Wounded World that Cries for Healing
Mark 1:21-28
The trumpet sounded and soon after, doors opened and faithful Jews emerged from their homes, briskly walking toward their local synagogue in Capernaum. It had been 400 years long years since Israel had its last prophet, so in every village where there were at least 10 male Jews a place for learning the Scriptures and worship was built. An interesting phenomenon happening in Israel at that time, was a renewed interest in seeking to learn for oneself what God had written in His word. This recent spiritual questing no doubt filled the pews with people each week. There could be as many as 7 different men assigned to read Scripture passages, plus there were prayers. But the highlight was hearing a message from distinguished guest speaker, either a rabbi (“great one”) from a neighboring area or a trained scribe.
If a scribe came people had to stand up when they entered, and he would have been escorted to the best seat for worship. When a Scribe spoke, they didn’t offer a simple explanation for that day’s Scriptures. Their tradition wasn’t to teach, their role was to offer a wide variety of possible meanings for the passage. They typically quoted several respected scholars, saying “Hillel once wrote...” or “Shamai believed that...”. Scribes loved complex reasoning, they lectured using allegories, and sprinkled obscure insights throughout their talk. How much their humble audiences got out of such dry, intellectual lectures isn’t known, but I think we can safely say it wasn’t necessarily life-changing.
Then came Jesus. He’d just begun his public ministry and had just a handful of his new followers with him. With a reputation as a new rabbi (Great One) Jesus would have been that week’s guest speaker. We know from the original Hebrew text that he spoke at length – it was an extended sermon. But its content was nothing like his audience had ever experienced. He didn’t quote secondhand sources, putting before them a wide spectrum of opinions. No, Jesus jolted them awake by speaking with authority. We are told the people were astonished, or to use our slang phrase, they were “blown away”. Jesus is the firsthand authority on God’s truth and God’s will. He is the originator, the author. He no doubt spoke clearly and passionately, relating in a natural way with his teaching. His listeners felt drawn in, interested in hearing more; this was the most riveting spiritual teaching their hungry hearts had ever experienced.
Jesus deeply impacted his audience because he spoke with divine authority. He used riveting illustrations from everyday life they could relate to. They felt excited about ways to better obey God in their everyday lives. In contrast, the Scribes and rabbis had lost touch with the soul needs of their congregations. They lectured at them, citing long-dead scholars, never landing on one truth but presenting a muddle of options. They transmitted knowledge but Jesus offered them a life-giving, life-changing relationship with God.
There is a Christian song with this line in it: “Word of God speak, for your servant is listening.” The Word of God was incarnate, in the flesh through Jesus Christ. But the word of God is still living and riveting. The Holy Spirit illumines our minds to comprehend its truths and become messengers of its power. Now, unless you read your entire Bible last year, or you really feel like you’ve taken it fully into your life, I hope most of the church will be part of Bible studies this year.
We’ll have at least four short-term Bible studies. This next week you’ll get an invitation to be part of our first class on “Six Interesting Women in the Old Testament”. Each of their stories has drama, keeping your attention from beginning to end. From young love and babies, to second marriages and blended families, real people made godly choices, or they didn’t but wish they had. There are stories about kings and lowly servants, young children, and a 175-year-old saint. All that is to say that our Bibles are rich with human drama and filled with truth and wisdom that is relevant for us today as God’s followers. I hope you will pull up a chair and join us for these Bible studies from the comfort of your own homes.
Now we’ll move on to the second way Jesus showed his divine authority during that long-ago worship service. The Bible says that “suddenly”, while all eyes were focused on Jesus, a man loudly interrupted, his voice defiant. It was a man possessed by evil spirits, who wouldn’t typically have been permitted into the synagogue. Yet there he was speaking with belligerence but also an edge of fear. Those in the crowd that day must have been startled, then very tense and ill-at-ease.
Jesus – who had fully captured their attention with an authority that was genuine and a message that was enlightening - was now being confronted by the supernatural. It is one thing for a guest, a new and talked-about teacher, to offer a message, but whatever would he do now as he was confronted by the powerful evil spirits? Their Scribes and Pharisees counseled prayers and caution.
