Powerful Prophet

THIS WEEK’S GOSPEL: Mark 1: 21-28 (MESSAGE)

Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars. Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, "What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and you've come to destroy us!" Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out. Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!" News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.

Over the last few months, we have thought a lot about doing what we say and saying what we do.  In this Gospel lesson, we experience Jesus doing just that.  He goes to the synagogue to teach.  While there, he is confronted by someone who names that Jesus is upsetting the expected order through his teaching by saying, “I know what you are up to!  You’ve come to destroy us.”  Then Jesus responds.  He doesn’t try to make everything o.k.  He isn’t committed to making people feel comfortable or calming down the irate man.  He simply identifies the spirit of anger and fear imprisoning the man and addresses both directly without judgment.

This may seem like a story for and from another time. When we take a moment and think about our lives, we may discover that it isn’t such an unusual story.  When we take time to reflect on our lives, we may find times we have been so possessed by our anger or self-righteousness that our words and our actions were destructive for others and for ourselves.  In times like these, it is helpful to have someone like Jesus who will address us directly and redirect us toward a freer way of being.

Join us this Sunday, January 29 at 10am in Christ Church as we explore the power and authority Jesus embodied as he healed, taught and ministered in the world. This will be a powerful Sunday — one you won’t want to miss.