.820 --> 00:13:19.980 hearing from the angels? Would you be amazed 00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:22.899 by the Bible in the incarnation that Jesus came 00:13:22.899 --> 00:13:28.179 to be with us and came to be one of us? Receive 00:13:28.179 --> 00:13:33.059 it in that way But also as you receive Jesus's 00:13:33.059 --> 00:13:37.159 teaching on these things Notice the authority 00:13:37.159 --> 00:13:40.799 that Jesus has to cast out demons Look in verses 00:13:40.799 --> 00:13:46.039 23 through 27, as well as 32 and 34. So Jesus 00:13:46.039 --> 00:13:48.500 is teaching in the synagogue and there is one 00:13:48.500 --> 00:13:52.820 in the synagogue who's paying very close attention. 00:13:53.919 --> 00:13:57.860 This man with this unclean spirit. A word on 00:13:57.860 --> 00:14:01.460 unclean spirits. It seems that when the Bible, 00:14:01.559 --> 00:14:03.840 especially in the Gospels, when it refers to 00:14:03.840 --> 00:14:07.120 an unclean spirit, it's using this in the same 00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:10.429 way as a demon. meaning that unclean spirits 00:14:10.429 --> 00:14:15.149 and demons can be one in the same. Who are demons? 00:14:15.710 --> 00:14:21.570 Demons are those who fell with Satan, those who 00:14:21.570 --> 00:14:24.909 rebelled against God and continue to rebel against 00:14:24.909 --> 00:14:29.769 God. And yet, as we look at this text here, we 00:14:29.769 --> 00:14:33.070 should note something, that the Bible doesn't 00:14:33.070 --> 00:14:36.879 always speak of demonic activity. It doesn't. 00:14:36.940 --> 00:14:39.580 Actually, it's quite rare within the Bible except 00:14:39.580 --> 00:14:43.500 for in the Gospels. In the Gospels with Jesus, 00:14:43.840 --> 00:14:46.440 you see the unclean spirits and you see the demons 00:14:46.440 --> 00:14:51.659 very, very often, right? Why is that? Why do 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:54.600 we see so much demonic activity at the time of 00:14:54.600 --> 00:14:57.299 Jesus? I think R .C. Sproul is correct here. 00:14:57.299 --> 00:15:00.759 He says at the time of Jesus, it's as though 00:15:00.759 --> 00:15:07.200 all hell broke loose. And this is true, I think, 00:15:07.399 --> 00:15:10.159 because ultimately, what did Jesus come to do? 00:15:10.460 --> 00:15:14.639 He came to destroy Satan and he came to destroy 00:15:14.639 --> 00:15:18.019 the works of the devil and evil and the demons 00:15:18.019 --> 00:15:21.419 and all of it. And so one by one through the 00:15:21.419 --> 00:15:26.019 Gospels, Jesus casting out demons, healing people 00:15:26.019 --> 00:15:28.940 of unclean spirits. And really, what is this 00:15:28.940 --> 00:15:33.259 but just a foretaste of what Jesus would do on 00:15:33.259 --> 00:15:37.200 the cross. When we look, Jesus casting out demons. 00:15:37.200 --> 00:15:42.019 We should be thinking of the cross of Christ 00:15:42.019 --> 00:15:48.019 But look at this Look at what's going on here 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:54.740 with this one unclean spirit verse 24 What have 00:15:54.740 --> 00:15:58.399 you to do with us Jesus of Nazareth? Why does 00:15:58.399 --> 00:16:08.090 the unclean spirit speak of us? the man may actually 00:16:08.090 --> 00:16:12.070 have multiple unclean spirits within him. That's 00:16:12.070 --> 00:16:16.649 an interpretation. Two, it could be that the 00:16:16.649 --> 00:16:20.490 unclean spirit is speaking for all unclean spirits, 00:16:20.950 --> 00:16:23.909 as if to say, well, I have the attention of Jesus, 00:16:24.230 --> 00:16:27.549 let me speak up for all of us. And then the third 00:16:27.549 --> 00:16:31.029 view is that the unclean spirit is speaking about 00:16:31.029 --> 00:16:33.970 everybody in the temple, as if to say, Jesus, 00:16:34.009 --> 00:16:36.710 Are you here to destroy everybody in the temple? 