SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Jan 27, 1904

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS

LESSON 6.—FEBRUARY 7.—A SABBATH IN CAPERNAUM.

Lesson Scripture, Mark 1:21-34, A. R. V.

(21) "AND they go into Capernaum; and straightway on the Sabbath day He entered into the synagogue and taught. (22) And they were astonished at His teaching: for He taught them as having authority, and not as the scribes. (23) And straightway there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, (24) saying, What have we to do with Thee, Jesus Thou Nazarene? art Thou come to destroy us? I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy One of God. (25) And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. (26) And the unclean spirit, tearing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. (27) And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What is this? a new teaching! with authority He commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him. (28) And the report of Him went out straightway everywhere into all the region of Galilee round about.

(29) "And straightway, when they were come out of the synagogue, they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. (30) Now Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever; and straightway they tell Him of her: (31) and He came and took her by the hand, and raised her up; and the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

(32) "And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto Him all that were sick, and them that were possessed with demons. (33) And all the city was gathered together at the door. (34) And He healed many that were sick with divers diseases, and cast out many demons, and He suffered not the demons to speak, because they knew Him." Golden Text.—"He laid His hands on every one of them, and healed them." Luke 4:40.

SUGGESTIVE QUESTIONS.

(1) After calling four of His disciples by the Sea of Galilee, where did Jesus and His companions go? What did He do on the Sabbath day? Verse 21. Note 1. (2) How were the people affected by His teaching? Why? Verse 22. Note 2. (3) What peculiar individual was in the synagogue? What did he do? Verse 23. (4) What did the unclean spirit cause the man to say? Verse 24. Note 3. (5) What then did Jesus do? Verse 25. Note 4. (6) How did the unclean spirit manifest his rage? Verse 26. Note 5. (7) How were the people affected by this scene? What did they say? Verse 27. Note 6. (8) What was the result of this wonderful miracle? Verse 28. (9) When the meeting was closed, where did Jesus and His companions go? Verse 29. (10) On entering the house, what was told to Jesus? Verse 30. (11) How did Jesus manifest His interest in the case? What was the immediate result? Verse 31. Note 7. (12) What occurred when the Sabbath was over? Verse 32. Note 8. (13) What showed a general interest throughout the city? Verse 33. How did Jesus respond to this general appeal? What special restriction did He place upon the devils that were cast out? Verse 34. Note 9.

NOTES.

1. Into Capernaum.—It was after the circumstance of the miraculous draught of fishes, mentioned in the previous lesson, that Jesus and His newly-called co-laborers went into the city. He honored both the day and the church, and thus set His seal on the custom of church service on the Sabbath day—on the seventh day of the week. We have no record of His conducting a regular Sabbath service on any other day of the week, altho He taught the people on all days.

2. The astonishment of the people was not because Jesus assumed authority, but because there was a power in His words that betokened an authority greater than that of any other to whom they had listened. Jesus did not deny the authority of the scribes as the teachers of the people; He conceded that (Matt. 23:1-3). But they assumed an authority over the people which was not warranted (Verses 4-7), and which weakened the force of their teaching on the minds of the people. The real power of the Word is in the Spirit that lies behind its humble delivery, rather than in the assumption of authority by the one who presents it.

3. An unclean spirit is a spirit controlled by Satanic influence; for the Spirit of Christ always cleanses the mind. The purpose of the enemy was to disturb the services, and render void the teaching of Christ. By possessing the mind of a man, and making the man speak as one of a race whose time of destruction was already fixed, the adversary would set forth the idea that there could be no salvation, and that Christ had come only to destroy. To acknowledge the "Holy One of God" and attribute to Him the position of a destroyer, was to skip over the first advent altogether, with its work of mercy, and assume that the second advent was at hand, with the final execution of judgment.

4. The rebuke of Jesus, and His power to unseat the unclean spirit was a victory that demonstrated His ability to overcome every obstacle that Satan might cast in the way of salvation.

5. The anger of Satan at his signal defeat (which is the first personal conflict on record after the temptation in the wilderness) is manifest in his fierce struggle, tearing his victim in the effort to destroy him. By so doing he hoped at least to thwart the purpose of Christ in so far as this one man was concerned. As the lion roars after the prey that escapes it, so the devil "cried with a loud voice" because of his failure to destroy his victim. See 1 Peter 5:8.

6. To cast out an unclean spirit was evidently a thing unknown in that region. So the amazement that a man should have the "authority" (power and right) to achieve such a victory.

7. The immediate healing of a violent fever, so that the patient should at once arise and go about her regular work, was an additional cause of amazement to the already aroused community.

8. The two miracles already mentioned were of such a nature as to convince the people that Jesus was master of "all the ills that flesh is heir to." However they waited till the Sabbath was past, and the cool of the evening would permit the removal of the sick, before bringing them to Jesus. Thus their faith in Him as a healer was implicit; therefore their expectations were fulfilled. Jesus says to all, "According to your faith be it unto you." So every one receives just what his faith calls for—no more, no less. But it is not according to a mere profession of faith, but a faith made perfect by works. See James 2:19-22.

9. "All the experience of modern missionaries in the East goes to show the wisdom of the method employed by Jesus Christ and His apostles in giving attention to diseased bodies as a means of access to diseased souls."—Isabella Bird Bishop. Jesus manifested His power over evil spirits by forcing them to keep silent. This was "because they knew Him," and would use their influence to hinder His work and thus destroy souls.