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Mark 1: 21-27
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. 22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 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. 25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. 26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 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.

Luke 4: 31-36
31 And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the sabbath days. 32 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for his word was with power. 33 And in the synagogue there was a man, which had a spirit of an unclean devil, and cried out with a loud voice, 34 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. 35 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not. 36 And they were all amazed, and spake among themselves, saying, What a word is this! for with authority and power he commandeth the unclean spirits, and they come out.

Key Takeaways from this Scripture

• Authority of Jesus: Jesus taught with authority that astonished the people. Unlike the scribes, He spoke with divine authority and power.
• Power over Evil: Jesus demonstrated His authority over evil by commanding the unclean spirit to come out of the man. The spirit obeyed Him, showing His dominion over all spiritual realms.
• Recognition by Spirits: The unclean spirit recognized Jesus as the "Holy One of God," acknowledging His divine nature and mission.
• Mission of Jesus: Jesus' mission is not only to teach but to actively confront and defeat the forces of evil. His actions demonstrate His commitment to bringing liberation and healing to those oppressed by evil.
• Astonishment of the People: The people were amazed at Jesus' teaching and actions, recognizing a new doctrine that carried true authority and power, unlike anything they had experienced before.

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This podcast may use AI generated content and voices.   For more information, check out our disclosure page on our website,   bible dash bytes.com/disclosures.   Welcome to Bible Bytes, your virtual Sunday school. Inspiring faith, 1 bite at a time.   Each episode breaks down the timeless wisdom of the Bible into digestible insights.   Perfect for those unable to attend services in person.   Whether you're seeking spiritual growth or encouragement,   Bible Bites offers fresh, engaging perspectives   that fit into your busy schedule.   Join us as we explore scripture,   uncover hidden gems, and apply biblical principles to your faith journey.  

Here is your host, Randy Black.  

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Today, we will explore   the authority   and the mission of Jesus through 2 very   powerful   passages of scripture.   Mark chapter 1   verses 21   through 27,   and Luke chapter 4 verses 31   through 36.   These scriptures reveal   Jesus' divine   authority over evil,   and his dedication   to fulfilling   god's will.   These passages share with us the story of Jesus healing   the demon possessed man in Capernaum.   Let's open up today's lesson with a prayer.   Heavenly father, we come before you in awe of your son, Jesus Christ, who speaks with unparalleled   authority   and compassion.  

As we study these passages,   help us to grasp the depth   of his power   and the urgency   of his mission.   Open our hearts to be receptive to your word   and grant us the wisdom   and strength   to follow Jesus' example in our daily lives.   In Jesus' name, we pray.   Amen.  

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Mark chapter 1 verses 21 through 27.   And they went into Capernaum,   and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the synagogue   and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority   and not as the scribes.   And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit.   And he cried out, 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.'   And Jesus rebuked him saying, Hold thy peace and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him and cried with a loud voice he came out of him.   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.   Luke 4:31-36.   And came down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and taught them on the Sabbath days.   And they were astonished at his 'doctrine,' for his word was with power.   And in the synagogue there was a man which had a spirit of an unclean devil,   and cried out with a loud voice, 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.'   And Jesus rebuked him, saying, 'Hold thy peace and come out of him.' And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him and hurt him not.  

And they were all amazed   and spake among themselves,   saying, what a word is this?   For with authority and power, he commandeth the unclean spirits,   and they come out.  

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In Mark,   we see Jesus entering the synagogue in Capernaum   and teaching   with   an authority   that just astonished the people.   Unlike the scribes   who relied on traditional   interpretations   and teachings,   Jesus spoke   with a direct   and commanding presence   that reflected his divine   nature.   His authority is further   demonstrated here when he encounters a man   with an unclean spirit,   a man possessed   by a demon.   The spirit immediately recognizes Jesus   and fears his power.   It acknowledges   him as the holy one of god.   Jesus commands the spirit to be silent and to come out of the man, and the spirit   obeys.  

This act amazes the people who marvel   at Jesus' new teaching   and his authority   over these unclean spirits.   Similarly, in Luke,   Jesus is there. He's teaching in Capernaum on the Sabbath, and the people are astonished at his doctrine   because his words   are with power.   They are the opposite of the teachings that they have heard for so many years from the scribes.   He encounters this man possessed by the unclean spirit. He who cries out in recognition   of Jesus and the fear of him, and he calls him the holy one of god, just as we saw in the book of Mark.   Jesus rebukes the spirit, commands it to be silent, and orders it to exit the man to come out of him. And the spirit obeys.  

The people are amazed. They marvel at the authority   and the power of Jesus' command over this unclean spirit.   Both of these passages highlight   the same encounter. They highlight   Jesus' authority   and his power,   particularly   in his ability to command the unclean spirits.   The people in both accounts are astonished   by his teachings.   They recognize a distinct difference between Jesus' words   and those of the scribes.   The unclean spirits in both passages   recognize Jesus' divine identity,   and they fear his power,   and it leads to their immediate obedience to his commands.   These similarities   reinforce   the consistent theme   of Jesus'   divine authority   and his mission   to confront   and overcome   evil.  

