COMMENTARY ON MARK

LESSON 13

THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT LEAVES

 “ ^{Mark 1:25} And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. ²⁶ And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. ²⁷ 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. ²⁸ And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.” (Mark 1:25-28)

INTRODUCTION

               Jesus is teaching in the synagogue, and has confronted a man with an “unclean spirit” – a spirit that in some way contaminated and defiled the man he possessed. While the people themselves were not aware of the greatness of Christ, the “unclean spirit” knew very well who He was – the “Holy One of God.” Jesus had not been defiled by the powers of darkness, and that was known throughout the region ruled by “the wicked one.” While Satan and his hosts are not omniscient, or all-knowing, they are able to contrast the manner of Jesus with the nature of darkness, and draw a proper conclusion. The fact that they said “Holy One” rather than “powerful One,” confirms that Christ’s character has a disrupting effect among the hosts of wickedness. Apparently this “unclean spirit” had been able to work in this poor man without any obvious restraint – even entering into the synagogue without experiencing any form of limitation. But this was a different day. The “Prince of life” was among them. Whether anyone else knew who was in the synagogue that day, the hosts of darkness were keenly aware of the Lord’s presence. Already they have publically confessed Him as the “holy one,” acknowledging they have nothing in common with Him. It is clear this spirit does not want Jesus in their presence. What will Christ’s holiness prompt Him to do? Now we will see how the Lord Jesus responds to such a spirit.

THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT COMMANDED TO BE SILENT

               “ ²⁵ And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.”

               JESUS REBUKED HIM. Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit for what he has said. Do you remember what that was? (1) “Let us alone.” (2) “What have we to do with Thee?” (3) “Have you come to destroy us?” (4) “I know who You are – the Holy One of God.” From one point of view, these are all intelligent statements. They are driven by a certain perception of Jesus. There is an inquiry concerning the welfare of the “unclean spirit” – and of all who were with him (“us”). Further, all of these words were coming from the mouth of a man, even though they were being spoken by an “unclean spirit.” In our society, there is nothing in this dialog that would have suggested an unseen and unclean spirit was speaking with Jesus. In a modern church, this would be considered nothing more than the expression of a cantankerous church member. But Jesus sees and judges this situation as it really is.      Jesus once said of Himself, “as I hear, I judge: and My judgment is just; because I seek not Mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent Me” (John 5:30). And again, “My judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent Me” (John 8:16). Jesus sees this man, and hears the words that come from his mouth. He discerns the situation for what it really is, and is absolutely right and righteous in doing so. This is a situation that calls for a rebuke, not dialog. This is not a time for teaching, but for rebuke.

               As we might expect, the word “rebuke” is very strong. It means “to reprove, censure severely, and charge one with wrong.” ^THAYER It also means “to restrain, or curb what is being done.” When men rebuke, restraint is not necessarily inherent in their word. That is, a rebuke may be followed by a refusal to receive that word. However, this is not the case with Jesus. When Jesus rebukes, the word is accompanied with power. Jesus “rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm” (Matt 8:26). He also rebuked a “foul spirit” (Mk 9:25), and a “fever” (Lk 4:39). In every case, the rebuke was followed by instant obedience. Of old time, the drowning of Pharaoh and his armies is said to have been accomplished by the Lord’s “rebuke” (Psa 76:6). Even God’s “countenance” is said to constitute a rebuke that burns, cuts down, and causes His enemies to “perish” (Psa 80:16). When “the waters stood above the mountains,” they “fled,” receding below the mountain peaks, at the Lord’s “rebuke” (Psa 104:7).

               It is no wonder that holy men have cried out, “O Lord, rebuke me not” (Psa 6:1; 38:1). There have been people who walked with Jesus who allowed Satan to work in them – and when they did, Jesus rebuked them. The one incident that comes to mind is when Peter sought to dissuade Jesus from going to the cross. It is written that Jesus said, “Get thee behind me, Satan: thou art an offence unto Me: for thou savorest not the things that be of God, but those that be of men” (Matt 16:23). It is good to determine, by God’s grace, never to be in a situation that calls for the rebuke of the Lord. Should such an occasion arise, it will not be treated lightly.

               HOLD THY PEACE. Other versions read, “Be quiet!” ^NKJV That brought an abrupt end to the speaking of this “unclean spirit.” Even though he had, from one point of view, said the truth – “I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God” – yet he was not permitted to speak. Later Mark will refer to “many demons” whom Jesus did not allow to speak because they “knew Him” (Mk 1:34). In the 3^rd chapter Jesus “straitly charged” unclean spirits “that they should not make Him known” (Mk 3:11-12).