00:16:37.429 --> 00:16:39.850 I think we can definitely say that that is not 00:16:39.850 --> 00:16:43.950 true. So I think the view that is correct is 00:16:43.950 --> 00:16:48.370 view number two. Jesus is speaking for all unclean 00:16:48.370 --> 00:16:51.230 spirits and all demons. That this demon is saying, 00:16:51.269 --> 00:16:54.970 what have you to do with us referring to everyone? 00:16:55.049 --> 00:16:58.210 And as we refer a little bit further down in 00:16:58.210 --> 00:17:01.549 our text, you see that there are many who are 00:17:01.549 --> 00:17:05.039 a impressed by demons later on within this passage, 00:17:05.519 --> 00:17:09.960 and so he speaks up for all of them. But there's 00:17:09.960 --> 00:17:13.839 something here that's very important to understand. 00:17:14.519 --> 00:17:21.299 The unclean spirit knows who Jesus is. I know 00:17:21.299 --> 00:17:27.759 who you are, the Holy One of God. J .C. Ryle 00:17:27.759 --> 00:17:32.049 comments on this, and this is an important Quote 00:17:32.049 --> 00:17:37.289 listen up the mere belief of the facts and doctrines 00:17:37.289 --> 00:17:41.750 of Christianity will never save our souls the 00:17:41.750 --> 00:17:48.109 mere facts He continues Such belief is no better 00:17:48.109 --> 00:17:52.730 than the belief of demons They all believe and 00:17:52.730 --> 00:17:55.869 know that Jesus is the Christ they believe that 00:17:55.869 --> 00:17:59.529 he will one day judge the world and throw them 00:17:59.529 --> 00:18:03.339 down To endless torment in hell, it is a solemn 00:18:03.339 --> 00:18:07.740 and sorrowful thought that on these points, some 00:18:07.740 --> 00:18:12.319 professing Christians have even less faith than 00:18:12.319 --> 00:18:22.039 the devil. James 2 .19, the demons shudder. Friends, 00:18:22.099 --> 00:18:28.549 there is no unbelief among the demons. There 00:18:28.549 --> 00:18:32.109 is no unbelief among the demons. What they do 00:18:32.109 --> 00:18:35.650 not have, though, is saving faith in Christ. 00:18:36.529 --> 00:18:41.089 And so, friends, we must not treat our faith 00:18:41.089 --> 00:18:44.829 like it's just head knowledge. There are some 00:18:44.829 --> 00:18:48.690 who do this. Some who say, well, I know about 00:18:48.690 --> 00:18:53.849 Jesus. I went to Sunday school. But saving faith 00:18:53.849 --> 00:18:57.109 doesn't come to those who only know about Jesus. 00:18:57.319 --> 00:19:00.660 Saving faith is for those who trust in Jesus 00:19:00.660 --> 00:19:04.200 for salvation. And so if your approach is to 00:19:04.200 --> 00:19:07.740 only know about Jesus, you are in danger of hearing 00:19:07.740 --> 00:19:10.599 the words of Jesus when he said, depart from 00:19:10.599 --> 00:19:15.400 me, for I never knew you. That would mean that 00:19:15.400 --> 00:19:18.140 your faith is no better than the demons. We must 00:19:18.140 --> 00:19:22.460 have a relationship with God through Jesus by 00:19:22.460 --> 00:19:27.410 the power of the Holy Spirit. We must know more 00:19:27.410 --> 00:19:31.930 than just facts about Jesus. We must know him. 00:19:33.289 --> 00:19:37.730 I like how Luther put it He said the life of 00:19:37.730 --> 00:19:41.990 Christianity Consists in possessive pronouns 00:19:41.990 --> 00:19:47.349 It is one thing to say Christ is a Savior It's 00:19:47.349 --> 00:19:52.029 another thing to say he is my Savior and my Lord 00:19:52.029 --> 00:19:56.829 The devil can say the first But only the true 00:19:56.829 --> 00:20:02.549 Christian can say the second for instance Who 00:20:02.549 --> 00:20:05.430 is the first one in our passage to say something 00:20:05.430 --> 00:20:10.289 true about Jesus? It's the unclean spirit Again, 00:20:10.329 --> 