The man belligerently bellowed, “Why are you interfering with us...have you come to destroy us?” The evil spirits openly acknowledged Jesus, and fearfully asked whether He would use his immense spiritual powers to expel them from the unfortunate man they’re using and tormenting. Can you step back from this a bit and see in this scene that this is God in the flesh, Jesus, contending with demons also in the flesh? While every one of us knows there is a natural world around us, here we have a vivid reminder that there is a supernatural world as well.
The evil spirits said, “I know who you are, you’re Jesus of Nazareth... and you are the Holy One of God.” They openly testify before the people in the synagogue that there is humanity and deity in the One called Jesus. The demons are naming that truth, a truth it took the disciples three years to grasp and declare for themselves.
Jesus didn’t explain himself, nor did he answer the evil spirits; instead, he gave them a strong reprimand, a command with no option of being disobeyed, saying “phimotheti”. Be muzzled! Shut up your mouth. And immediately the man’s jaw was closed. Then Jesus gave this command: “Come out of him!” After one last convulsive episode the evil spirits were made to submit to the supreme authority of Christ. They were expelled and the man was fully and freely master of himself, recovering his mind and free will so he could speak and act as he had before. Jesus’ power and authority rebuked and defeated evil spirits.
That removal is what we call exorcism, and while many of you may not be familiar with this practice personally it is practiced to this day in the Christian church by Catholics, some Protestant denominations and others. I myself know someone in our area who was stricken at the prime of their life, who had been engaged in a wildly fruitful ministry. His first-hand account of the power of Christ that expelled the life-crippling, evil forces within them is an account I will never forget as long as I live. I knew this man before, and during and after, and nothing less than the Almighty hand of God could bring about the immediate healing and restoration in mind, body, and spirit. One who shone brightly for Jesus, then had that light nearly extinguished is restored - to his family, and to this world. He is not a pastor, he is a fellow Christian who is my living reminder of the spiritual forces of evil that can be and are being defeated by strong prayers and faith in Jesus.
That brings us to the life application portion of this passage. People saw Jesus deliver a man from evil spirits. This astonished and blew them away as much if not more than his preaching had earlier. Many were convinced that his words had divine authority and he could perform deeds of power unlike anyone else.
What about you? Do you believe Jesus sees what’s happening inside of you? Can he know what forces hold you captive? One truth I hope you take away is that Jesus can deliver you from whatever haunts, hurts, or hinders you. Nothing is so great, or too great, for the Son of God to defeat.
I want to remind you of this Good News: you can open the door to the power of God, inviting in the authority of the Lord, Jesus Christ, to remove whatever is interfering with abundant life. This work can be done instantly, as you heard today, but very often the recovery takes time. Our minds need to change their toxic ways of thinking; our habits that kept us in dark places need to learn a new path. Healing is very much a process, and it happens best when wise counselors walk with us and family surrounds us with support. Keep ever before you this promise: Nothing is impossible for God.
It was Mark who was the disciple that recorded today’s story about Jesus as he was about to launch his ministry. Mark recorded many more teachings of Jesus in his gospel, as well as many of his amazing deeds of power. In chapter 4 he described how Jesus commanded the turbulent wind and churning sea on the Sea of Galilee to “Be still” and they obeyed his voice. That’s another reminder that Jesus can “still” whatever is troubling our world, as well as our souls.
As you go into this new week, I encourage you to be like those who hurried to synagogue to listen to Jesus speak there. It was their regular habit to attend worship each week; for us that happens online. During the week I hope you’ll find a place to open your holy book of Scriptures. They are no longer kept inside places of worship; the printing press has mass-produced them. As you hold your Holy Bible consider how it contains the words of Jesus and the voices of many other godly witnesses. Make good use of that book, be attentive to its content during times of quietness, or crisis, always asking the Holy Spirit to illumine your mind to receive its full messages. When you do this, I promise that Jesus will refresh you, give you good counsel, be your comforter, lead you on a satisfying path in life and so much more! So be ready to be instructed, challenged, and blessed, and at times “astonished” - just as the crowd was when Jesus preached!
