Jesus spoke with authority. Authority is different from power. Power
is from without as one is endowed with a power of acting as doctor,
teacher, priest etc., Authority is from within. It comes out of our
experience of God. When there was a clash between the Hindus and the
Moslems in India immediately after the independence the police was
sent to quell the violence, but it could not. Then Gandhiji went
there and declared a fast. At once the Hindus and the Moslems came
and threw their weapons in front of Gandhiji and asked him to eat.
What bullet and guillet were not able to do, Gandhiji was able to do
it. This is what the moral authority. Jesus spoke with authority.
How important for us to be in union with God?! Selva Rathinam,
Berkeley.
An early thought; Looking at the Gospel and NT lesson, I wonder what
more authority is there than when we speak by our own actions. How
we, who claim the name, live speaks with great authority of what it
means to be Christian. If we speak peace and promote violence in
language and acts, which has authority? If we speak Love of All, and
treat the poor and outcast differently, where is the authority? Time
to think. revjcb of NE
Interestingly, the physical presence of evil can be removed/sent
away from this synagogue visitor with a mere word from the Holy One
of God. Yet, the defeat of sin would take much more than mere words.
It would take the cross. The locality of sin is both in the heart
and in the demon. Like a residual infection, sin continues in the
man, though the demon departs (perhaps in search of another sinner
in which to hide). Had the man had no sin in the first place, the
demon would have to find another host to trouble. I have oft prayed,
"Come, Lord Jesus, be our guest..." What residual is left as Christ
abides in us? Is not our desire the permanent residency of Christ?
Then also, I believe, our lives, our actions, our words will carry
more authority. Another thought...what was it that made one
vulnerable to evil taking up residence? Early musings. ARMY CH E,
Fort Belvoir, VA
The Psalm today says that "Fear of the Lord is the beginning of
wisdom." And Paul's letter to the Corinthians says that "knowledge
puffs up, but love builds up." Add these to Jesus in Mark, who is
perceived as one who teaches "with authority," and the field is ripe
for preaching the subtleties of wisdom, knowledge and authority:
--wisdom as knowledge in practice --knowledge of God as creator and
Lord --authority of God and our dependence on God's grace. Ponderin'
Pastor in IL
This Sunday is also Candlemas, or Groundhog Day, with its traditions
about how much winter is left and the coming of spring. In checking
out one of the websites, I made a connection between candles and
authority: by what authority does a burning candle dispel the
darkness? By what authority does Jesus dispel the demons? Still
early in the week . . . OLAS
I have a few unclean spirits (trouble makers) in my church. I wish
it was that easy to simply say, "be silent and come out of him." The
Lord knows I have tried! =) I guess authority has to be recognized
before it can be effective.. KB in ks
I too am led to preach about the issue of authority; to teach,
preach, and cast out demons. Do we, as believers, have the same
authority as Christ? If we do, it must come to us through the Holy
Spirit. Can we claim the authority and act on simple faith? Will my
congregation appreciate me telling them to go out and cast out
demons with the authority of Chirst with only blind faith? They may
nod politely and leave unmoved. What can I say to make them realize
the true authority they have in Christ Jesus? Early thoughts, Lori
in NC
It is intriguing to me, though I don't know what to do with it, that
an unclean spirit is the first to recognize Jesus as the Holy One.
The disciples in Mark's Gospel go with him but we don't get any
glimpse into their motivation. I also wonder about what was so new
about speaking to unclean spirits. Weren't there people before Jesus
who cast out evil spirits? Avis in KY
More thoughts on the text as I wrestle with it. "In the synagogue"
is a man with an unclean spirit. I thought that was interesting. The
man asks two questions of Jesus, 1) What are you going to do with
us? and 2) Have you come to destroy us? Then he makes a statement
declaring/confessing Jesus as God's Holy One. In Christ's church,
people are wondering what is God's business with us. Perhaps even
asking if He intends that we die in our sins. These are deep
spiritual questions. What is God's intent with me? Does He desire my
death for sin, for truly, I am a sinner? Through the Gospel, through
faith, we too declare/confess Jesus as the Holy One of God. As we
do, we discover the answer to the questions, that His desire is to
save and to give us life. Unlike with the man possessed, Christ does
not rebuke us, nor does He tell us to "be silent". Rather He
commissions us to "Go and tell!" ARMY CH E, Ft Belvoir
No, we do not have the same authority as Jesus. As the scribes
needed to rely on the words of rabbis about scriptures, "according
to Rabbi so and so..." We rely on others. The Bible says, Jesus says
- we rely somewhat on commentaries, and of course the Holy Spirit.