               Those on earth who carry the vessels of the Lord are commanded, “be ye clean” (Isa 52:11). It is a principle in God’s kingdom that those with soiled spirits are not allowed to speak forth His truth. There are mysterious men like Balaam, who spoke remarkable things (Num 23:19-24). There are also heathen kings like Nebuchadnezzar, Darius, and Cyrus, who spoke things pertaining to the Lord. However, these were all spoken during dark times, and prior to Jesus. Now God speaks through His Son, who is His exclusive Spokesman (Heb 1:2). He will not allow demons to spread the truth about that Son. They had to hold their peace! We learn from this that the one speaking the truth is not incidental or without significance. There are personalities who have no right to speak concerning the Lord Jesus Christ.

               COME OUT OF HIM. We do not know how long this “unclean spirit” had possessed this person. This day, however, brought an abrupt conclusion to his possession of the man. This is a command – not to men, but to a demon, an “unclean spirit.” If you wonder at the authority that Jesus exercises in the region of darkness – even when He was in the flesh in this world – this text will make it clear. Men may have trouble with demons, but Jesus does not. It only takes a command from the Lord Jesus, and Satan’s work comes to a grinding halt. This brings great comfort to those who have faith in Him.

THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT LEAVES WITH ONE LAST EFFORT

               “ ²⁶ And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.” We should note that there are external circumstances that are actually the result of unseen wicked hosts. This ought to move people to reconsider the myth of “free will.” The man Jesus is now confronting did not have a free will. There were words erupting from his mouth that were not his own. He was under the dominion of an “unclean spirit.” Unless unclean spirits have been banished from among men, this is still possible.

               THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT TORE HIM. Other versions read, “the unclean spirit had convulsed him,” ^NKJV “and throwing him into convulsions,” ^NASB and “the evil spirit shook the man violently.” ^NIV What a pitiful sight this must have been! The spirit had no choice but to come out, but even in his exit he made his malignancy known. He exerted his last gasp of strength to “steal, kill, and destroy” (John 10:10). What a different kind of obedience is this? In obeying the word of the King, this “unclean spirit” still seeks to do harm. He has no respect for the poor man, and is only obeying the Lord because he has no choice but to do so.

               In Luke’s account of this incident, he is careful to tell us that even though this spirit violently threw the man to the ground in convulsions, yet no harm was caused to the person. “And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not” (Luke 4:35). Although this “spirit” had every intention of hurting this man, Jesus would not allow him to do so! This spirit caused the man to go into some kind of massive convulsion, throwing him to the ground. But he could cause no harm to him.

               On another occasion, a man brought his oppressed child to the Master. When the boy appeared before Jesus, the spirit possessing him “immediately threw the boy into a convulsion. He fell to the ground and rolled around, foaming at the mouth” ^NIV (Mark 9:20). When Jesus commanded the spirit to come out of the boy, throwing the lad “into terrible convulsions, it came out; and the boy became so much like a corpse that most of them said, ‘He is dead!’” ^NIV (Mark 9:26). However, Jesus took the boy and lifted him up, safe and sound. Matthew says of that event, “and the child was cured from that very hour” (Matt 17:5).

               HE CRIED WITH A LOUD VOICE. The spirit did not speak in words, but shrieked, or screamed, apparently using the vocal chords of the man. Another version reads, “he came out with a shriek.” ^NIV The word used here (“cried”) means to “scream, shriek, cry out.” ^THAYER The expression “with a loud voice” means “a great, or exceedingly loud, tone and sound.” This was not an intelligent sound, but more like a shriek or scream of utter despair and pain. The demon did not want to leave, but had no choice in the matter. Satan and his hosts do not want to leave the area they have occupied. They must be driven out, like the Canaanites out of the promised land. Here, however, there was no battle. Jesus did not engage in a conflict with this unclean and defiling spirit. He only spoke a word: “Hold thy peace, and come out of him.” While his scream seemed to break the silence, the spirit actually did hold his peace. His mouth, so to speak, was muzzled so that he could not speak intelligent words, thus further contaminating the synagogue and inducing fear in the people.

               HE CAME OUT OF HIM. Here is a case of obedience that is not from the heart, but is done with great reluctance, accompanied by loud cries and shrieks. Such a response is not attended by any form of blessing, but is the imperative response of wicked spirits to the word of the King. Here is an example of Jesus casting out demons “with the finger of God” (Lk 11:20). With His voice He simply “pointed,” as it were, to the “unclean spirit,” commanding him to let go of the man he held, and “come out of him” – and he instantly did. He caused the man to convulse, but could not hurt him, as Luke confirmed.

