Mark 1:23

Mark 1:23

I. It was the Sabbath day in the early spring when our Lord performed this, the first miracle recorded by St. Mark. All nature seemed hushed in a profound and holy calm. The little town of Capernaum, exalted unto heaven, built on bold, rising ground, lay at rest; its white marble synagogue, given by a Roman soldier, a heathen man, to the Jewish nation whom he loved, glittered in dazzling brightness in the early morning sun. Soon the synagogue is filled, and to the men of Capernaum Jesus, the prophet of Galilee, spake. And as they listened, as only crowds do listen when the speaker's soul goes forth and holds them spellbound, there rose a strange and startling cry. All unobserved, a poor demoniac had entered that house of prayer. Perhaps he came thinking it to be a sanctuary, where for a moment he might be soothed by memories of Sabbath days passed away for ever. Suddenly the air is rent by his shriek of terror; each worshipper is struck dumb with fear. The crowd heard the shriek, they saw the ghostly vision of the unclean demoniac, but were helpless. In tones almost of anger, but with a word of power, the Prophet that should come into the world bids the unclean spirit come out. No wonder that the little flock was filled with admiration and enthusiasm; no wonder that forthwith His fame spread abroad throughout all that country.

II. See the interest which God's call evoked; see the effect upon the men of Capernaum, the conquest, so it seemed, of their whole heart; see their amazement, their absolute conviction, as the demoniac lay before them healed. Yet in a few days all was forgotten, and they who had the unspeakable blessedness of hearing Christ's words spoken from His own lip, they who beheld one of His most startling miracles, heard soon after that most awful woe, "Shall be brought down to hell." Let us be warned by the sad history of Capernaum so often repeated. The mere enjoyment of hearing God's voice, or joining in services or sacraments, will not do anything for us save increase our condemnation, unless we join together earnest prayer to God the Holy Ghost and stern resolution of a braver, truer, higher life, and begin at once to do the will of God.

T. Birkett-Dover, The Ministry of Mercy, p. 21.

References: Mark 1:22 . Homiletic Quarterly, vol. iv., p. 415; W. Knight, Dundee Pulpit, p. 145.Mark 1:23 . W. F. Hook, Sermons on the Miracles, vol. i., p. 55.Mark 1:23-27 . Homilist, vol. iv., p. 376; G. Macdonald, The Miracles of our Lord, p. 161.Mark 1:24 . J. Wilmot-Buxton, Sunday Sermonettes for a Year, p. 214.Mark 1:27 . J. Keble, Sermons for Christmas and Epiphany, p. 472; G. E. L. Cotton, Sermons and Addresses in Marlborough College, p. 408. Mark 1:29-33 . Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxi., No. 1236. Mark 1:29-35 . H. M. Luckock, Footprints of the Son of Man, p. 30. Mark 1:30 . Spurgeon, Morning by Morning, p. 246. Mark 1:30 , Mark 1:31 . Christian World Pulpit, vol. vi., p. 36; Homiletic Quarterly, vol. iii., p. 254.Mark 1:31 . W. F. Hook, Sermons on the Miracles, vol. i., p. 69. Mark 1:32-34 . Preacher's Monthly, vol. iii., p. 49; E. Paxton Hood, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxiii., p. 392.Mark 1:33-34 G. F. Maclear, Church of England Pulpit, vol. iii., p. 332.