Mark 1:21-28

21 Then they went into Capernaum, and right away He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. 22 They were astonished at His teaching because, unlike the scribes, He was teaching them as one having authority. 23 Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, 24 “What do You have to do with us, Jesus—Nazarene? Have You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him and said, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit convulsed him, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so they began to argue with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 His fame then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28 (HCSB)

Authority.
Dictionary.com defines it as..."the power to determine, adjudicate, or otherwise settle issues or disputes; jurisdiction; the right to control, command, or determine."
The above passage presents Jesus as the One with authority. And people were amazed!
First, note that they saw his authority in His teaching (before he did miraculous acts).
Then He demonstrated His authority by commanding the unclean spirit.
Then they were even more amazed because not he teaches "with authority."
Jesus is the Authority. The issues can be settled with Jesus. He has the right to control, command, and determine direction for our lives.

Mark 1:16-20

16 As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee, He saw Simon and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea, since they were fishermen. 17 “Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for people!” 18 Immediately they left their nets and followed Him. 19 Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mending their nets. 20 Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.
Mark 1:16-20 (HCSB)

Jesus was intentional.
Jesus went to Simon and Andrew, James and John and called them to follow Him.
Jesus wants to change our attention from whatever we are focused on to ... people.
They left their lucrative business (they had hired men!) and followed Jesus.
What should I leave to follow Jesus?
What is He calling me to?

Mark 1:14-15

14 After John was arrested, Jesus went to Galilee, preaching the good news of God: 15 “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe in the good news!”
Mark 1:14-15 (HCSB)
I keep thinking I am going to run into a really long passage to deal with and I keep getting these short full verses. Mark packs a lot into a concise statement.
Mark does not go into detail of John's arrest, just that the significance of it was that this was the point at which Jesus went to Galilee and preached the good news. Then he proceeds to give an example of that good news. Jesus says the time of the kingdom of God is here and people should "Repent and believe."

It is interesting to note what Jesus did not say.
He did not say " God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life."
He did not say, "You need to accept me as your personal Lord and Savior."
These things are true, but Jesus said...
"Repent and believe."

The message of the good news of the kingdome is this.
The kingdom is here. Repent and believe the good news!

Mark 1:!2

The Temptation of Jesus
12 Immediately the Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. 13 He was in the wilderness 40 days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels began to serve Him.
Mark 1:12-13 (HCSB)

Mark is short and sweet and to the point. Matthew and Luke describe the whole scene with Jesus and Satan, but Mark just says this. Acouple of things jump out to me:
1) The Spirit drove Him into the wilderness. Why else would He go? I mean it was not a fun trip. Jesus went becasue He was compelled. Do i listen when the Spirit seeks to drive me to a place I do not want to go or a place I know will be difficult?
2) He was tempted. Jesus faced the temptation of the devil himself and came out of it.
3) He was with wild animals. I never saw this before. I'm not sure it is that profound, but it is interesting. Mark is the only one to mention the animals.
4) The angels came and served him after the temptation. When we are tempted, whether we fail or defeat the temptation, it takes something from us, more than the physical. Spiritual battles are draining! Seek God for help in recovery.

Mark 1:9-10

9 In those days Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. 10 As soon as He came up out of the water, He saw the heavens being torn open and the Spirit descending to Him like a dove. 11 And a voice came from heaven: You are My beloved Son; I take delight in You! Mark 1:9-11 (HCSB)

I wonder what it looks like to see he heavens "torn open" and I have also always wondered what it looked like for the Spirit to "descend like a dove." Of course we always see the picture of the the Spirit as a dove, but that is not what it says. It says it "descended" like a dove. It's flight down from heaven was like this graceful bird coming down. Or something like that. Anyway you look at it, this must have been one cool place to be on that day. How do you recover from that? I mean really. How does your average Eli coming out to watch the crazy preacher recover from seeing the heavens torn open the Spirit decending and God speaking. How do you leave and go back to normal. There is definately a new normal after that!

So what about me? What do I do when i encounter God? How do I dare go back to life as usual?

Mark 1

John the Baptist knew his role. He knew there was someone coming after him Who was the real focus.
How much better would our lives be of we recognized that what we do, we do for Jesus' glory and not our own.