I have one remaining Jewish tradition, taught by the rabbis in Jesus’ day, to share with you. Everyone coming to synagogue should walk briskly for such good awaited them, but when going home they were instructed to walk very slowly. During that leisurely stroll they were to reflect on what they saw and heard in worship. That time was for them to consider the spiritual lesson or truths that applied to their lives. It was a time to consider how they would integrate something new or needed so they would grow in godliness. I’m not sure if anyone tuning in plans to take a leisurely walk after today’s worship service, but the rabbi’s advice remains relevant. Let’s not only be hearers of God’s word, but doers as well! Thanks be to God, amen.
If a scribe came people had to stand up when they entered, and he would have been escorted to the best seat for worship. When a Scribe spoke, they didn’t offer a simple explanation for that day’s Scriptures. Their tradition wasn’t to teach, their role was to offer a wide variety of possible meanings for the passage. They typically quoted several respected scholars, saying “Hillel once wrote...” or “Shamai believed that...”. Scribes loved complex reasoning, they lectured using allegories, and sprinkled obscure insights throughout their talk. How much their humble audiences got out of such dry, intellectual lectures isn’t known, but I think we can safely say it wasn’t necessarily life-changing.
Then came Jesus. He’d just begun his public ministry and had just a handful of his new followers with him. With a reputation as a new rabbi (Great One) Jesus would have been that week’s guest speaker. We know from the original Hebrew text that he spoke at length – it was an extended sermon. But its content was nothing like his audience had ever experienced. He didn’t quote secondhand sources, putting before them a wide spectrum of opinions. No, Jesus jolted them awake by speaking with authority. We are told the people were astonished, or to use our slang phrase, they were “blown away”. Jesus is the firsthand authority on God’s truth and God’s will. He is the originator, the author. He no doubt spoke clearly and passionately, relating in a natural way with his teaching. His listeners felt drawn in, interested in hearing more; this was the most riveting spiritual teaching their hungry hearts had ever experienced.
Jesus deeply impacted his audience because he spoke with divine authority. He used riveting illustrations from everyday life they could relate to. They felt excited about ways to better obey God in their everyday lives. In contrast, the Scribes and rabbis had lost touch with the soul needs of their congregations. They lectured at them, citing long-dead scholars, never landing on one truth but presenting a muddle of options. They transmitted knowledge but Jesus offered them a life-giving, life-changing relationship with God.
There is a Christian song with this line in it: “Word of God speak, for your servant is listening.” The Word of God was incarnate, in the flesh through Jesus Christ. But the word of God is still living and riveting. The Holy Spirit illumines our minds to comprehend its truths and become messengers of its power. Now, unless you read your entire Bible last year, or you really feel like you’ve taken it fully into your life, I hope most of the church will be part of Bible studies this year.
We’ll have at least four short-term Bible studies. This next week you’ll get an invitation to be part of our first class on “Six Interesting Women in the Old Testament”. Each of their stories has drama, keeping your attention from beginning to end. From young love and babies, to second marriages and blended families, real people made godly choices, or they didn’t but wish they had. There are stories about kings and lowly servants, young children, and a 175-year-old saint. All that is to say that our Bibles are rich with human drama and filled with truth and wisdom that is relevant for us today as God’s followers. I hope you will pull up a chair and join us for these Bible studies from the comfort of your own homes.
Now we’ll move on to the second way Jesus showed his divine authority during that long-ago worship service. The Bible says that “suddenly”, while all eyes were focused on Jesus, a man loudly interrupted, his voice defiant. It was a man possessed by evil spirits, who wouldn’t typically have been permitted into the synagogue. Yet there he was speaking with belligerence but also an edge of fear. Those in the crowd that day must have been startled, then very tense and ill-at-ease.
Jesus – who had fully captured their attention with an authority that was genuine and a message that was enlightening - was now being confronted by the supernatural. It is one thing for a guest, a new and talked-about teacher, to offer a message, but whatever would he do now as he was confronted by the powerful evil spirits? Their Scribes and Pharisees counseled prayers and caution.
The man belligerently bellowed, “Why are you interfering with us...have you come to destroy us?” The evil spirits openly acknowledged Jesus, and fearfully asked whether He would use his immense spiritual powers to expel them from the unfortunate man they’re using and tormenting. Can you step back from this a bit and see in this scene that this is God in the flesh, Jesus, contending with demons also in the flesh? While every one of us knows there is a natural world around us, here we have a vivid reminder that there is a supernatural world as well.
