An Astounding Start

(Mark 1:16-28) And passing along by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net in the sea; for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zeb′edee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them; and they left their father Zeb′edee in the boat with the hired servants, and followed him. And they went into Caper′na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. 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 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.

Like Mark I am astonished at the things that Jesus did. It is rather unusual that a man would walk up to men working on their fishing gear and their boats and say, “Follow, me and I will make you fishers of men” and expect any kind of a response other than a rebuke or laughing derision, but there was something magnetic about this Man’s persona that they would just drop everything and join Him. Even more astounding is how He walked in the synagogue and spoke as one with authority and held the congregants spellbound in amazement. How many people can walk in a church off the street and take over the pastor’s pulpit and preach to the congregation and drive an unclean spirit out of a man in front of everyone? It would never happen, this was the beginning of a series of astounding events surrounding Jesus.

(James 2:19) You believe that God is one; you do well. Even the demons believe and shudder.