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 1:26 mean?

Explanation

The verse Mark 1:26 pertains to an incident in the New Testament of the Bible where Jesus exorcises a demon from a man in the synagogue in Capernaum. The “unclean spirit” refers to a demon or evil spirit that has taken control of the man's body.

The phrase "torn him” signifies a violent physical reaction from the demon in response to Jesus’ command to leave the man.

The “cried with a loud voice” indicates the loud outcry the evil spirit made during the exorcism, which can be interpreted as either the demon’s defiance or as its pained response to Jesus' authority over it.

The conclusion of the verse, “he came out of him”, confirms the successful expulsion of the demon from the possessed man by Jesus, showcasing his power over evil.

Top Rated Mark Books

Historical Context

Mark 1:26 takes place in the context of Jesus’ early public ministry.

The event is set in a synagogue in Capernaum during a time when exorcisms were not uncommon in Jewish society.

At that time, it was believed that unclean spirits could cause both physical and mental illnesses.

Exorcists, therefore, played a role in Jewish culture, and various methods were employed to drive out demons.

Jesus’ method, however, was distinct in its direct command and use of personal authority, rather than relying on rituals or invoking higher powers, which was more typical of exorcists of that era.

Theological Insights

Diverse theological perspectives focus on different aspects of this verse:

Christian theology often views this event as a demonstration of Jesus' divine authority and power over the spiritual realm.
Some theologians interpret the unclean spirit's loud cry as acknowledgment of defeat and recognition of Jesus' superiority.
Others note the communal aspect of the exorcism, which takes place in a synagogue, suggesting a public demonstration of Jesus' power meant to establish his authority and credibility among the witnesses.

Practical Applications

The teachings of this verse can have various practical applications:

It encourages believers to have faith in the power of Jesus and the triumph of good over evil.
It can be a reminder of the importance of community faith practices, as this event took place within a communal setting.
The verse can also be interpreted as an assurance that struggles can be overcome with faith and spiritual support.

Cross-References

Mark 5:7-8: "And cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. (For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit.)"
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."

Language Study

The original Greek text uses the word πνεῦμα (pneuma) for "spirit," which can refer to a wind, breath, or a spiritual entity, and in this context, it is an "unclean" or impure spirit.

The term σπαράσσω (sparassō) translated as "torn" implies a convulsion or severe agitation that reflects a violent reaction or struggle.

The term κράζω (krazō) for "cried" indicates a loud or vehement outcry, which in biblical context often communicates a significant emotional response or a call for attention.

Cultural and Religious Comparisons

In comparison with other ancient cultures, exorcism was not unique to Judaism.

Many cultures believed in spiritual possession and practiced forms of exorcism.

In Ancient Babylonian and Sumerian texts, for example, incantations and rituals were common for casting out evil spirits.

The New Testament's accounts of Jesus performing exorcisms differ in the sense that Jesus' authority alone is sufficient for the expulsion of demons, without the need for elaborate rituals.

Scientific Perspectives

From a scientific perspective, behaviors described as demonic possession in ancient texts can often be explained in terms of psychological or neurological disorders such as epilepsy or schizophrenia.

While modern science does not support the existence of demons, it offers alternative explanations for behaviors historically attributed to demonic influence.

However, these scientific explanations do not invalidate the spiritual or religious significance of these accounts for those of faith.

Commentaries

Various Bible scholars and theologians have commented on Mark 1:26:

Some suggest that Mark’s account emphasizes the dramatic nature of the exorcism to underscore Jesus’ authority.
Others focus on the recognition of Jesus as a figure of divine power, stronger than any evil spirit, by the very reaction of the unclean spirit.
Exemplified by the unclean spirit’s response, commentators often point to the recurring theme of 'conflict' in the Gospel of Mark, presenting Jesus as one who confronts and overcomes the powers of evil.

Mark 1

Mark 1

What does Mark 1:26 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 1:26 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?