21They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and 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.” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching — with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

Background and situation:  In Mark, Jesus has announced the kingdom (1:9) and begun the formation of the New Community.  Now, in his first direct public act, he goes to Capernaum--perhaps the most important and well-connected community in Galilee--and entered the synagogue.  He goes purposefully--"strides" could be one possible translation.  He enters dramatically into holy space on a holy day. 

We are only at verse 21, still very early in Mark's gospel. After leaving the wilderness, the first thing Jesus did was begin to assemble the New Community.  The next thing he does is engage the religious power.

Teaching with authority:  The word is exousian--he teaches with power!  Jesus has it, and the scribes do not.  Right off the bat, the scribes--the "lawyers" of religious power--are put down, their authority suspect.  (In 3:22, Mark will associate the scribes directly with Temple power in Jerusalem.) 

We are not told the actual content of Jesus' teaching, but whatever it was, it "shocked" and "amazed" those who were present.  (The "they" is indefinite.  It probably means the people present at the synagogue that day.)

The first demon in Mark's gospel pops up in church:  Mark employs the "sandwich technique" at several points in his gospel.  He tells a story within a story, you might say, and each story is a commentary on the other. 

That's what he does here.  The episode begins and ends on the question of authority and teaching, and, inbetween, we meet the "uncleansed spirit."  

https://www.progressiveinvolvement.com/progressive_involvement/2012/01/lectionary-blogging-mark-1-21-28.html

A great many people think they are thinking

when they are merely rearranging their prejudices.

~ William James

Without faces,

we work in a sea

of muted detachment.

~ James Santiago Grisolia

 

 

 

 

First Reading Deuteronomy 18:15-20

15The LORD your God will raise up for you a prophet like me from among your own people; you shall heed such a prophet. 16This is what you requested of the LORD your God at Horeb on the day of the assembly when you said: “If I hear the voice of the LORD my God any more, or ever again see this great fire, I will die.” 17Then the LORD replied to me: “They are right in what they have said. 18I will raise up for them a prophet like you from among their own people; I will put my words in the mouth of the prophet, who shall speak to them everything that I command. 19Anyone who does not heed the words that the prophet shall speak in my name, I myself will hold accountable. 20But any prophet who speaks in the name of other gods, or who presumes to speak in my name a word that I have not commanded the prophet to speak — that prophet shall die.”

Psalm 111:1-10

1   Praise the LORD! 
     I will give thanks to the LORD with my whole heart, 
          in the company of the upright, in the congregation. 
2   Great are the works of the LORD, 
          studied by all who delight in them. 
3   Full of honor and majesty is his work, 
          and his righteousness endures forever. 
4   He has gained renown by his wonderful deeds; 
          the LORD is gracious and merciful. 
5   He provides food for those who fear him; 
          he is ever mindful of his covenant. 
6   He has shown his people the power of his works, 
          in giving them the heritage of the nations. 
7   The works of his hands are faithful and just; 
          all his precepts are trustworthy. 
8   They are established forever and ever, 
          to be performed with faithfulness and uprightness. 
9   He sent redemption to his people; 
          he has commanded his covenant forever. 
          Holy and awesome is his name. 
10  The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; 
          all those who practice it have a good understanding. 
          His praise endures forever.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 8:1-13

1Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that “all of us possess knowledge.” Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. 2Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; 3but anyone who loves God is known by him.

4Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that “no idol in the world really exists,” and that “there is no God but one.” 5Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth — as in fact there are many gods and many lords — 6yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist.

7It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. 8“Food will not bring us close to God.” We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do. 9But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. 10For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? 11So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. 12But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. 13Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

Gospel Mark 1:21-28

21They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24and 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.” 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching — with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.