What new doctrine is this?

Mar 1:21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
Mar 1:22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
Mar 1:23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
Mar 1:24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
Mar 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
Mar 1:26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
Mar 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
Mar 1:28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.


There in church, yes, I'm saying church because that's what we grew up knowing it as, right? Do you go to church, have you been to church lately… we know what it means to go to church so saying this event happened in the middle of church isn't farfetched.


There in church where Jesus was teaching with unique authority not as those the people were used to listening to, was a man and this man had an unclean spirit.


An unclean spirit.

Sitting there in church- was an unclean spirit inside a man. This unclean spirit filled man sat there let's just say week after week, who knows maybe even year after year, listening to the scribes. Then in comes Jesus and after teaching this unclean spirit cannot stand to be in the presence of God's Son.

Jesus didn't single this man out and command the unclean spirit to come out. The unclean spirit couldn't help but cry out. The man opened his mouth and being controlled by the unclean spirit these words came out…

'Let us alone, what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.'

Let US alone.

US. The plural there could mean the unclean spirit was talking about the man and itself, or maybe there was more than one unclean spirit in the man, however it was we do know that this unclean spirit was controlling the man and the evil it was ruled the man's thoughts but NOT enough to make himself noticed to others. He came into the synagogue, he was there as the scribes and all others spoke including Jesus and then He spoke up.


When we catch this picture we have to understand how momentous this was. Ordinary human beings don't rise the ire of unclean spirits. Ordinary human beings are ripe for the picking for them. Jesus wasn't an ordinary human being and the unclean spirit knew this. Unable to keep quiet that unclean spirit had to cry out.


The unclean has NOTHING to do with the clean, and wanted nothing to do with the clean and Jesus was CLEAN. The unclean KNEW that here was someone who could DESTROY them. The unclean spirit KNEW exactly who was near them- THE HOLY ONE of GOD.


The unclean spirit announced who it was there in their presence. And what was Jesus' immediate reaction?


Mar 1:25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

Be quiet!
Shut up!
Stop speaking!

No, Jesus didn't say shut up, but he did say, hold thy peace and that means stop talking. He told that unclean spirit to be quiet and say no more. Was it in part because He wasn't ready for such a forceful exclamation of His holiness? We do know that later on He tells His mother it wasn't time for Him to be doing the things she was asking of him yet. There was a time for all things to be revealed and it is quite possible that He wanted the unclean spirit to be quiet because there were those there in that synagogue not yet ready to hear just yet. And if it were the right time, Jesus wanting this evil spirit to be quiet revealed His authority to command the evil spirits. He didn't have to listen to the evil spirit speak, the evil spirit had NO power where Jesus is concerned, no power at all whatsoever. The people there in the synagogue witnessed Jesus telling the unclean spirit inside this man- a man they all probably knew for awhile- to hold its peace and COME OUT of that man. Come out, release that man, get out of that man, free that man, no longer remain inside him. Jesus did not want that unclean spirit around, He wanted Him destroyed. Just as the unclean spirit knew and the unclean spirit wanted to be left alone but Jesus wasn't about to listen to any unclean spirit. Jesus had been given the power to do miracles and He was doing them. It was and is a miracle to release a captive by freeing them from an unclean spirit.


Mar 1:26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
Mar 1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
Mar 1:28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.


The unclean spirit TORE the man, the unclean spirit had powers of its own. We're not sure just how much or what sort of power unclean spirits have but this unclean spirit tore at the man. The unclean spirit had a physical way of affecting the man. Obviously the unclean spirit didn't make it a habit to tear at this particular man or he more than likely would NOT have been there in the synagogue. But, faced with destruction this unclean spirit wasn't about to be destroyed without a fight, a fight it knew it couldn't win. Going out with a bang, this unclean spirit wasn't going to leave quietly. Tearing at the man the unclean spirit cried out with a LOUD voice- and it had no choice but to LEAVE that man he was possessing. Just imagine it, we have to do that, we are given these words so that we can imagine the situations and make them real to us, so that we can relate and understand to the fullest possibly level that we can with the Holy Spirit's guidance to enlighten us.


When we imagine this we have to picture the man left there, probably thrown to the ground and then released from the evil controlling him- freed from spiritual bondage. A miracle. Is it any wonder they were ALL amazed? Is it any wonder they questioned among themselves? It's totally understandable that they were saying- What thing is this? - What's going on?! What new doctrine is this! What authority commands Jesus! Even unclean spirits obey Him! What the heck is going on?! I mean come on NOTHING like this had ever happened before, not ever!


Did you read that? 'WHAT NEW DOCTRINE IS THIS'


The new covenant was being introduced- Jesus, salvation in Jesus! PRAISE GOD!


They knew it was new and it happened right there in their synagogue, right there in front of them, an unclean spirit had been removed from a man- a man just like they were, by a man they thought was just another man like them.


All of this set the tongues a wagging and they had to wag, they had to because this was something totally unheard of and it was REAL, it was happening, and no one knew what it all meant.

A new covenant and it was being brought to the people as it needed to be brought, introduced as it had been prophesized. The Messiah was there and setting up the kingdom, but in HIS way, not man's way.

By the grace of God we'll come to a full understanding of all we need to understand. May the Holy Spirit guide us in all ways. May salvation found ONLY in our Savior by ours by His mercy! May we fully live under His new covenant, understanding the kingdom, repenting of our ways, and living in Christ!


By His LOVE!


Amen.