Speaking of unclean spirits: Several years ago the San Jose State University football team wasn’t doing too well. Instead of scheduling extra practices, the head coach placed an ad for an exorcist who could place a hex on their opponents.
Although we don't necessarily look for demons under every pew, our movie producers would have us believe that they are more common than we think. Beginning with movies like "The Exorcist" and continuing through more than we have time to name, they have regaled us with demons around ever corner.
Now I'll admit, I don't go to movies like that. I don't have to do that to myself. I think I have a proper perspective on the demonic. I'm not going to say that demon possession is impossible, because some of the things we hear not the news today sound very demonic, but it's not nearly as common as some people would have you believe.
But yes, people do still seek exorcism for family members. I may have told you this before, but the last year I was at Redeemer, I came in one morning to be met by my secretary telling me that there was a family waiting to see me who were looking for an exorcist. My secretary, a good Baptist girl, had eyes as big as donuts when she relayed that information. So it was with a great amount of trepidation that I went in to meet them. Their story unfolded and I listened to them and the story ended with their having been sent to see a particular priest. It was with great relief that I gave them directions to the Catholic Charismatic Center where the named priest was on staff.
Tom Wright, former Bishop of Durham, in his book, “Mark for Everyone,” tells a story about a disaster at sea in which a boat loaded with tourists begins to sink. Everyone aboard begins to scream as panic sets in. “Suddenly one man –not a member of the crew –took charge. In a clear voice he gave orders, telling people what to do. Relief mixed with the panic as people realized someone at least was in charge, and many managed to reach lifeboats they would otherwise have missed in the dark. The man himself made his way down to the people trapped in the hold. There he formed a human bridge: holding on with one hand to a ladder and with the other to part of the ship that was nearly submerged, he enabled still more to cross to safety. When the nightmare was over, the man himself was found to have drowned. He had literally given his life in using the authority he had assumed –the authority by which many had been saved.“
This story is not unlike the story of Jesus himself. The important part in today’s gospel lesson is not the demonic, but the authority that Jesus assumed in his teaching. This is the first place where we see Jesus teaching in the gospel of Mark.
Here we see Jesus having entered the synagogue. It was not unusual in that day for visitors to be given the opportunity to read the scriptures or to teach. Jesus was invited to read and teach. He was not hesitant or shy in his teaching. He was very confident in both his message and his delivery and it was obvious to those present that this was a very special person – one with authority.
This is the third time Jesus speaks in the Gospel of Mark and we are not told what his teaching is at this point. But whatever his teaching, the people there are amazed at his authority. But apparently it greatly disturbs one man there. The man interrupts the service by challenging Jesus’ teaching. It says here is that this man is possessed by an unclean spirit. This spirit is disruptive and recognizes Jesus for who he is. He calls Jesus, “the Holy One of God” and challenges his teaching and his very right to be there.
The man was not an outsider – he was apparently a member of this synagogue. The implication is that the teaching in this place had become distorted. And when Jesus comes, teaching with authority, this unclean spirit lashes out. He can no longer sit back and be comfortable as he had been with the scribes’ teachings. Self-preservation kicks in as his existence and belief is being challenged.
This story is how Mark relays the rise of Jesus, and explains why people followed him and flocked to hear him teach. It was the authority of his teaching and his presence that brought hope and healing to the broken world of Palestine.
And today’s world is broken. If you think it’s fine, then you haven’t listened to the news lately. People are doing the most horrendous things because they don’t have hope, or they’ve listened to those voices that come from a source other than God. They may not be coming in the churches, so they don’t heard about the love that is offered to them through Jesus Christ.
Even today there are various teachings in the church and there are people who will rise up to challenge the authority and teaching that they hear. God will send prophets to speak out, and God’s love will rise up to sustain the body of Christ if we only have eyes to see it. God’s new teaching is always based on where we are right now, and the direction in which God wants us to move.
The church is not a static entity, but one that is growing and changing even as our culture and technology and the world itself changes around us. We have to listen carefully to the different voices that vie for our attention and hear the one with authority. Being Anglican, I believe that voice is somewhere in the middle – not on the extreme edges. But it is up to us to ponder love and to listen for the voice of Jesus coming down through the centuries calling us to be a people formed in his own image.
In our second lesson, Paul tells us that “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up.” It is this love of Jesus for all people that seen so strongly in this gospel passage. The synagogue is a microcosm of the world today. Our world is filled with people who are fighting with their own particular demons: emotional issues, addictions, abuse, abandonment, chemical dependencies or imbalances, illnesses or physical demons that torment them in many varied ways. God sent his very own Son to free them all from those things that keep them bound and unable to respond to God’s love. He sent his Son Jesus to free us all from our particular demons, to bring us hope when things seem hopeless, and to point the way to a better future and life eternal.
Where do you hear the voice of Jesus? How is he calling you to live out your life empowered by his love and healing presence?
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