Jesus was God and so there is no higher authority. We are not God
and do have a higher authority - God! PH in OH
Not one to give "The Evil One" much, if any "air time" from my
pulpit... the evil of war looms on the horizon... one local father
was singing lulaby's to his three-week-old son... while he prepared
to "ship out" today with the local Air Guard for points unknown, his
orders are for one year. Another senseless war... when will we
learn? Why must there be "an evil one" for us to be against? At a
local meeting of UMC's... a lay person said the first thing we need
do is "Pray Satan Out" of the room... this passage from Mark's
gospel... doesn't excite me much... yet, I'll preach it... my spin,
well, is still "spinning". Eric in KS... you know where to find
this, here is my question? Is this passage fulfilling a prophets
words of earlier days? Where does one gain this authority? Some say
a pastor is given so many "chips" when he/she starts their ministry
in a church? I think they come with trust... does authority come
that way too? Is authority like "respect"? Can one "get" authority
or does one just "have" it? I know what you mean... the difference
between a good parish and a great one... is our ability to 'cast out
the demons'! ;?) Still thinking, outloud, obviously? Thanks for the
help all! Make it a great week, with AUTHORITY, pulpitt in ND
I miss the ability to make paragraphs, had I known my thoughts
wouldn't be "broken up"... I could have sent about 10 additions to
the DPS page today! ;?) Looking forward to the discussion this week!
Blessings, pulpitt in ND
I have to admit, though it may change how you think of me, that I
hear voices. Just about all the time. Sometimes the voices say "You
are such a stupid____!" or "If anyone really knew you then nobody
would love you". Sometimes the voices say "You need MORE to be
happy. Aquire more, that's the ticket!" Sometimes the voices whisper
"It will be alright". I know that the trick is to discern which
voices are of life and which are of darkness. Sometimes that's a
pretty touchy task. I know that the 'demon' voices have to go. But
it is awfully hard to drive out your own demons, to quiet your own
voices. But when we gather at the table, when we share the word and
break the bread of our lives and thereby make God present, according
to the given promise, then, sometimes, the demon voices are quieted
and, maybe, driven out. When we are topgether and God-with-us (in
you) speaks "Be quiet! Come out of him!" and your love is the
authority--then I am touched, then I am healed. ---Calvin; MN
As I read this text, I am reminded of how often when people speak of
life-changing events they have experienced in their church lives,
they very often will say, "Now I don't remember what the sermon was
about or what anyone said, but I remember what happened.
Here's Mark telling this story about Jesus's teaching in the
synagogue. He doesn't talk about what Jesus said so much as what
happened to the man with the unclean spirit.
GC in IL
Part of my struggle with this text is the whole demon possession.
After working with the mentally ill for many years I am sensitive to
how many of them are labeled "possessed" by well-meaning but
uniformed church folk. One parishioner asked me if they would not
get well if they just "got right"with Jesus. since I am preaching
down the river from a large state mental hospital I am wondering how
to preach on this text...perhaps the unclean spirits (which we all
can claim) is the way to go. I am concerned that if I just focus on
the authority of Christ (the point anyway) I am dodging the rest. ks
in ME
Notice how difficult it is to talk about demons anymore? Almost like
we are embarassed to speak of the evil side of the supernatural. Yet
the reality of spiritual warfare cannot be denied. How do we talk of
these things from the pulpit without sounding like we are not
"enlightened"? B.P. in IA
I've given some thought to how I will read this pericope out loud.
How did the man's voice sound? Scared? Sarcastic? What about Jesus?
Was he calm and assured? Angry? And, the voices in the crowd as they
were amazed . . . the NRSV uses an exclamation point in v. 27. Did
their tone move from a question (What is this?) to a declaration
(with authority!) -- as a discovery? Or, was that part of the
questioning tone? I'm aware that someone who reads scripture out
loud interprets it with voice inflection. This week's lesson will
take some extra meditation and practice on my part. MTSOfan
I still marvel at the dynamics of the key players in the text. They
were "amazed" at Jesus' teaching as one with authority. By what
standard? Was Jesus merely a good salesman? Or was what He was
offering something they "desperately" needed. Maybe a Desperate
Hearer's Site would've helped.
The listeners in the synagogue had fed on the Word of God for years,
one might assume. Yet, upon hearing Jesus teach, something else was
occurring. They were more than fed, they were perhaps for the first
time, nourished and fulfilled. The visitor enters and counters Jesus
with a loud outburst and immediately speaks of destruction and
death, not of hope or life. But the question perhaps sticks to some
of the minds of the crowd. What is Jesus' purpose really?
Immediately upon proclaiming truth, opposition is raised.
Immediately upon opposition rising, Jesus dispells it with a simple
command...His Word..."BE SILENT, COME OUT".
