“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.” Mark 1:24
Recently my sister shared an incident with me that happened when she was a teenager. Cathy had a Sunday School teacher who was in her early 20’s. This young Sunday School teacher went on the senior trip for the local high school as one of the chaperones. When they returned, it was commonly reported that the Sunday School teacher had purchased alcoholic beverages for some of the seniors on the trip. Not only was it contrary to what Cathy was being taught at church and in our home about drinking, but it was illegal. Cathy was confused and disappointed! Needless to say, she lost respect for this teacher.
Within a few years this Sunday School teacher, her family and a number of other families ran off a very good preacher because he preached against drinking and drunkenness. A number of church families had wanted him to stop such preaching so that their family and friends would feel more comfortable about coming to church. The preacher would not compromise and was literally run out of town.
We are often shocked to find these things happening in our churches. Yet, it has always been this way. Somehow we think because it is the church the devil will beware and stay away. Not so!
In our passage today (Mark 1:21-28), Jesus walks into the synagogue to teach and is met by a man with an unclean spirit. “What have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth?” Here is what Matthew Henry says about the unclean spirit:
“He desires to have nothing to do with Jesus, for he despairs of being saved by him, and dreads being destroyed by him...This unclean spirit hated and dreaded Christ, because he knew him to be a Holy One; for the carnal mind is enmity against God, especially against his holiness. When Christ by his grace delivers souls out of the hands of Satan, it is not without tumult in the soul; ”
Not without tumult within the soul? I should say so!
The word “unclean” is defined as “not clean in a moral sense: unclean in thought and life.” Yes, we find uncleanness in our churches, but uncleanness can also abide in our own hearts. But here's the rub, are we not the temple of the living God?
“And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you.” 2 Corinthians 6:16-17
No book in the Bible talks as much about unclean spirits as the book of Mark. Over and over Jesus rebukes the unclean spirits. Notice our compassionate Savior does not rebuke the man, just the unclean spirit. Nor does He ask the man to leave the synagogue. Jesus destroys the work of Satan and liberates the captive soul.
James 2:19 tells us that the devils believe in God and they tremble. In other words they are “struck with extreme fear”. With that in mind, we must ask ourselves the question, “What are we afraid to lose?”
What are we afraid to lose by attending a Bible preaching church or by drawing close to Jesus through Bible reading and prayer?
By faith we know, we really have nothing to lose and everything to gain.
Theme Verse:
“For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it.” Mark 8:35
“Lose” from the Greek word “Apollymi” means “to destroy fully.” It is translated “destroy” in Mark 1:24, our verse for today.
“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.” Mark 1:24