#DailyDevotion Jesus Is The Holy One Of Israel Who Has Authority To Make You Clean
Mark 1:21–28 21Then they went to Capernaum. The next Sabbath Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22His teaching amazed the people because He taught them as one who had authority and not like the Bible scholars. 23There was in their synagogue just then a man with an unclean spirit. 24And he screamed, “Leave us alone, Jesus from Nazareth! You’ve come to destroy us! I know Who You are — God’s Holy One.” 25Jesus talked sharply to him: “Be quiet, and come out of him.” 26The unclean spirit threw the man into convulsions and with a loud shriek came out of him. 27They were all so amazed they argued with one another: “What is this? A new teaching! With authority! He gives orders to the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28The news about Him quickly spread everywhere in all the surrounding country of Galilee.
Jesus would go regularly into the synagogues to preach. Even back in Jesus’ day, the rabbis has a set program of readings from the Torah, Prophets and Writings. Jesus would pick up what was the assigned reading from the lectionary and teach on it. However, it seems his teaching from it was quite different from what the other rabbis did. Jesus taught as one who had authority. From what we could tell the rabbis would expound on the scripture with teachings from the rabbis of the past and quote them to teach the people. It would seem that often times the rabbis would make keeping the Torah easier in some places and harder in other places. Jesus’ teaching was different. He would often say, “You have heard xyz, but I tell you abc.”
Which brings us to today’s reading. If you were one of his hearers, you be marveling at Jesus’ teaching and wondering who gave him such authority to buck what the previous teachers had taught. To teach as Jesus taught it would not be enough to sound authoritative. You would have to back that authority with a demonstration of your authority. Well into the synagogue this particular day came a demon possessed man. He cries out to Jesus, “Leave us alone, Jesus from Nazareth! You’ve come to destroy us! I know Who You are — God’s Holy One.” Now Jesus demonstrates his authority with power. He rebukes the unclean spirit and commands him to come out of the man and he does.
Jesus does not want the witness of demons or unclean spirits. They are known liars. So Jesus often tells the spirits to be quiet. Yet there is that witness, Jesus is God’s Holy One. A few times it refers to Moses or Aaron, but the vast majority of time it is quoted as “the Holy One of Israel” who is also the LORD, the God of Israel. Indeed, Jesus is all of that. He is the one Moses had prophesied who would come and be like him. Jesus is our high priest who offers himself as the atoning sacrifice. Jesus is the Holy One of Israel, the God of Israel, the LORD, in the flesh. Jesus demonstrates this by having authority over the unclean spirit.
As such Jesus has authority over you and your life. His teaching is authoritative for you and you should listen and do what he says. Even more than that, Jesus has authority to make you clean and holy. He has saved you and redeemed you. Jesus has sanctified you to be his own. His authority can change your life. Look to him and listen to Jesus and he will give you knowledge and insight.
Heavenly Father, you have sent the Holy One of Israel to be our Redeemer and Savior, even Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Grant us faith in Jesus so all our uncleanness may be removed from us and so we can be your holy people. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.