We live in perilous times. People seek and hunger for hope and
fulfillment and life. Like a baglady in a crowded city, often she
settles for scraps missed by stray cats in filthy alleys. Would that
someone would offer her the best food. In the Gospel, we have the
best. In Jesus Christ, we offer a banquet that fulfills to eternal
life. Sadly, the crowd in the text spreads Jesus' fame. Nothing is
said of sharing the good food of His message.
I think my message will emphasize the power of the Gospel to not
merely teach, but to enlighten, to bring hope, to change our entire
life. This is a message worth spreading in a world hungering for
truth. ARMY CH E, Ft Belvoir.
Why are demons more interesting that turtle doves and pigeons?
Is there no one out there who planning to preach on the Presentation
of our Lord in the Temple?
tom in ga
I just came from reading an article by George Barna (and others)
detailing the state of worship in the US today. It indicated that,
in spite of the fact that the research was conducted among regular
attenders almost no one reported experiencing a direct contact from
God in the worship itself. In fact the thought of a direct divine
intervention was perceived as a negative. People want to be
comforted in worship, not confronted by God. And here in Capernaum
there is a direct confrontation. Luther's line, "When the gospel is
preached devils are set loose and start to roar among us." somehow
also fits for me with this passage. Perhaps this is an opportunity
to shed some light on experiencing God's presence in corporate
worship? Any thoughts on this line would be greatly appreciated!
ugghh this one's pushing my envelope... Prky
I, for one, am not preaching on the Presentation of Our Lord because
I just preached on it on Dec. 29. I don't understand why the
compilers of the RCL are so repetitive (likewise w/ the Jonah text
last week that we heard only about 4 months ago); aren't there
enough passages for them to choose from?!!
Perhaps you could find some help under Dec. 29, 2002. Blessings,
Heidi in MN
Avis in KY,
I read William Barclay on the exorcism of demons this morning (in
the Daily Study Bible series?--am I remembering that right?--it's
not in front of me now). He pointed out that, yes, others in Jesus'
day tried to exorcise demons (and presumably some were successful;
now THAT gives me pause!). But the difference was that they relied
on magic, sorcery, spells, fancy words and rituals, etc., while
Jesus cast out demons solely on the authority of his Word--and only
a few simple *words* at that.
Hope that helps some. Heidi in MN
There were people watching all this happen. It’s almost humorous how
they responded in Verse 27.
“We never did it that way before. This is new.” What a
UNDERSTATEMENT. It’s new, OK. The Son of God changing an outsider’s
life right before your eyes.
Most people see somebody causing trouble, and they just assume he’s
a troublemaker. You know how troublemakers are. Once a troublemaker,
always a troublemaker. How do you deal with troublemakers? You can
ignore him, you can avoid him, or you can take him on and throw him
out. After all, he’s unclean anyway.
But Jesus took another route. The Son of God doesn’t do things like
we would. He doesn’t ignore him. He doesn’t avoid him, and he
doesn’t take him on and throw him out. He changes him.
And because the people saw how he taught and how he acted, his fame
spread.
I would hope that his fame would spread throughout our community
because of his teaching and his actions.... and becasue of how he
has changed us.
GC in IL
In military occupied countries where there inner conflict between
the ruling authorities commands and religious imperatives there is
more likely to be mental illness and bizarre behaviour in which
people seem to to opt out of rational decision making. "Unclean"
actions can signify this. Some times that those can be written off
as mad can speak the truth more openly thus the demon possessed are
freer to and confess recognise who Jesus is without being as much of
a threat to the heirarchy. Letting go of demons sometimes means
embracing the hard even ambivalent decisions of life and trusting
that God goes with us into the grey areas of the real world.
Blessings Petereo.
The Jesus of the 21 st century...reminenscent of that sci fi show
that Gil Gerald was in Buck Rogers in the 24th century. We just got
thru with the calling of the first 6 disciples. Now here we are , in
capernicum, Jesus; astound all Authority and confidence, we know why
GOD is with HIM! Holy Spirit empowered! Then A unclean man, se
demons even know Jesus and his power. Does that mean they get chance
for salvation? no...Jesus Rebuked and it left! WOW'ed the
audience... A new teaching? Jesus Is preparing us also in this 21st
century to do a new thing! Take authority, asound, not just clergy
anymore, Laity be ready! A new thing is coming! Are you ready, As
Bette Davis line, Sit tight, will it be a bumpy ride? Pastor Mary in
OHIO
In my face-to-face lectionary group this morning we talked about how
some Christians are obsessed by demons: demons of addiction,
alcoholism, lust, etc.