               The thought of a person being dominated by an “unclean spirit,” or a demon, or a “foul spirit,” is most arresting. Although Jesus, in His death, “spoiled principalities and powers” (Col 2:15), yet they continued to exercise influence in areas where God was not known. The book of Acts records “evil spirits” going out of people in the nineteenth chapter (Acts 19:12-13) – at least twenty-eight years after Jesus has been enthroned in glory. Paul spoke of people sacrificing to demons (1 Cor 10:20), and of not being able to drink of the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons, or eat from the Lord’s table and the table of demons (1 Cor 10:21). As late as 64 A.D. – thirty-five years after the day of Pentecost – Paul wrote to Timothy about “seducing spirits and doctrines of demons” (1 Tim 4:1). He spoke of them being active in “the latter times,” as well as at the present time. James said “demons” believe there is “one God,” and tremble in His presence (James 2:19).

               Spiritual Babylon is known as the ultimate collecting place for demons – “the habitation of demons, and every foul spirit” (Rev 18:2). They are all still subject to the Word of the Lord Jesus, for which we give God thanks!

THE PEOPLE AMAZED, AND THE SPREADING FAME OF JESUS

               “ ²⁷ 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. ²⁸ And immediately His fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.”

               AMAZED AND QUESTIONING. Whatever may be said about these people and their level of understanding, they were acutely aware of the conflict between good and evil. We do not know if they were aware that this man had an “unclean spirit,” before Jesus came into their synagogue, but I do not doubt that they did. Jesus often met people who knew the ones for whom they sought mercy had an evil spirit (Mk 9:17). In fact, the enemies of Jesus said He had a demon (John 10:20). Others reasoned that a demon was not noted for doing good to people – like opening the eyes of the blind (John 10:21). All of this is to say that a different level of consciousness existed in those times, prior to the undue exaltation of the human intellect. Were this event to take place in the average church of our day, I am convinced few people would have any idea of what happened.

               If the meeting in the synagogue was just a normal one that day, the normality certainly ended when Jesus commanded this unclean spirit to leave. The people were astonished, and began talking among themselves about what had happened. The Son of God had broken through the stilted crust of religious tradition and lifeless gatherings! Later, Mark writes of a time when the people “were beyond measure astonished” at the working of Jesus (Mk 7:37). Matthew says “the multitudes marveled” when Jesus cast out as demon, saying, “It was never so seen in Israel” (Matt 9:33).

               WHAT NEW DOCTRINE? How is it that this was associated with Christ’s “doctrine?” The sense of the expression is this: “What is this? A new teaching with authority.” ^NASB In other words, the one doing the teaching possessed authority. He had jurisdiction over the world of fallen spirits – something unknown until the appearance of the Savior of the world. Just as in our day the people of that time had grown accustomed to powerless religion. Teachers spouted their philosophy, but had not real authority or power.

               COMMANDING WITH AUTHORITY. Later in the history of the church, the powerlessness of pretenders was made known when the seven sons of Sceva attempted to cast a demon out of a man. Their words, however, were powerless. In fact, the possessed man leaped on them, overpowered them, and gave them such a beating they ran out of the house naked and bleeding (Acts 19:13-16). The people of that synagogue were familiar with demons causing things to happen in men – like blindness, deafness, dumbness, and having seizures. But here was a man who made the demons do things, and it caused the people to marvel and start talking about it. Jesus not only commanded the unclean spirit, the people observed, but “they do obey Him.” How that must have ignited faith and hope in the tender of heart!

               HIS FAME SPREADS. Mark says “immediately His fame spread abroad” throughout that region. Luke writes, “And the fame of Him went out into every place of the country round about” (Luke 4:37). Matthew says it spread “throughout all Syria,” a region of Asia (Matt 4:24).

               When God works in extraordinary ways, it is the nature of men to spread the word. Balak saw how God enabled the Israelites to defeat the Amorites, and feared (Num 22:2-3). That is also what happened when Israel was delivered from Egypt. The word spread to Jericho (Josh 2:10), and to the inhabitants of Gibeon as well (Josh 9:9). When the Lord undergirded Joshua’s efforts, it was “noised throughout all the country” that God was with him (Josh 6:27). The Philistines quaked when they thought God had come among the Israelites (1 Sam 4:6).

               On the day of Pentecost, when God poured out His Spirit, and they began to speak the wonderful works of God, “it was noised abroad,” and the multitude came together (Acts 2:7). Lectures and institutional success are not sufficient to bring the people together! It is no wonder that David cried out, “It is time for thee, LORD, to work: for they have made void thy law” (Psa 119:126). Habbakuk spoke similarly when he prayed, “O LORD, how long shall I cry, and Thou wilt not hear! even cry out unto thee of violence, and Thou wilt not save!” (Hab 1:2). God responded by saying, “I will work a work in your days, which ye will not believe, though it be told you” (Hab 1:5).

               Make no mistake about this, if ever God bares His holy arm, men will talk – whether it is Israel being delivered, Nebuchadnezzar after being humbled, John the Baptist turning men, or the powerful preaching of the Gospel. The secret to spreading the Word is not a method of evangelism, but the Lord working in such a manner as is not common to men!