Great things happen when Jesus shows up. Today we are going to look at Mark 1:14-39 and look at some of the things that happened when Jesus showed up after being baptized and tempted. 

The Kingdom Of God Comes

First, the Kingdom of God comes to our world. Mark 1:14-15 (ESV) tells us, “Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.” 

What is the Kingdom of God? When is the Kingdom? Where is the Kingdom? People have been very interested in figuring out the what, when and where of God’s Kingdom. Let me tell you, it’s time for us to stop thinking that the Kingdom of God is some future event. It’s not a future event. The Kingdom is here and now! God’s Kingdom is a spiritual kingdom. It’s a form of government. The Kingdom of God demonstrates His power, authority and rule.

If it helps, you can think about God’s Kingdom being in the spiritual dimension. Or you can think about it enveloping you like the air we breathe. It’s there, but we don’t necessarily perceive it. But when the wind blows, we feel it. Likewise, when God’s Kingdom moves, we all can sense it.

God’s Kingdom Is Power

1 Corinthians 4:20 (ESV) says, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” God’s kingdom is made of power. It’s also a kingdom that can not be observed. Jesus says this in Luke 17:20-21 (ESV), “Being asked by the Pharisees when the kingdom of God would come, he answered them, “The kingdom of God is not coming in ways that can be observed, nor will they say, ‘Look, here it is!’ or ‘There!’ for behold, the kingdom of God is in the midst of you.”

Perhaps the clearest definition of the kingdom of God is found in Romans 14:17 (ESV), “For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.”

So the Kingdom of God consists in power. The Kingdom of God is in the midst of us. The Kingdom of God is a matter of righteousness, peace, and joy in the Holy Spirit. These are all really good verses to memorize and meditate upon.

The Kingdom Is In Our Midst

The Lord has placed His Kingdom within us, in our midst, and around us. You may ask, “How is this possible?” Well, it’s because we’re in Christ, and Christ is in us. Jesus came bringing the Kingdom with Him. Likewise, wherever we go and whatever we do, we’re bringing the Kingdom of God with us, because we’re bringing Jesus with us.

It’s part of our responsibility to enforce the defeat of the evil Kingdom. That’s one of the reasons Jesus taught us to pray these words. “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” ‭‭Matthew‬ ‭6‬:‭10‬ (‭ESV‬‬)

God’s Kingdom Is Governmental 

God’s kingdom is a form of government. It has jurisdiction over an area or realm. Jesus uses the word “ekklesia” to describe His Church. It is a governmental term. 

Part of our mandate is to have Godly influence wherever the Lord has placed us. Many people think, “Oh that’s the pastor’s job.” Let me break it to you, we are all ministers of the gospel. Some have been gifted in business; others in the realm of arts and entertainment. Some are called to education; some to government. 

Several believers received a Heavenly revelation a couple decades ago that there are 7 Mountains of Influence. The Lord has called us to bring in His Heavenly influence in each of these areas that He has called us to. If He’s called you to be a business leader, then bring in the Kingdom of God into your business! If He’s called you to the mountain of family, then bring in the Kingdom of God into your family! This is how we help to bring God’s Kingdom to the Earth. This is how God’s Kingdom is felt, observed, and seen in our physical world.

People Receive Purpose And A New Identity

Secondly, when Jesus shows up people are given a true identity and purpose. Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭16‬-‭20‬ (‭ESV)‬‬ says, “Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into 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 Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.” ‭‭

Peter (Simon), Andrew, James, and John had been given their identity from their family. It was based on what they did to provide for their families. They were fishermen. This was who they were…until Jesus showed up. 

However, when Jesus looked at these men, he saw them with the identity he placed on them when he knitted them in their mother’s womb. (Psalm 139:13) 

When these men came face to face with their creator, they were told what their authentic identity was. They were to be fishers of men (evangelists). In that moment Jesus gave them a brand new purpose and identity. 

These Men Had A Choice

After coming face to face with Jesus, these men had a choice to make. Would they come into agreement with what Jesus said about who they were, or would they remain in agreement with their false identity given to them by their family and friends. Sometimes we have to reject the identities our families place on. When any identity given to us by a person-no matter who they are-is in conflict with what Jesus says about us, we must choose to come into agreement with the truth of who we are or remain in a lie about who we are. These men chose to come into agreement with the identity Jesus gave them. What will you choose?

