Pastor Steve Lawson, in addressing the topic The Holy One of God: The Holiness of Jesus, had us turn to Mark 1:21-24. Whenever the light of holiness, of truth, shines upon dead religion, sin is exposed, Satan is provoked, and unclean spirits are angered. There is no greater stronghold of Satan than in houses of worship where truth is suppressed. And there is no greater threat to Satan than when truth penetrates these houses of dead religion. All hell is about to break loose in the text. Jesus has entered the godless synagogue where Satan had gained a foothold. Remember that it was a religious crowd that most opposed Christ, maligned Him, slandered Him, accused Him of being born out of wedlock, of being in cahoots with the devil's minions.
Capernaum was an important city of enterprise in that day. Jesus enters the synagogue. Now it was not uncommon in that day for a visiting teacher to be asked to make some public remarks. Jesus opens up the Word for those in attendance. [We recall that Jesus' primary approach in ministry was to read the Word, teach the Word, and apply the Word. Jesus is the Great Expositor who has come to give the Word.] We read that the crowds were "amazed at his teaching." It is a very strong word used: the crowds were amazed at the authority of Jesus. Not only what He said but the way He said it. While the rabbis of that day were quoting other rabbis, Jesus was saying "Thus says the Lord."
And it is no coincidence that we have a demon-possessed man present. Demons traffic the most in places where their is dead religion. Jesus said of Capernaum, "Will you be exalted to heaven? You shall be brought down to Hades" (Luke 10:15). We see a similar reference in Revelation 2:9. Demons are real and they can conquer the wills and hearts of those committed to dead religion.
Jesus Receives a Title of Deity, Supremacy, and Purity
This demon cries out from this particular demon-possessed man. And he speaks for his company of demons, "What do we have to do with each other?" In other words, "What do we have in common?" This demon knows that the fallen angels are under the judgment of God. He wonders if now is the time for their destruction. And he says to Jesus, "I know who you are." There is no question of Jesus' identity among the realms of demon spirits. He identifies Jesus readily, with a better testimony than from liberal pulpits, "The Holy One of God." The Holy One -- the only Holy One. Jesus was more than a carpenter, he was the fully divine Son of the Living God. Not 50% man, 50% God. 100% God. How strange that such an astute confession should come from such unclean lips.
Jesus is completely Holy. His motives, His thoughts, His actions. What is the holiness of God? It is His "other-ness" -- it speaks of the profound difference between Him and us. It speaks of His transcendent majesty. The demon recognized this -- this was the One that was high and lifted up -- the One who was blameless in all His ways.
Look again at the title,"The Holy One of God." This is a formal, technical title. "The Holy One of God" is a formal title for God in the book of Isaiah. No less than 26 times in the book of Isaiah we find this title for Jehovah God: "The Holy One of God." It is picked up in Ezekiel, Psalms, and elsewhere. So when this demon says, "I know who you are, the Holy One of God," the identity is unquestionable. The identity was assigned to God in the Old Testament, and it is assigned to Jesus in the New Testament. That is what is taking place -- from the lips of a demon-possessed man.
There is only one other place where this is found, John 6:69. Jesus looked at Peter, "You alone have the words of eternal life." He then addressed their Teacher as "The Holy One of God." It is a title of Deity. It is a title of Supremacy. It is a title of purity. II Cor 5, "Him who knew no sin." Jesus said, "The ruler of this world is coming and He has nothing in me." [Meaning: There is no beachhead in me in which he was entrenched himself. Satan has no foothold in my life whatsoever.]
Jesus authoritatively tells the demon to shut-up and come out of the man. The crowd was already amazed, and now this? They began to say among themselves "Who is this?" A new teaching, with authority. New for them, but old in origin. Immediately in verse 28 we read, "The news of Him spread everywhere." This is the holiness of Jesus. Conquering the ruler of this world. At Calvary, fully defeating them, dying as the Sinless Lamb of God, becoming sin for us. "Now is the ruler of this world cast out." Jesus "rendered powerless him who had the power of death." He plundered the house of the strong man.
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