Lesson 866

(Lesson 866)(01-11-14) Mark 1:16-28

"Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they were fishers. And Jesus said unto them, Come ye after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And straightway they forsook their nets, and followed him. And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were in the ship mending their nets. And straightway he called them: and they left their father Zebedee in the ship with the hired servants, and went after him. And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught. And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes. 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. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him. 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. And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee."

The first part of this lesson conveys how Jesus went about selecting the first four of His Apostles. Simon (Peter), Andrew, James and John. Peter was the first selected and therefore the first member of the Church.

The second part of the lesson tells how Jesus went into the Temple boldly teaching the word of God to all who were gathered in the temple. The priests were astonished that this man, of whom they had never heard, was more knowledgeable about the word of God than were the high priests and scribes.

(Note: A scribe was a man who made written copies of, or written changes to Mosaic law as the high priests determined the changes necessary. They were also considered to be experts concerning both the content and the intent of Mosaic law.)

Jesus also performed His first miracle by calling the evil spirits out of a man. That spirit knew Jesus was the Son of God, "thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God."
This lesson marks the beginning of the ministry of Jesus and first establishes Him, to the people, as the Son of God.~