# 11 - The Book of Mark - A Person With Authority

Mark 1:23-27:

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, though Jesus of Nazareth: art thou come to destroy us the Holy One of God. 

And Jesus rebuked him, saying, hold thy peace, and come out of him.

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. 


It seems that an unclean spirit was the first, or at least among the first to recognize  who Jesus was.  It doesn't say Jesus confronted the man with the unclean spirit but the unclean Spirit seems to be on high alert around Jesus.  The very Prescence of Jesus brought him fear.  And rightly so.  

And when rebuked, the unclean spirit tore the man and cried out in a loud voice and then he came out.  Drastic change is often painful and rendering.   Getting off alcohol, drugs, coffee, sweets all withdrawal symptoms which often are not pretty, but in order to be free from whatever possesses us, there are most often painful withdrawal symptoms.   Freedom comes with a price.

Freedom from sin through Jesus Christ comes with a price, but Jesus Himself paid it for you.  But the people didn't seem to ask Jesus about all this.  They questioned among themselves, wondering about what new doctrine this was?  It wasn't a doctrine. It was a person - a person with authority from God.  

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