This post is Day 24 in a series of studies about “Separation”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Separation – Day 24

In the first chapter of Mark, Jesus went to the synagogue and started to teach. His authority amazed and impressed His listeners. That was His teaching. They would be more amazed with what happened next when we see Jesus clearly demonstrating one of the most important separations in the Bible.

Mark 1:25-26

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

The Thought

In the first chapter of Mark, Jesus went to the synagogue and started to teach. His authority amazed and impressed His listeners. That was His teaching. They would be even more amazed with what happened next when we see Jesus clearly demonstrating one of the most important separations in the Bible. Jesus separated the man from the evil spirit that had been directing his life for a while.

At first reading this verse seems strange. The man who was speaking had just proclaimed the truth. Jesus was the Holy One of God. But the demon also referred to himself in the plural, that should be a clue to all that it was not the man talking but the evil spirit speaking for itself and for the possessed man, or for several demons! At least that’s how it began, but his last phrase was singular “I know who you are…” (Mark 1:24). The demons recognised Jesus long before the people did. Sadly it is still the same today.

Jesus was showing that the verses we looked at at the beginning of this study were still relevant. God was still in the business of separating light from darkness, good from evil, and He still is today.

Much later in His ministry, Jesus told his disciples, (and us) that they (we) could do much greater things than He had done (John 14:12). We are God’s agents of separation in today’s world (Mark 16:17). What a responsibility!

Action

Praise God for the privilege of working with Him. Praise Him that He is still separating light from darkness. Ask Him to open your eyes to recognise the darkness today. Praise Him that all that Jesus did you can do.

Pray for the strength and wisdom to do today, something of what Jesus did.

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