Jesus’ Earthly Ministry

The Life of a Servant
Jesus’ Earthly Ministry

SCRIPTURE
Mark 1:21-34

And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.
And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.

LESSON

Imagine yourself for a moment as one of the angels who longed to look at Jesus during His earthly ministry. Perhaps you were one of the heavenly chorus who announced His otherwise lowly birth. In subsequent years, perhaps you peered over heaven’s gates to watch Him grow to manhood in the obscure setting of Nazareth. Then finally the day arrives for Jesus to begin His messianic ministry. He is baptized by John in the Jordan, and the Spirit descends like a dove. The Father’s voice thunders past you to the earth below: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased” (Mark 1:11). Though human eyewitnesses may have failed to grasp the significance of these signs, inhabitants of the spiritual world would appreciate the marks of heavenly blessing.

The spiritual world would also know what was at stake in Jesus’ confrontation with Satan in the wilderness. Indeed, spiritual beings were the only witnesses to that encounter and Jesus’ decisive victory. After events of such high drama, I can imagine myself, as an angel, wondering, “What will come next for the Lord of glory as He dwells on earth? Will He display the majesty that has always surrounded Him in heaven? How will He accomplish the purpose for which He came to earth?”

The events recorded in Mark 1:21–34 are not the sort of things I would have imagined, as an angel or as a man. The verses describe one day—a Sabbath day—in the life of our Lord. There are four main incidents in the day, and certainly Jesus’ supernatural power and authority are evident. But His heavenly glory and majesty are veiled. We see Jesus as a servant in constant, tireless ministry to endless need. We see Him preaching, casting out demons, healing an individual, and ministering to the crowd late into the evening. An angel would have shaken his head in wonder. Mark, I’m sure, rejoiced to see the kind of servant Jesus was.

STUDY QUESTIONS

• What are the “heavenly blessings” that Dr. Barnhouse is referring to?
• What was the purpose of Christ’s earthly ministry? Why is this so important?
• Explain the idea of the suffering servant.