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Having recruited some disciples, Jesus now begins teaching in public places.
Malina points out that verses 21-27 are the first of a "Mark sandwich." That is, a set of verses that begin and end with similar material, with a different material in the middle. (See also: 3:20-35, 5:21-43, 6:7-31, and 11:12-25.) And just as a sandwich is eaten in a bite of the whole, and not first the top piece of bread, then the filling, then the bottom slice; so too the passage must be understood as a whole and not just the individual parts. In this case the parts are:
- Jesus teaches with authority; the crowd is amazed.
- An unclean spirit cries out and Jesus shows his authority over the spirit.
- The crowd is amazed and comments on his teaching with authority.
Those are the pieces. The sandwich that must be chewed over is the authority of Jesus.