I have room in my theology for the understanding that there is a
spiritual battle going on around us. We may not see the demons and
archangels themselves, but we see the effects of the battle: a
congregant beset by alcoholism accepts her condition and goes into
recovery; a family almost torn apart by an unwanted pregnancy is
moved by love to reconcile; another family is ripped apart by a
father's addiction to pornography ... and this battle is lost, for
now.
The problem is this: In the UMC, we don't speak much of some things,
particularly from the pulpit. I'm not sure of the reason. Perhaps we
believe if we ignore this spiritual reality, it will just go away.
Perhaps we feel not quite as competent as our Pentecostal brethren
to preach on such matters. Perhaps we do not believe our
congregations will accept the reality that a spiritual war does,
indeed, rage around them. Then again, perhaps those in the pulpit
don't believe it theirselves.
I, for one, believe it does exist. And I believe Jesus had the
authority to cast out the demons, and that His disciples receive
power in His name.
By the way: I do not believe Christians can be possessed by demons,
only oppressed, since the Holy Spirit inhabits the house.
PastorBuzz in TN
I'd like to return to "authority" for a bit if you don't mind. I
think of it as the A word. It's not something that's comfortable for
me. However, I've noticed that as my confidence grwos, I'm able to
speak more assertively, more kindly, less defensively, and more
focused - both when I was a lay person and now that I'm ordained.
I'm less likely to get into arguments and get hooked into trying to
talk sense into people. I had no idea how to (as the bishop says to
us at our ordination) "take authority as an elder in the church ..."
I think we're all wise to question what this means - Christ's
authority, our authority, others' authority, the authority of the
personality disordered people who threaten to leave every time
something doesn't go their way ...
In Jesus' case, I believe it came from a confidence that he could
command, he could instruct, he could rebuke.
I wonder how that bumper sticker would "preach?" You know, "Question
Authority"
Here's to Jesus' unquestionable authority
Sally in GA
Has any one linked this text to the movie "Catch Me If You Can?"
Basically, the movie, which is based on a true-life story from the
60's, deals with the life of a con-artist who also forges money. The
con-artist isn't even 20 years old yet. But he successfully passes
himself off as an Airplaine Pilot, then a Medical Doctor, and after
that, a Lawyer. He's able to do it because he acts like he knows
what he's doing, even when he doesn't. He acts with authority. I'm
wondering what further connections could be made between the movie
and the Gospel.
Now something totally unrelated - but a good quote related to this
scripture: "When the gospel is preached, devils are set loose and
start to roam among us." - Martin Luther
The Iowa Starr
I believe one reason we don't preach too much about demon possession
from the pulpit is that most of us are not given the gift to
recognize the demons that can possess people. We can't diagnose the
difference between spirit-possession and chemical imbalances in the
brain. The danger is diagnosing spirit-possession, then blaming the
victim for having not enough faith when the excorcism fails, when
maybe it wasn't a possession in the first place.
I liked the comment about being oppressed rather than possessed when
one is a Christian, and this might work well with those who are
alcoholic among us, as the person admits that God is the one who has
the power to overcome this addiction, particularly since we don't on
our own.
We looked at this text in a class with a Greek professor not too
long ago, and he said a literal translation of the demons' first
words are this: "What is it to thee and to we?" In other words,
rather than, what do you have to do with us, it may be interpreted
as, "What do you and we have in common?"
Something to consider.
Michelle
This is an Epiphany text in which Jesus is revealed as the Son of
God. At least this event in the life of Jesus is one piece in the
puzzle that reveals part of who Jesus is.
It is like the old game show, Concentration. As matches were made
and squares were turned over a picture and/or puzzle was revealed.
This text is like one more area of the puzzle being turned over. We
don’t really know who Jesus is until all (or at least most) of the
puzzle is visible.
Jesus taught with authority in the synagogue at Capernaum. There was
a man with an unclean spirit in the synagogue. (Are the people with
unclean spirits in the church? Are there pastors with unclean
spirits in the church?)
This man (or spirit?) knew who Jesus was (v 24). It is ironic that
the one with the unclean spirit recognized Jesus while the people of
God were astonished by his teaching with authority. They apparently
recognized the unclean spirit, but they did not recognize the Holy
One of God. However, they did recognize that they had witnessed an
exceptional event and that Jesus was exceptional.
Jesus is revealed as the Son of God a little bit at a time. The
Christian life is a process of experiencing these revelations and
over a period of time coming to a greater and greater understanding
of who Jesus is. We are changed as people as we add to this body of
knowledge throughout our lifetime. The more we know about Jesus, the
more of an impact he has on our thinking and our acting.
I am going to relate this to Communion by saying that Jesus is made
known to us through the sacrament. As we receive Communion again and
again over a period of time, we come to know more and more of who
Jesus is. This is God's grace at work in us. We are in process.
Picky Preacher in GA