00:20:14.490 there's no unbelief among the demons. They knew 00:20:14.490 --> 00:20:22.730 who Jesus is Do you do you know Jesus do you 00:20:22.730 --> 00:20:26.019 have that relationship with him? Have you trusted 00:20:26.019 --> 00:20:28.920 in him for salvation? Have you repented of sin 00:20:28.920 --> 00:20:32.440 this Christmas season? Stop busying yourself 00:20:32.440 --> 00:20:37.299 with all the periphery stuff and walk humbly 00:20:37.299 --> 00:20:42.119 after your God as a disciple of Jesus. Give your 00:20:42.119 --> 00:20:45.299 heart to Jesus. Receive the teaching of the gospel 00:20:45.299 --> 00:20:48.819 as good news. And friends, for those of us who 00:20:48.819 --> 00:20:53.220 are prone to unbelief, remember what comes later 00:20:53.220 --> 00:20:56.619 in the book of Mark. In Mark chapter 9, you have 00:20:56.619 --> 00:21:02.400 the Father who has the Son with the unclean spirit. 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:08.500 And the Father says to Jesus, I believe. Help 00:21:08.500 --> 00:21:13.339 my unbelief. Let that prayer be on your lips 00:21:13.339 --> 00:21:19.460 during seasons of doubt. Help my unbelief. And 00:21:19.460 --> 00:21:22.559 so we see in here Jesus' authority to teach. 00:21:22.759 --> 00:21:26.680 Jesus's authority to cast out demons and now 00:21:26.680 --> 00:21:30.420 let's look in verses 29 through 34 his authority 00:21:30.420 --> 00:21:34.859 to heal you see here the words getting out about 00:21:34.859 --> 00:21:39.319 Jesus and people are amazed but there's a great 00:21:39.319 --> 00:21:42.940 moment that happens next a moment that shows 00:21:42.940 --> 00:21:47.819 us that Jesus never forgets his disciples because 00:21:47.819 --> 00:21:53.230 he leaves the synagogue to go to Peter Andrew's 00:21:53.230 --> 00:21:56.869 house. Peter's mother -in -law is there. She 00:21:56.869 --> 00:21:59.210 is sick with a fever and I'm not gonna make any 00:21:59.210 --> 00:22:03.470 mother -in -law jokes here. He simply takes her 00:22:03.470 --> 00:22:09.029 by the hand and he lifts her and the fever leaves. 00:22:10.150 --> 00:22:14.089 Now in Luke, I think it's chapter 4, we see the 00:22:14.089 --> 00:22:18.289 same episode there. Jesus taking the fever from 00:22:18.289 --> 00:22:21.299 Peter's mother -in -law. But in that episode, 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:24.259 within that passage, Jesus rebukes the fever. 00:22:24.660 --> 00:22:27.779 And so some have said, well, look at Mark 1 and 00:22:27.779 --> 00:22:30.819 look at Luke 4 here. These things are in contradiction. 00:22:30.980 --> 00:22:33.980 One says that he rebukes. The other says he takes 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:36.440 her by the hand. These things are not at odds. 00:22:37.160 --> 00:22:40.440 There is no contradiction. You can rebuke something 00:22:40.440 --> 00:22:43.119 while touching something at the same time. And 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:46.640 so we must see here that these accounts of the 00:22:46.640 --> 00:22:50.140 miracles of Jesus are wholeheartedly, completely, 00:22:50.339 --> 00:22:54.400 fully true. There is no contradiction. The Holy 00:22:54.400 --> 00:22:57.380 Spirit is working through the writers of Scripture 00:22:57.380 --> 00:23:01.720 to describe exactly what happened. And exactly 00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:08.440 what happened is Jesus, in all of his power as 00:23:08.440 --> 00:23:11.920 the Son of God, with the authority of God, he 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:16.240 exercises great humanity. He exercises great 00:23:16.240 --> 00:23:22.380 compassion. in tenderness, doesn't he? We don't 00:23:22.380 --> 00:23:26.279 have much information on this fever from Peter's 