COMMENTARY ON MARK
LESSON NUMBER 12
ENCOUNTERING AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT
“ Mark 1:23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, 24 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.” (Mark 1:23-24
INTRODUCTION
Jesus has entered into the synagogue on the Sabbath day, and has taught, acquainting the people with the manner of the Kingdom, and with God Himself. He is doing the works of His Father (John 10:37), only speaking what the Father has “taught” Him (John 8:28), and doing what He saw the Father doing (John 5:19). It is the Divine nature, therefore, to be with, and teach, those who are gathered in the name of the Lord. While Jesus did teach by the sea side (Mk 13:1; 2:13; 4:1), on a mountain (Matt 5:1; 15:29-30), and in houses (Matt 9:10; 26:6), and even by a well side (John 4:6-29), that is not where the majority of His teaching was done. It is written,“in the day time He was teaching in the Temple” (Lk 21:37), and that it was His “custom” to be in the synagogue every Sabbath day (Lk 4:16). Those who depict Jesus as constantly being among publicans and sinners have not correctly represented Him. It is written that often, when he taught publicans and sinners, it was because “they came and sat down with Him and His disciples” (Matt 9:10). Something of the grandeur of Jesus’ work will be missed if we fail to see this critical point. Jesus did spend more time with His disciples than anyone else. They alone were ordained “that they should be with Him” (Mk 3:14). It is this kind of circumstance that sets the stage for this text. Jesus is teaching the people in covenant with God in a place where they customarily gathered. He now encounters an adversary who was also there.
A MAN IN THE SYNAGOGUE WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT
“ 23a And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit . . . ”
Now we will see something of our adversary’s manner as well. Not only do the powers of darkness blind and bind people, they often do so in religious surroundings.
THEIR SYNAGOGUE. Both Matthew and Mark use this expression (Matt 12:9; 13:54; Mk 1:23). The phrase “their Temple” is never used in Scripture, even though the Jews frequently gathered there, and Jesus taught there. Synagogues, however, were more localized, for occasions for traveling to the Temple were not frequent enough to sustain the soul. You may recall that Joseph and Mary, together with the young Jesus, went up to the Temple in Jerusalem “every year” (Lk 2:41). The synagogue was primarily a gathering place for the covenanted people. Although other people could often be found there, the focus of synagogue gatherings was not Gentiles, but Jews.
We will now see that what went on in the synagogue was of fundamental importance. This was not a mere gathering place for friends, where novel things were brought up, and a sort of party atmosphere was found. In the book of Acts, we read of events taking place in the synagogues no less than twenty-two times. All of those occasions were marked by sobriety. Some of the most receptive listeners were found in them, as well as some of the most aggressive enemies. They were anything but a casual place – especially when Jesus showed up, or the Apostles after He had been enthroned in heaven.
Perhaps one of the reasons for the pervading lack of godliness in our land, and within the churches of the land, is that very little emphasis is placed upon solemn gatherings where the attention is focused on the Lord and His Word, particularly the Gospel of Christ.
A MAN WITH AN UNCLEAN SPIRIT. There the man was – in the very synagogue where Jesus was teaching, and all of the people were astonished at His word. The American Standard Version reads, “And straightway there was in the synagogue a man . . . ” The Revised Standard reads, “And immediately there was . . . ” Other versions read “at once,” NJB “Just then,” NRSV “all at once,” WEYMOUTH “Suddenly,” ISV and “Just at that moment.” WILLIAMS The sense of the text is that Jesus’ teaching brought this man to the forefront, moving an expression to come from him. Apparently the spirit dominating the man was quite content to allow him to spend time in the synagogue, participating in its various events, until Jesus came! There is something about the presence and teaching of Jesus that blasts through indifference and disinterest, which are promoted by the powers of darkness.
This man was “with an unclean spirit,” or “[was in the power] of an unclean spirit.” AMPLIFIED The idea is that he was “possessed,” DARBY I suppose this may have something to do with “free will,” for I cannot conceive of a person being in any sense “free” who is possessed, or under the control of an adversarial and wicked spirit.
Zechariah spoke of “the unclean spirit” being caused to pass out of a land (Zech 13:2) – but here we are speaking of a person. Here is a man, in a sense “the image and glory of God” (1 Cor 11:7), and yet there is in him “an unclean spirit” – the very antithesis of a holy and pure God. Unclean spirits are mentioned in the Gospels twenty-two times. They are mentioned twice in the book of Acts (Acts 5:16; 8:7), and once in the Revelation (Rev 16:13). Under the Law, there were unclean objects (Lev 5:2) and unclean foods (Lev 11:4-47). There were also unclean conditions from which men had to be cleansed (Lev 12:2-5; 13:3-8). The word “unclean” is paralleled with being “unholy” (Lev 10:10).
Within this man was an “unclean spirit.” Luke says of this man, “which had the spirit of an unclean devil” (or demon NKJV). In some way, this demon caused this man to be “unclean,” or defiled and contaminated – perhaps by a disease or some other condition as defined through the Law. It is possible that this demon flooded the man’s minds with evil thoughts and longings. We do not know the precise manner in which this spirit promoted uncleanness. Although the man was in the synagogue, he was not fit to be there. It was a condition over which he had no power. There was no procedure or set of rules that could make him clean.
