February 26-March 1

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. – Mark 1:21-22 ESV


There’s Nobody Like Jesus
A young boy traveling by airplane to visit his grandparents sat beside a man who happened to be a seminary professor. The boy was reading a Sunday school take-home paper, and the professor thought he would have some fun with the lad. “Young man,” said the professor, “if you can tell me something God can do, I will give you a big, shiny apple.” The boy thought for a moment and then replied, “Mister, if you can tell me something God can’t do, I’ll give you a whole barrel of apples!” (Source: Unknown)

In Mark 1, when people heard Jesus teach, they realized that no one taught with the same power and authority that Jesus did. They were “astonished.” The word “astonished” means to strike with thunder! What a picture of Jesus' radical message which must have struck His hearers like thunder! Mark opens Jesus' public ministry in Mark 1 by establishing Jesus’ supremacy over the highest authorities in both the temporal and supernatural realms.

Reflection
Charles Spurgeon said, “Without the Spirit of God, we can do nothing. We are as ships without the wind, branches without sap, and like coals without fire, we are useless.” What stood out to you most about the power of God from the sermon on Sunday?

Praise/Prayer
Praise God for His unmatched power. Ask Jesus to give you a fresh sense of “astonishment” about Him and His power.

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.” – Mark 1:25-27 ESV


There’s Nobody Like Jesus: Power over Satan and Demons
One night a church caught on fire and was burning to the ground. As the Pastor watched it burn, he noticed a man standing in the crowd watching the church burn. The Pastor recognized the man because he had invited him to church many times with no success. The Pastor went to him and said, “I’ve invited you to come to this church many times, but you never came. Why are you here tonight?” The man replied, “Well, I’ve never seen this church on fire before!”

In Mark 1, a crowd has gathered to see Jesus demonstrate His power. In Mark 1:25 Jesus demonstrated His power over Satan and evil by healing a demon-possessed man. One author wrote, Don't miss the irony! Who knows how long this demon-possessed man had been sitting in the synagogue, listening to the droning on of the rabbis, all the while remaining calm and completely undisturbed by what he heard. Why was he not disturbed? Because the rabbis were not preaching the Word of God! But when Jesus preached the Word, the demon reacted immediately, screaming out through the man’s vocal cords! Of course, the unclean spirit also recognized Jesus' authority to send him to eternal punishment and that truth clearly contributed to his screeching!

Reflection
Jesus is the light of the world and drives out darkness. As His followers, we are also called to be the light. In what ways are you helping to reduce the darkness of evil around you?

Praise/Prayer
Thank God for His power over Satan and evil. Ask God to protect you from the enemy and to help you drive out darkness with His light.

And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.” And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean. – Mark 1:40-42 ESV


There’s Nobody Like Jesus: Power of Sickness and Death
Jesus healed three blind men. One was healed when He touched him. Another was healed when He spoke. Another was when He spat in the dirt and made mud. Each blind man started to teach that their way was the way to get healed. Eventually, they had a conference discussing the proper way to heal. Blind people came to listen, and by the end of the conference, they understood each other more. But the blind still went away blind. (Source Unknown)

Jesus didn’t just talk about healing. Jesus healed people. And the point of the healing was not how He healed them. The point of the healing was Jesus and the fact that no one was like Him. Mark 1:41 says that Jesus had “pity” or compassion on the leper and touched him. Jesus touched an untouchable, a man who probably had not felt the touch of another human being for years! Jesus the pure and holy One, touched the unclean one. What a picture of compassion and grace.

Reflection
Your final healing will take place in Heaven. But in the meantime, know that Jesus is a compassionate Savior who loves to bring healing. Where do you need a touch from God in your life?

Praise/Prayer
Thank Jesus for His unmatched compassion and power in your life. Ask God for a fresh touch in any area of your life where you need it.

And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. – Mark 1:35 ESV


Nobody Can Pray Like Jesus
Mrs. Lettie Cowman’s book, Springs in the Valley, shares a tale from African colonial history: It was a century or more ago that in the deep jungles of Africa, a traveler was making a long trek. Natives of the area were hired to carry the loads. The first day they marched rapidly and went far. The traveler had high hopes of a speedy journey. But the second morning these jungle tribesmen refused to move. For some strange reason, they just sat and rested. When asked about the reason for this strange behavior, the traveler was informed that they had gone too fast the first day and that they were now waiting for their souls to catch up with their bodies.

Jesus was never too busy with life or ministry to stop and pray. And when He prayed it changed things. If Jesus took time to start His day with prayer, it only makes sense you should follow His example and make prayer a priority as well. The words of Billy Sunday ring true: “He that is a stranger to prayer is a stranger to power.”

Reflection
Why do you think it’s beneficial to start your day with prayer? What are other examples you can learn from Jesus’ prayer life?

Praise/Prayer
The Bible says Jesus is in heaven interceding for you right now. Thank Him for His prayers for you. Ask God to help you make prayer a priority.

And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons. – Mark 1:38-39 ESV


Nobody Can Preach Like Jesus
Years ago, in a seminary preaching class, a young student preached an exceptionally good sermon. The professor who was not known for being very complimentary told the student he had done a good job. The preaching student replied, “It wasn’t me, it was the Lord.” The professor quickly quipped, “It wasn’t that good.”

Nobody can preach like Jesus. In Mark 1:38-39, Jesus goes throughout all of Galilee preaching. Danny Akin notes, “It is interesting and instructive that sandwiched or bracketed by the miracles of healing and exorcism, we find the essential elements of prayer (Mk 1:35) and preaching. We should not pass over this lightly or too quickly. Without both, the advance of the kingdom would have stopped dead in its tracks. I believe the same is true today!”

Reflection
Jesus came to preach. This reminds us of the priority of preaching and the message of the gospel. What have been some of the most memorable sermons you have heard?

Praise/Prayer
Praise God for the power of preaching and how it’s changed your life. Pray for Pastor Jim and the other preachers in your life to remain faithful to the gospel.