00:23:26.279 --> 00:23:28.460 mother -in -law. We just don't know much more. 00:23:29.059 --> 00:23:31.619 And so in some ways, this miracle seems a little 00:23:31.619 --> 00:23:35.980 less miraculous than others, doesn't it? Taking 00:23:35.980 --> 00:23:39.299 a fever away doesn't seem to be on par with walking 00:23:39.299 --> 00:23:43.759 on water or turning the water to wine or multiplying 00:23:43.759 --> 00:23:50.049 the bread or the fish. And yet this is still 00:23:50.049 --> 00:23:55.109 very, very miraculous. Because look at her response 00:23:55.109 --> 00:24:00.630 in verse 31. And he came and took her by the 00:24:00.630 --> 00:24:02.849 hand, lifted her up, and the fever left her, 00:24:03.009 --> 00:24:10.930 and she began to serve him. She exhibits how 00:24:10.930 --> 00:24:14.750 free she is of this fever because she has complete 00:24:14.750 --> 00:24:18.599 healing in order to serve Jesus. and to serve 00:24:18.599 --> 00:24:22.819 the disciples and so friends her response should 00:24:22.819 --> 00:24:27.359 be ours her response should be ours we who know 00:24:27.359 --> 00:24:30.940 of the power and the authority and the salvation 00:24:30.940 --> 00:24:34.299 in jesus those of us who if i can say this way 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:38.160 have a heart transplant where god has removed 00:24:38.160 --> 00:24:40.420 the heart of stone and give us in a heart of 00:24:40.420 --> 00:24:44.519 flesh we should use our hearts in order to serve 00:24:44.519 --> 00:24:49.190 jesus and others her response is part of the 00:24:49.190 --> 00:24:55.109 miracle. She is raised to serve Christ. And even 00:24:55.109 --> 00:24:58.369 though this removal of the fever doesn't seem 00:24:58.369 --> 00:25:02.829 as miraculous as some others, it's miraculous 00:25:02.829 --> 00:25:10.410 in its impact. Look in verse 33. That evening 00:25:10.410 --> 00:25:13.750 at sundown, they brought to him all who were 00:25:13.750 --> 00:25:21.289 sick or oppressed by demons. Peter's house becomes 00:25:21.289 --> 00:25:24.950 kind of a mash unit here all kinds of people 00:25:24.950 --> 00:25:28.930 from town showing up to the door now you might 00:25:28.930 --> 00:25:31.690 say why do they wait until sundown well because 00:25:31.690 --> 00:25:34.990 of the Jewish calendar the new day begins when 00:25:34.990 --> 00:25:38.670 the Sun goes down and so they waited until the 00:25:38.670 --> 00:25:41.069 Sabbath was over did they need to do that well 00:25:41.069 --> 00:25:43.690 no because Jesus is actually already healed on 00:25:43.690 --> 00:25:48.910 the Sabbath as we saw earlier but they wait They 00:25:48.910 --> 00:25:51.089 wait until the sun goes down. That's when the 00:25:51.089 --> 00:25:54.109 needy show up and he heals many and he casts 00:25:54.109 --> 00:25:57.589 out many demons And then look what he says to 00:25:57.589 --> 00:26:03.990 these demons he casts out Verse 34 he would not 00:26:03.990 --> 00:26:08.809 permit the demons to speak because they knew 00:26:08.809 --> 00:26:16.819 him If Jesus allows these demons to speak The 00:26:16.819 --> 00:26:19.940 word gets out even more, perhaps speeding up 00:26:19.940 --> 00:26:22.720 the cross. It's not time for that yet. You see, 00:26:22.740 --> 00:26:25.119 Jesus doesn't go around telling every single 00:26:25.119 --> 00:26:29.299 person who he is. He humbly goes about his work. 00:26:30.140 --> 00:26:34.099 And he is able to command that the demons not 00:26:34.099 --> 00:26:38.359 speak and they obey him, showing us that the 00:26:38.359 --> 00:26:41.059 devil and his minions don't have authority over 00:26:41.059 --> 00:26:46.700 Jesus. Jesus has authority over them. And so 00:26:46.700 --> 00:26:49.519 friends, as we look at texts that have demonic 00:26:49.519 --> 00:26:52.819 