Ministry on the Sabbath

MEMORY VERSE: “No man also seweth a piece of new cloth on an old garment: else the new piece that filled it up taketh away from the old, and the rent is made worse.” —Mark 2:21

MARK 1:21-34

TODAY’S lesson is centered in Capernaum, particularly in the synagogue. Many of Jesus’ miracles were performed in Capernaum, but, as in the remainder of Israel, the people generally did not respond in terms of belief in and dedication to the great messianic cause which Jesus was promoting. On one occasion Jesus took note of this, and addressing the city said, “And thou, Capernaum, which are exalted unto heaven, shall be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.”—Matt. 11:23,24

Without doubt the ancient city of Sodom was much more morally corrupt than was Capernaum in Jesus’ day. Apparently the reason it will be more tolerable, or favorable, for the Sodomites in the day of judgment than for the people of Capernaum is that they had less knowledge of right and wrong, and were not given the same opportunities of knowing about God and his great plan of salvation as were given to the people of Capernaum. The Sodomites lived and died largely in ignorance of God and of his righteous laws; whereas through the Law of Moses and through the teachings and healing ministry of Jesus the people of Capernaum were much more highly advantaged.

Jesus’ first visit to Capernaum was on the sabbath day. Little is said in the record of what Jesus taught in the synagogue on the occasion of this first visit except that the people were “astonished at his doctrine; for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22) The teachings of the scribes were greatly adulterated by the traditions of men, whereas Jesus’ teachings were based upon the authority of the Word of God. All who preach the Gospel should base their teachings on the Bible rather than on the philosophies and speculations of men.

“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.” (vss. 23,24) These “unclean spirits” of Jesus’ day were in reality fallen, or unholy angels. Peter and Jude speak of them as being disobedient to God at the time of Noah. (I Pet. 3:19,20; Jude 6) They had the power, under certain circumstances, of controlling the minds of humans. But the miracle-working power given to Jesus enabled him to break this control.

The people were amazed. Jesus went to the home of Simon and Andrew, and there he healed Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever. This had been a wonderful sabbath, but when it was over, “when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils.”—vss. 32-34

All of Jesus’ miracles were as illustrations of the healing ministry of his kingdom. He was untiring in his ministry. The fact that he had labored throughout this sabbath in Capernaum was not used as an excuse to cease giving his strength to bless the people after the day had closed and a new day (Jewish reckoning) had begun.

Our memory verse has no particular connection with the remainder of the lesson, except to remind us that Jesus did not attempt to “patch up” the old Jewish religious polity. He had his own work to do, an important part of which was to proclaim the Gospel of the kingdom, and also to prepare his apostles to carry on with this new work after he had given his own life for the sins of the world. It was a new thing which Jesus was doing, and he did not attempt in any way to blend his ministry with that of the scribes and Pharisees.

QUESTIONS

What prophecy did Jesus utter against the city of Capernaum?

Why will it be more favorable for Sodom in the judgment day than for Capernaum?

Who were the unclean spirits cast out by Jesus?

What great truth of the divine plan was illustrated by Jesus’ miracles?

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