lectionary.com

Epiphany Season · Year B

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time

January 31, 2027

Christ Heals a Possessed Man in the Synagogue at Capernaum (Christus heilt einen Besessenen), Unknown Romanesque muralist
Christ Heals a Possessed Man in the Synagogue at Capernaum (Christus heilt einen Besessenen), Unknown Romanesque muralist, 11th centuryStift Lambach, Upper Austria
An eleventh-century wall painting in an Austrian abbey, rediscovered under later plaster in 1956. Christ stands at the centre of a crowd with the possessed man kneeling at his feet.These are the Capernaum healings, and this is one of the oldest surviving paintings of them anywhere.Unknown Romanesque muralistUnnamed, like almost every wall painter of the eleventh century. The work survives because later plaster hid it.Stift Lambach, Upper Austria
Roman Lectionary
GospelMark 1:21-28Mk 1:21-28
Second Reading1 Cor. 7:32-351 Cor 7:32-35
First ReadingDeut. 18:15-20Dt 18:15-20
Responsorial PsalmPs. 95:1-2, 6-7a, 7b-9 (8)Ps 95:1-2, 6-7a, 7b-9 (8)

Overview & Insights

“What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (Mark 1:27)

Jesus reacts to two types of people: (1) those who are willing to commit to him, like the first four disciples, and who are re-created by Jesus to “fish for people”; (2) those who remain outside him and thus will experience his authority to vanquish the powers of darkness.

From Sermons.com: Join Today to access the most scholarly & well written preaching resources anywhere.

Take it further: Mark 1:21-28

Commentary

Commentary on Mark 1:21-28Commentary on Mk 1:21-28 Working Preacher

Luther Seminary reading of Jesus uniquely authorized to declare the reign of God.

Mark 1:21-28 CommentaryMk 1:21-28 Commentary Center for Excellence in Preaching

Reformed take on Mark's immediacy as Jesus teaches and casts out the unclean spirit.

Mark 1 (Enduring Word Bible Commentary)Mk 1 (Enduring Word Bible Commentary) Enduring Word · David Guzik

Verse-by-verse evangelical commentary covering the synagogue exorcism at Capernaum.

The Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) Catholic Productions · Brant Pitre

Dr. Brant Pitre links the promised prophet like Moses to Jesus teaching with authority.

Mark 1:21-28 CommentariesMk 1:21-28 Commentaries BibleHub

Aggregated classic commentaries on the new teaching with authority and the exorcism.

Fourth Sunday of Ordinary Time, Cycle B (Sunday Connection) Loyola Press · Sunday Connection

Catholic family and catechetical reflection on Jesus teaching with authority.

Background & Word Study

Gospel of Mark OverviewGospel of Mk Overview BibleProject

Animated overview of Mark's structure and fast-paced narrative of Jesus.

Mark 1:21 InterlinearMk 1:21 Interlinear BibleHub

Greek interlinear for close word study of authority (exousia) and unclean spirit.

The Church Fathers

Catena on Mark 1Catena on Mk 1 Catena

Patristic and medieval comment chained to each verse of Mark 1.

Sermons & Reflections

Test the Spirits Journey with Jesus

Essay on discerning true authority by the healing and wholeness it produces.

Mark 1:21-28 (Sacred Space)Mk 1:21-28 (Sacred Space) Sacred Space · Irish Jesuits

Irish Jesuit guided prayer through the Capernaum synagogue scene.

Podcast

SB583 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany (Sermon Brainwave) Working Preacher

Podcast conversation among Luther Seminary faculty on this Sunday's texts.

Art & Music

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Year B (Art in the Christian Tradition) Vanderbilt

Curated religious art keyed to this Sunday's readings for worship and reflection.

Study Hub

Mark 1:21-28 (Textweek)Mk 1:21-28 (Textweek) Textweek

Master index of commentaries, sermons, and study resources for this Gospel.

Questions preachers ask

What happens in the Capernaum synagogue?

Teaching with an authority unlike the scribes, Jesus casts out an unclean spirit with a word, and his fame spreads at once throughout Galilee.

Prep at sermons.com

Ready to write?

  • Full sermons on Mark 1:21-28
  • Illustrations cleared for use in worship
  • Commentary, quotes, and Bible dictionary
Open it at sermons.com →

Trusted by pastors since 1995.

Free every Tuesday

Illustrations & Sermon Prep in your inbox

The coming Sunday’s readings, a cleared-for-use illustration, and a sermon-prep head start. One email, free.