The evil spirits said, “I know who you are, you’re Jesus of Nazareth... and you are the Holy One of God.” They openly testify before the people in the synagogue that there is humanity and deity in the One called Jesus. The demons are naming that truth, a truth it took the disciples three years to grasp and declare for themselves.
Jesus didn’t explain himself, nor did he answer the evil spirits; instead, he gave them a strong reprimand, a command with no option of being disobeyed, saying “phimotheti”. Be muzzled! Shut up your mouth. And immediately the man’s jaw was closed. Then Jesus gave this command: “Come out of him!” After one last convulsive episode the evil spirits were made to submit to the supreme authority of Christ. They were expelled and the man was fully and freely master of himself, recovering his mind and free will so he could speak and act as he had before. Jesus’ power and authority rebuked and defeated evil spirits.
That removal is what we call exorcism, and while many of you may not be familiar with this practice personally it is practiced to this day in the Christian church by Catholics, some Protestant denominations and others. I myself know someone in our area who was stricken at the prime of their life, who had been engaged in a wildly fruitful ministry. His first-hand account of the power of Christ that expelled the life-crippling, evil forces within them is an account I will never forget as long as I live. I knew this man before, and during and after, and nothing less than the Almighty hand of God could bring about the immediate healing and restoration in mind, body, and spirit. One who shone brightly for Jesus, then had that light nearly extinguished is restored - to his family, and to this world. He is not a pastor, he is a fellow Christian who is my living reminder of the spiritual forces of evil that can be and are being defeated by strong prayers and faith in Jesus.
That brings us to the life application portion of this passage. People saw Jesus deliver a man from evil spirits. This astonished and blew them away as much if not more than his preaching had earlier. Many were convinced that his words had divine authority and he could perform deeds of power unlike anyone else.
What about you? Do you believe Jesus sees what’s happening inside of you? Can he know what forces hold you captive? One truth I hope you take away is that Jesus can deliver you from whatever haunts, hurts, or hinders you. Nothing is so great, or too great, for the Son of God to defeat.
I want to remind you of this Good News: you can open the door to the power of God, inviting in the authority of the Lord, Jesus Christ, to remove whatever is interfering with abundant life. This work can be done instantly, as you heard today, but very often the recovery takes time. Our minds need to change their toxic ways of thinking; our habits that kept us in dark places need to learn a new path. Healing is very much a process, and it happens best when wise counselors walk with us and family surrounds us with support. Keep ever before you this promise: Nothing is impossible for God.
It was Mark who was the disciple that recorded today’s story about Jesus as he was about to launch his ministry. Mark recorded many more teachings of Jesus in his gospel, as well as many of his amazing deeds of power. In chapter 4 he described how Jesus commanded the turbulent wind and churning sea on the Sea of Galilee to “Be still” and they obeyed his voice. That’s another reminder that Jesus can “still” whatever is troubling our world, as well as our souls.
As you go into this new week, I encourage you to be like those who hurried to synagogue to listen to Jesus speak there. It was their regular habit to attend worship each week; for us that happens online. During the week I hope you’ll find a place to open your holy book of Scriptures. They are no longer kept inside places of worship; the printing press has mass-produced them. As you hold your Holy Bible consider how it contains the words of Jesus and the voices of many other godly witnesses. Make good use of that book, be attentive to its content during times of quietness, or crisis, always asking the Holy Spirit to illumine your mind to receive its full messages. When you do this, I promise that Jesus will refresh you, give you good counsel, be your comforter, lead you on a satisfying path in life and so much more! So be ready to be instructed, challenged, and blessed, and at times “astonished” - just as the crowd was when Jesus preached!
I have one remaining Jewish tradition, taught by the rabbis in Jesus’ day, to share with you. Everyone coming to synagogue should walk briskly for such good awaited them, but when going home they were instructed to walk very slowly. During that leisurely stroll they were to reflect on what they saw and heard in worship. That time was for them to consider the spiritual lesson or truths that applied to their lives. It was a time to consider how they would integrate something new or needed so they would grow in godliness. I’m not sure if anyone tuning in plans to take a leisurely walk after today’s worship service, but the rabbi’s advice remains relevant. Let’s not only be hearers of God’s word, but doers as well! Thanks be to God, amen.