It also appears as though there were periods when the man gained some clarity of thought, having some lucidity. We learn from the Gospels that demons sometimes vigorously assert themselves, as when a demon caused a young child to have seizures, often throwing him into the fire and the water (Mk 9:22). They appear willing to cause occasional disturbance.
The thing to be seen here is that there is a part of Satan’s kingdom that aggressively promotes spiritual uncleanness. No doubt these spirits operate under the powers described as “spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph 6:12). “Uncleanness” is something prohibited among the people of God (Rom 6:19; Eph 5:3; Col 3:5; 1 Thess 4:7). It is listed in “the works of the flesh” (Gal 5:19), and is contrasted with “holiness” (1 Thess 4:7). “Uncleanness,” as used in the Epistles, tends towards base immorality – licentiousness and concupiscence. This is a condition that especially marks our present generation, confirming the prominence of the devil in it.
THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT ADDRESSES THE LORD JESUS
“ 23b-24a . . . and he cried out, saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with Thee, Thou Jesus of Nazareth? . . .”
HE CRIED OUT. One version reads, “and he began shouting.” NLT With the sound of the marvelous words of Jesus still in the air, and among a people who stood astonished at what they heard, suddenly the mouth of this man flies open, and he cries out. It was like a scream from the depth of the throat – a sort of guttural sound – for this is what the word “cried” means. THAYER This cry erupted from the man, but it was provoked by a demon. The “gracious words” that proceeded from Christ’s mouth were more than that dark spirit could stand. Thus it moved the man to interrupt Christ’s words with a doleful cry of discontent, as though the demon was actually being oppressed by the truth. Such cries are often said to have come from demons (Mk 3:11; Lk 4:41; 8:28). The truth disrupts and disorients the kingdom of darkness!
LET US ALONE. Other versions read, “Away!,” YLT and “Why are you bothering us?” NLT The words of Jesus were painful and disruptive to this unclean spirit. The truth agitated that spirit, and thus it cried out to be left alone in the darkness. On one occasion a demon pled with Jesus, “torment me not” (Lk 8:28). It is quite true, as James affirms, that the demons “tremble” in the presence of the Lord (James 2:19). They do not want the Lord around them, invading their territory, so to speak.
In the case of the Gadarene demoniac, the horde of demons that possessed him requested that they not be sent out of that country. “And he besought him much that He would not send them away out of the country” (Mark 5:10). They would rather enter into a herd of swine nearby than to be expelled from that region. When they asked the Lord not to send them away, they were saying “Let us alone!”
It ought to be apparent that it is really of no advantage to choose to live where Satan and his dark powers are dominant. One church in Asia was told by Jesus, “I know thy works and where thou dwellest, even where Satan's seat is” (Rev 2:13). It may be that our lot in life finds us in such a place, as with the church in Pergamos. If that is the case, then it will require an extraordinary effort to hold Christ’s name firmly, and not be carried away with a tidal wave of iniquity. You may remember that this particular church (Pergamos), although not denying the faith, had allowed corruption to enter their presence. Some among them had embraced “the doctrine of Balaam.” Some held to the immoral doctrine of the Nicolaitanes, which Jesus Himself hated (Rev 2:14-15). The dominance of Satan’s influence in that area had removed the abrasiveness of false doctrine. However, you may sure that the offensiveness of Christ Jesus and the Gospel still effected the forces of darkness.
The repulsiveness of Jesus to Satan and his hosts is to be matched by a corresponding abhorrence among the elect of the devil and all of his ways – the world and all that is in it. It is an intolerable incongruity for Satan’s camp to be agitated with Jesus, while the camp of the saints is not offended by the devil and his ways.
WHAT HAVE WE TO DO WITH THEE? Other versions read, “What do you want with us?” NIV “What have you to do with us?” NRSV “What business do we have with each other?” NAU The demons know that Christ enters into no work with them. They have nothing in common with each other. There is no joint-effort in which the mutual involvement of Jesus and demons is enjoyed.
Demons frequently said this to Jesus. The demoniac in the country of the Gergesenes cried out, “What have we to do with Thee?” (Matt 8:29; Lk 5:7). Demons know the enmity that exists between them and the Lord. Whatever they may not know, they are keenly aware of the variance between themselves and the Lord of glory. They are repelled by the presence of the Lord, just as surely as the Lord is repelled by the presence of the devil.
We can mark it well, that when the things of God are vigorously shunned, and people ask believers to speak no more of them, the devil is present and is dominating the people.
THOU JESUS OF NAZARETH. It is interesting that this demon refers to the Lord as “Jesus of Nazareth.” When Jesus was crucified, Pilate prepared a sign that was put on the cross. It was written in three languages – “Hebrew, and Greek, and Latin” – and read, “JESUS OF NAZARETH THE KING OF THE JEWS” (John 19:19). Although Nazareth was a city with a bad reputation (John 1:46), yet the powers of darkness were especially aware of one of its citizens. Here was a unique Man, singled out of an entire city. Satan is always aware of genuine life in a wicked surrounding. It was so with Job, singled out of “the land of Uz” (Job 1:1). It was so with Lot, who dwelt in Sodom (2 Pet 2:7-8). Among other things, this confirms the very real clash of life with death, holiness with wickedness, and understanding with ignorance. How long the demons were aware of Christ’s person, we do not know. However, as He grew from a youth, increasing in favor with God and man, it became very apparent to Satan’s hosts that He was their enemy, having no part with them.