Demons Get Scared

Demons are terrified when Jesus shows up. We see this in Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭21‬-‭28‬ ‭(ESV‬‬), “And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 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 out 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.” ‭‭

Jesus and his new disciples didn’t really go that far before they entered the synagogue and met a man who also needed Jesus. Capernaum is basically a town off the coast of the Sea of Galilee.  

Jesus Taught With Authority

First, Jesus taught and everyone was amazed because he spoke with authority. Can you imagine what it would be like to see and hear Jesus preach in the physical? As creator of the world, Jesus had (has) ultimate authority. Who else has the right to such authority than the creator?

It’s like Elon Musk who created the Tesla cars. When he walks into his stores he has ultimate authority to change whatever he wants. As the creator and CEO, he has both the right and privilege of changing whatever he wants. When he speaks people listen. 

Now imagine the creator of all things coming into your church and telling the congregation about how things are supposed to be. People would be wise to listen. So, yeah, Jesus would have authority. I’m sure it was incredible to hear him teach that day in the synagogue.

The Demons Felt Threatened

This authority affected some demons living inside a man. When the demons see Jesus, they know who he is. They recognize this power and authority. They got scared and started acting out. Which, by the way, will happen to you from time to time as you step more and more into your true identity and calling. 

We had an incident with a man in a donut shop one time. Long story short, he felt like we were too close to him and started cussing us out because of it. The truth is that Brett and I had just done our first deliverance session on a young girl the night before. As I was standing there I was humming a worship song, and those demons in that man didn’t like what they saw and heard. They used this man to try to scare us and control us. While we did take a step back, we refused to be controlled and leave the shop. Once those demons recognized that we couldn’t be controlled, they calmed down and the man turned around and was silent for the remainder of his time in that shop. 

What Should We Do

What do we do in those types of situations? We do what Jesus did. Jesus calmly told those demons to be quiet and leave the man. Of course the demons then had to make a huge show of leaving. However, they did leave. They had to obey their creator too. 

This just goes to show that sometimes those who make the most noise actually don’t have any power or authority. We would all do well to remember this next time we see a loud, obnoxious person screaming about the “injustice” they see. Perhaps it’s only a demon trying to gain power and authority. 

This act created fame in Jesus within the region of Galilee. Which I would imagine it would as until that moment nobody had that sort of power to cast demons out of people. 

Sickness is forced to leave

Sickness must leave when Jesus shows up. Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭29‬-‭34‬ ‭(ESV) says, “And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.” ‭‭‬‬

So, after healing the possessed man, they left and went to Simon Peter’s house where Simon’s mother in law was sick. Jesus heals Simon’s mother in law and she gets to work serving. She does what she was created to do, serve her family and guests. 

Word must have gotten out because it says that “all who were sick or oppressed by demons” were brought to Jesus. Guess what?!?! Jesus healed them ALL. Can you imagine if everyone who is sick or oppressed by a demon in your city or town came for healing? Then imagine every single person is healed. What would society look like? How would everyone being healed and freed from demons affect personal relationships, work relationships, work production, schools, kids, etc.? Life would certainly be different!

We need to do what Jesus did.

What do we do? We do what Jesus did. Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭35‬-‭39‬ ‭(ESV)‬‬ tells us, “And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.” 

Jesus had his priorities in order. First, he got up while it was still dark-basically he spent uninterrupted time with the Father. While in prayer he likely received orders to move to the next town as that is exactly what he did. 

He went through the entire region of Galilee teaching and casting out demons. This means we need to do the same. As we go about our region, we teach people about the kingdom of God, and cast out demons when needed and we heal the sick. Can you imagine what our society would look like if all followers of Jesus did this? We would literally change the spiritual, emotional, and physical landscape of our towns. Those things can only happen when we have a strong connection to Jesus. We need to spend time talking to him and receiving our orders. Then we need to obey, no matter what he tells us to do. 

What Will You Do

I don’t know about you, but I am going to pray, and look for opportunities to share the good news of God’s kingdom to people. I am going to look for times to help people become free from the demons that ensnare them. And I’m going to pray for Jesus to heal the people I come across who need healing-physical, emotional, or spiritual healing. I pray you will do the same!