activity, I think we're prone in our hearts to 00:26:52.819 --> 00:26:57.759 fear, aren't we? It sounds terrifying. And yet 00:26:57.759 --> 00:27:00.880 Jesus has power over them. And so I don't want 00:27:00.880 --> 00:27:03.980 you to fear this at all. I want you to recognize 00:27:03.980 --> 00:27:07.099 the reality of these things. But we ought not 00:27:07.099 --> 00:27:10.880 fear. Why? Because God is with us. And Jesus 00:27:10.880 --> 00:27:14.230 has conquered sin and death on the cross. God 00:27:14.230 --> 00:27:17.289 permits the devil to have some authority. This 00:27:17.289 --> 00:27:21.910 is true. But even the devil knows that his authority 00:27:21.910 --> 00:27:26.410 is limited in capability and time allotted for 00:27:26.410 --> 00:27:30.269 his rebellious work. So I want to encourage you, 00:27:30.509 --> 00:27:33.589 do not fear, for God is with you. He will strengthen 00:27:33.589 --> 00:27:36.829 you and help you. He will uphold you with his 00:27:36.829 --> 00:27:41.710 righteous right hand. And so be aware. Be aware 00:27:41.710 --> 00:27:47.049 of this kind of activity. But do not fear. The 00:27:47.049 --> 00:27:50.410 question is often asked, can a Christian be demon 00:27:50.410 --> 00:27:53.849 possessed? And the answer to this, I believe, 00:27:53.910 --> 00:27:57.829 is no. For where the Holy Spirit is, there is 00:27:57.829 --> 00:28:02.869 no room for demon possession. R .C. Sproul said, 00:28:03.410 --> 00:28:07.990 demons can oppress us. They can harass us. They 00:28:07.990 --> 00:28:11.509 can tempt us. They can attack us and so on. But 00:28:11.509 --> 00:28:15.579 thanks be to God, He who is in us is greater 00:28:15.579 --> 00:28:20.460 than he who is in the world. And so friend, Christian 00:28:20.460 --> 00:28:24.599 know this, that Jesus protects you. And this 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:27.319 is all possible because of Jesus's victory on 00:28:27.319 --> 00:28:30.700 the cross and because of his ministry. For we 00:28:30.700 --> 00:28:33.220 remember that Jesus went toe to toe. He faced 00:28:33.220 --> 00:28:36.960 off with the devil in the wilderness, defeating 00:28:36.960 --> 00:28:41.059 the devil each time by the power of the Holy 00:28:41.059 --> 00:28:44.730 Spirit. in the power of God's Word and so you 00:28:44.730 --> 00:28:49.049 can be certain that Jesus's divinity and his 00:28:49.049 --> 00:28:52.430 humanity did this the book of Hebrew says that 00:28:52.430 --> 00:28:56.130 Jesus was tempted in every way as we are yet 00:28:56.130 --> 00:29:00.730 without sin so that just at the right time the 00:29:00.730 --> 00:29:04.029 humanity and the divinity of Christ all in one 00:29:04.029 --> 00:29:07.430 went to the cross as a sacrifice to atone for 00:29:07.430 --> 00:29:12.859 your sins and to defeat sin death and the devil. 00:29:14.720 --> 00:29:18.779 You see, the humanity of Jesus allows him to 00:29:18.779 --> 00:29:24.180 do it, but his divinity allows him to do it with 00:29:24.180 --> 00:29:28.960 the authority of God. And so Christian, this 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:33.400 Christmas, trust in the God man. Trust in the 00:29:33.400 --> 00:29:36.759 one who is fully God and fully man and know of 00:29:36.759 --> 00:29:39.519 his mission to defeat sin and death. that it 00:29:39.519 --> 00:29:41.599 was completed on the cross, that he said, it 00:29:41.599 --> 00:29:46.599 is finished. And as this time is described as 00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:52.480 Advent, Jesus's arrival. Know and trust this, 00:29:52.579 --> 00:29:55.519 that as Jesus has come once, so he will come 00:29:55.519 --> 00:30:00.400 again to put a bow on it all and to lock away 00:30:00.400 --> 00:30:04.980 Satan and the demons forever. Let's pray.