We have some key takeaways to look at from this scripture.   The first is simply the authority of Jesus.   Jesus taught with authority   that astonished the people.   Unlike the scribes, he spoke with divine authority and power.   Our second takeaway is his power over evil.   Jesus demonstrated his authority over evil by commanding the unclean spirit to come out of this man.   The spirit obeyed him,   showing his dominance   over the spiritual realms.   Our next takeaway is that the the recognition   by the spirits.   The unclean spirit immediately   recognized Jesus. It knew who he was. It called him the holy one of god.  

It acknowledges   immediately his divine nature   and his mission.   Our 4th takeaway is that this is the mission of Jesus.   Jesus' mission is not only to teach,   but to actively confront   and defeat the forces of evil.   His actions demonstrate his commitment   to bringing liberation and healing to those oppressed by the evil.   And our last takeaway is the   astonishment   of   the people.   The people were simply amazed   at Jesus' teachings   and then at his actions.   They recognized a new doctrine   different from what they had heard from the scribes, and that this doctrine carried the true authority   and power of god.  

It was unlike anything   they had ever experienced   before.   As we go throughout our day and our week and we reflect on these passages,   we're reminded of the unparalleled authority of Jesus.   His words   and his actions were not only transformative,   but they also carried the power to confront and defeat evil directly.   His authority was evident   in the way he taught and in his command over the unclean spirits,   which recognized him immediately as the holy   one   of god.   Think about the areas in your own life   where you need to recognize   and submit to Jesus' authority.  

Are there any unclean spirits?   Whether they be fears or doubts or unhealthy habits that need to be rebuked and cast out in the name of Jesus.   Remember that Jesus' authority   is not just historical,   but it is alive and active in our lives today.   Consider   also   the mission of Jesus we see here in this scripture.   His sustenance came from doing the will of god and finishing   his work.   As his followers,   we are called to join in this mission.   The fields are indeed ripe for harvest,   and there is an urgent need for laborers.   Reflect on how you   can participate in this mission in your community,   in your church, and beyond.  

How can you help others   recognize the authority and the compassion of Jesus   in their own lives?   Finally,   be inspired by the astonishment of the people who witnessed   Jesus' authority and power.   Let their amazement   stir in you a deeper awe and reverence   for Christ.   Allow this reverence to transform   your approach to faith and your daily walk   with Him.   Let's close out our lesson now with a prayer.   Lord Jesus, we thank you for your   authoritative teaching and your power over evil.   We are grateful   for the way you care for us   and deliver us from darkness.  

Help us to understand and embrace our role   in the harvest.   Give us the courage   and the dedication   to do the will   of the father.   Just   as you did.   Open our eyes to see the right fields that are around us and strengthen us to be faithful laborers   in your kingdom.   In your holy name, we pray.   Amen.   This podcast supports podcasting 2.0.   So feel free to send us a boost if you are listening on a new podcast app. Find your new app now at podcasting2.org/apps.   That's podcasting2.org/apps.   This podcast operates under the value for value model.   We hope that we are providing you with value through the work we are doing and sharing the word of God.  

And that you would then in turn provide value back to us. And this can come in 3 different forms,   in your time,   in your talent,   or in your treasure.   To learn more about the value for value model   and how it is that we apply it to our work with this podcast,   head over to our website and read up on it. You can find that at bible dash bytes.com,   and that's BYTES with a y,   /v4v.   Again, bible dash   bytes.com/v4v.   If you have a prayer request,   please reach out to the podcast via the connect form on our website   so that we can share that with the audience, and we can work together to lift that up to the Lord as a unit.   As we always do, let's close our show today   with another prayer.  

Heavenly father, we thank you again for the chance to   gather together and share your word, to learn from your word.   We come together in prayer now to lift up those unspoken   requests from the members of our audience   so that you   may touch those requests and touch the lives involved in those requests   in the way that you best see fit.   You hold   all of the answers   to our prayers,   and we trust   in you   and in your wisdom   in meeting those requests   with the answer that you provide.   It is in your name that we work and we strive to share   the word   of God, the word of you with the world, in hopes that they might one day   accept your son, Jesus,   as their savior.  

And that we can all be together   in eternity in heaven.   Amen.   Join us on our next episode. We're gonna look at   the next miracle in our series, and this is the miracle where Jesus heals   Peter's mother-in-law who is sick with a fever.   You can find that in 3   distinct   scriptures in the Bible. Matthew chapter 8   verses 14 and 15,   Mark chapter 1 verses 29 through 31,   and Luke chapter 4 verses   38 and 39.  

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Thank you for joining us for Bible Bites, your virtual Sunday school. Please head over to our website   atbible dash bytes.com   to learn how to follow, support, or share the show with others. Be sure to listen in next week for more of Bible Bites.   Inspiring faith one bite at a time.   This podcast was produced by Johns Creek Studios,   a full service podcast production planning and management provider based in Milton, West Virginia. To learn more, head over to johnscreekstudios.com.   Johns Creek Studios,   where podcast dreams come to life.