Mark 1

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God;

As it is written in the prophets, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee.

The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.

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.

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.

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.

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.

And forthwith, when they were come out of the synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John.

But Simon's wife's mother lay sick of a fever, and anon they tell him of her.

And he came and took her by the hand, and lifted her up; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them.

And at even, when the sun did set, they brought unto him all that were diseased, and them that were possessed with devils.

And all the city was gathered together at the door.

And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils; and suffered not the devils to speak, because they knew him.

And in the morning, rising up a great while before day, he went out, and departed into a solitary place, and there prayed.

And Simon and they that were with him followed after him.

And when they had found him, they said unto him, All men seek for thee.

And he said unto them, Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.

And he preached in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and cast out devils.

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.

And Jesus, moved with compassion, put forth his hand, and touched him, and saith unto him, I will; be thou clean.

And as soon as he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was cleansed.

And he straitly charged him, and forthwith sent him away;

And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man: but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.

But he went out, and began to publish it much, and to blaze abroad the matter, insomuch that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city, but was without in desert places: and they came to him from every quarter.

What does Mark 1:25 mean?

Explanation

Mark 1:25 details an encounter between Jesus and a man possessed by an unclean spirit.

The verse captures the authoritative command Jesus gives to the spirit, ordering it to be silent ("Hold thy peace") and to exit the man ("come out of him").

This verse demonstrates Jesus' power over evil spirits, displaying his divine authority and ability to perform exorcisms.

This act of silencing and expelling the demon is significant not only as a miracle but also as a symbol of Jesus' mission to confront and overcome the forces of evil, offering deliverance and restoration to those afflicted.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

This verse is situated early in the Gospel of Mark, which is generally believed to be the earliest written account of the life and ministry of Jesus within the New Testament.

This event takes place in Capernaum, a town on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus began his public ministry.

During the time of Jesus, Jewish beliefs in angels and demons were commonplace, and individuals thought to be possessed by evil spirits were often brought to religious leaders for exorcism.

Jesus' authority in exorcising spirits distinguishes him from other exorcists of the period who may have used elaborate rituals or invoked other powers.

Theological Insights

From a Christian theological perspective, this verse underlines several key doctrines:

The divinity of Jesus: His sovereign command over the demonic realm is seen as evidence of his divine nature.
The spiritual realm: It acknowledges the existence of spiritual beings, both good and evil.
The messianic mission: Jesus' power over demons is seen as a fulfillment of messianic prophecies, indicating that he is the promised deliverer.

Different denominations might derive distinct insights from this verse.

For instance, Pentecostals emphasize the ongoing battle between good and evil and the believer's authority in Christ to cast out demons.

Meanwhile, a more symbolic interpretation might be favored by those who understand the presence of demons as representative of spiritual or psychological struggles.

Practical Applications

This verse can serve as a reminder for individuals to seek spiritual strength and guidance when facing personal challenges that can be interpreted as "demons" in a metaphorical sense, such as addiction or negative thoughts.

Additionally, it encourages believers to trust in the power of Jesus, asserting that they are not alone in their struggles and that they can call upon their faith for deliverance and support.

Cross-References

Luke 4:35: "And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

And when the devil had thrown him in the midst, he came out of him, and hurt him not."

Acts 16:18: "And this did she many days.

But Paul, being grieved, turned and said to the spirit, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her.

And he came out the same hour."

James 2:19: "Thou believest that there is one God; thou doest well: the devils also believe, and tremble."

Language Study

The key phrases in this verse are "Hold thy peace," translated from the Greek "Φιμώθητι" (phimōthēti), which means to be muzzled or silenced, and "come out of him," from "ἔξελθε" (exelthe), meaning to exit or depart.

The imperative form used here indicates Jesus' direct and authoritative command over the unclean spirit.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In the broader ancient Near Eastern culture, exorcism was not exclusive to Jewish practices, other cultures also had rituals for dealing with evil spirits. For instance, the ancient Babylonians had elaborate rituals for expelling demons, often involving incantations and ceremonial acts.

In contrast to these practices, the simplicity and authority of Jesus' exorcism in Mark 1:25 are notable and signify his unique power.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific viewpoint, the concept of demonic possession and exorcism does not align with modern understanding of psychology and neurology. Conditions that in ancient times might have been attributed to demonic activity are now often understood in terms of mental health disorders.

However, the psychological impact of religious belief and practice on mental health, including practices like exorcism, can be significant and is a subject of study in the field of psychology of religion.

Commentaries

Various biblical scholars and theologians have weighed in on Mark 1:25.

Some like William Lane in his commentary on Mark suggest the silence Jesus commands is to prevent the demon from revealing his messianic identity prematurely.

Others, such as R.T.

France, focus on the authority of Jesus' word alone to command the spirits, contrasting it with other exorcists of the day.

Lutheran commentator R.C.H.

Lenski discusses the significance of Jesus’ exorcism as evidence of the kingdom of God directly confronting the kingdom of Satan.

Many agree that this passage displays Jesus' divine power and authority, setting the stage for the further unfolding of his ministry in the Gospel of Mark.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?

What does Mark 1:25 mean?

Explanation

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Theological Insights

Practical Applications

Cross-References

Language Study

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

Scientific Perspectives

Commentaries

Want more context?