Listen

Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.

Mark 1:27-28

Think

The people were shaken and astonished. They didn’t know what to make of Jesus. He assumed authority in the way he taught. The expelling of the “demon” proved to them that his authority was real. This kind of authority and what he was teaching were both new to them. In Mark 1:15 his teaching was summarized, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives and trust this good news.” The announcement of God’s kingdom coming soon was not entirely new. Others had been making that claim for many years. What was new was Jesus’ description of that kingdom. According to Matthew 5, it would be good news for the hopeless, the grieving, the humble, the hungry. It would be a kingdom of mercy, peace, and happiness. Today’s text ends with the fame of Jesus spreading. The people who heard him that day told the story repeatedly. They couldn’t help but share the good news they had heard and seen.

LaMon Brown

Question to Ponder:

What does Jesus’ description of the kingdom of God mean to you? How can we start to see that kingdom now?

Pray

Help me, Lord Jesus, to tell others why you are important to me.

Amen.

Go

I live today in the love and truth of my Lord, Jesus Christ.