21.   And they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue and taught. 22   And they were astonished at his teaching: for he taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. 23   And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24   saying, What have we to do with thee, Jesus thou Nazarene? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God. 25   And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26   And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27   And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. 28   And the report of him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about. 29   And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30   Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell him of her; 31   and he came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. 32   And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons. 33   And all the city was gathered together at the door. 34   And he healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons; and he suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew him.

Verse 21. In what respect was Capernaum highly favored? Matt. 4:13-16; 9:1. Did this light become blessing or judgment to this city? Matt. 11:23. What was Jesus' custom in his home town? Luke 4:16.

Verse 22. Why astonishment? Cp. Matt. 7:28. What was the defect of the scribes' teaching? Mark 7:1-9. How did Jesus teach? John 12:49, 50. How ought God's servants to teach? 2 Tim. 4:1, 2; Tit. 2:12; 1 Pet. 4:11.

Verses 23, 24. What were these "unclean spirits?" Matt. 8:16. To whose Kingdom do they belong? Matt. 12:25-29. Did the demons know Jesus? What were they afraid of? Matt. 8:29. What is their final destiny? Matt. 25:41. What did this demon call Jesus? Compare this with Acts 2:27, and James 2:19.

Verses 25, 26. Did Jesus accept the testimony of these spirits? V. 34; Luke 4:41. Did the apostles accept that kind of endorsement? Acts 16:16-18. What compelled the demon to depart?

Verses 27, 28. What caused the amazement? Had they ever seen such a manifestation of power? Comp. Matt. 8:27.

Verses 29-31. How did Jesus show his power over disease? How was Jesus' help procured in this case? Is it a good things to tell Jesus of our friends who in any way need help? Are we fit to minister unto the Lord until we are freed from the fever of passion and sin?

Verses 32-34. Why did the people of

Capernaum go to all this trouble? Was it worth the while and the effort? Is it worth our time and energy to bring people to Jesus for spiritual help? (Cp. John 1:41, 42). What difference do you see between the kind of healings Jesus performed and the alleged miracles of healing in our days? Was this day (vs. 21-32) a very busy one? Were there many such days/ What did he often have no time to do? Mark 3:20; 6:31. But what did He always find time for? [30]

JESUS' WORK.

      The principle on which a man works, and the motive that impels him are as important (and more so) as the work itself. As to Jesus' work note this:

      1. It was all a work of love. Had it not been what would it have been worth? (1 Cor. 13:1-3). He was the One Israelite who loved God with all His heart, mind, soul, and strength. It was His life's absorbing passion, (His meat and His drink), to do the will of the Father and to accomplish His work. John 4:34.

      2. Jesus did exactly what the Father wanted Him to do, and nothing else. At the close of His ministry He said to God, "I have glorified thee on the earth, having accomplished the work which thou hast given me to do." John 17:4. There are many today who enter every worldly scheme for betterment and think that anything that looks like "doing good" is doing God's work. Not so. The Christian has specific work to do which the world cannot perform. (Matt. 28:18-20). Mere "charity" the world can and does do. Christians must take heed to do their good work in Jesus' name, so that God may be glorified in the church and in Christ Jesus. (Col. 3:17; Eph. 3:21). All our work must be of the sort described in Phil. 1:11 (See John 15:1-14), if it is to county for eternity.

THE REST OF THIS CHAPTER. (Mark 1.)

      35   And in the morning, a great while before day, he rose up and went out, and departed into a desert place, and there prayed. 36   And Simon and they that were with him followed after him 37   and they found him, and say unto him, All are seeking thee. 38   And he saith unto them, Let us go elsewhere into the next towns, that I may preach there also; for to this end came I forth. 39   And he went into their synagogues throughout all Galilee, preaching and casting out demons. 40   And there cometh to him a leper, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. 41   And being moved with compassion, he stretched forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou made clean. 42   And straightway the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean. 43   And he strictly charged him, and straightway sent him out, 44   and saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go show thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them. 45   But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to spread abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into a city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

NOTE THAT:

      Jesus is not too busy or too tired to pray. He cannot get along or do His work without this communion with His Father. Can we? Are we attempting to?

      Jesus must go on in order to finish his work. (v. 38. See John 9:4). Such verses as 39 cover a vast amount of work.

      The leper came to Jesus with the kind of faith the Lord delights to find. One of the great things we need to learn is that Christ can. Rom. 4:21; Eph. 3:20. Why could not this leper keep still? He must have had something tremendous to tell. Why do some Christians keep so still? Can it be that there is nothing much to tell in their case?

      How Capernaum was favored. To her a great Light sprang up. Matt. 4:13, 14, 16. "And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum. . . . that it might be fulfilled which was spoken through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The people that sat in darkness saw a great light." . . . Capernaum was called Jesus' own city. (Matt. 9:1; Compare with Mark 2:1, etc.) What did Capernaum do with her light? Matt. 11:23. [31]

Source: Third Lord's Day Lesson of January. Lesson 3. January 20, 1918. Jesus at Work (Mark 1:21-34). The