Lesson 5219

 (Lesson 5219)(05-21-26) Mark 1:23-28 

   “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.” 

 

   Today’s quote describes a man possessed who was present in the Capernaum synagogue. The devil cried out, recognizing Jesus of Nazareth as the Son of God and asked if Jesus had come to destroy him. Jesus rebuked the spirit, commanding it to stay quiet and come out of the man. After torturing the man one more time and with a loud voice, the unclean spirit left him. The men who were ther were completely amazed, wondering what new doctrine this was, as Jesus command even the unclean spirits with authority and they obeyed him. Consequently, his fame immediately began to spread throughout all the region round Galilee. ~ 

Lesson 5218

 (Lesson 5218)(05-20-26) Mark 1:21-22 

   “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.” 

 

   Today’s quote recounts Jesus and his disciples entering the city of Capernaum, where He straightway entered the synagogue on the sabbath day and began to teach Holy scripture. The people who heard Him were astonished at his doctrine, because he taught them as one that had divine authority, and not like the Jewish scribes. ~ 

Lesson 5217

 (Lesson 5217)(05-19-26) Mark 1:16-20 

   “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 farther 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.” 

 

  Today's quote recounts Jesus’ selection of the first four of the twelve apostles. ~ 

Lesson 5216

 (Lesson 5216)(05-18-26) Mark 1:13-15 

     “And he was there in the wilderness forty days, tempted of Satan; and was with the wild beasts; and the angels ministered unto him. Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying, The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent ye, and believe the gospel.” 

 

    Today’s quote states that Jesus stayed in the desert for forty days, where He suffered all manner of temptation by Satan, while being watched over by angels. When Jesus successfully completed the test of Satan’s temptation, after John was put in prison, Jesus went into Galilee and preached the gospel of the coming kingdom. His central message declared that the time had come and the kingdom of God was at hand, He called on the Jews to repent and believe the gospel. It is important to note that Jesus, like John the Baptist, preached that “the kingdom of God is at hand”, at the time, He could not preach the new law of grace through faith because He had not then provided the perfect sacrifice for the sins of those who will come to believe in Him. ~ 

Lesson 5215

 (Lesson 5215)(05-16-26) Mark 1:9-12 

   “And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan. And straightway coming up out of the water, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him: And there came a voice from heaven, saying, Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. And immediately the spirit driveth him into the wilderness.” 

 

   Today’s quote recounts Jesus submitting Himself to be baptized by John in the Jordan River. As Jesus comes up out of the water a voice from heaven says, "Thou art my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," after which the Spirit immediately carried him into the wilderness. This event marks the moment Jesus submitted to John's baptism to fulfill all righteousness and satisfy the legal requirements of the Jewish law. Rather than needing cleansing from personal sin, Jesus underwent this ritual to dedicate and consecrate himself for his priestly ministry, as prescribed under the Mosaic covenant for those entering service. By perfectly observing every aspect of the law, he established his absolute spotlessness and righteousness. This obedience ensured he would stand as the flawless, unblemished sacrifice required to satisfy divine justice and pay the penalty for the sins of all who believe in him. ~

Lesson 5214

 (Lesson 5214)(05-15-26) Mark 1:4-8 

   “John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins. And there went out unto him all the land of Judaea, and they of Jerusalem, and were all baptized of him in the river of Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's hair, and with a girdle of a skin about his loins; and he did eat locusts and wild honey; And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose. I indeed have baptized you with water: but he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost.” 

 

   Today’s quote describes the ministry of John the Baptist in the wilderness, where he preached the baptism of repentance. Multitudes from the land of Judea and Jerusalem went out to hear his message. During his ministry, John drew a sharp contrast between his own work and the upcoming mission of Jesus Christ. He declared that one mightier than he was coming after him, whose shoes he was not worthy to untie. John explicitly defined the limits of his own practice by stating, "I indeed have baptized you with water: but He shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost." This proclamation by John creates a definitive separation between the outward, temporary physical act and the inward, permanent spiritual transformation. John's water ritual served as an introductory, symbolic call to repentance, but it lacked the power to save or permanently alter the soul. By contrasting his use of water with Christ's future baptism, John identified the Holy Ghost as the sole agent of true, soul-saving immersion. This distinction reinforces the principle that physical dipping in water is merely a preparatory shadow, whereas the genuine, identity-changing immersion into the divine nature is a supernatural act reserved exclusively for Christ through the baptism of the Holy Spirit. ~