Thoughts for the Day

The Man with an Unclean Spirit

They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

(Lectionary, New Revised Standard Version)

Thoughts

Within a few hours of joining the WRAF in 1964 I had sworn allegiance to the Queen, and later each time I started new work for the Church I swore, with my hand on a Bible), allegiance to God, to the Queen again (and to her heirs and successors), as well as to the Bishop. These were my authority for the work I was doing, and also my "line managers". I was expected to live and act according to their rules and regulations. But of course ultimately my authority as a Christian has always been to God, and particularly to Jesus Christ.

As we might expect the pace of Mark's account in his Gospel continues. After appointing his first disciples Jesus immediately returns to the base he has made in Capernaum in the north of Galilee, and we hear he goes to the local synagogue to worship on the Sabbath. The layout of this early place of worship and study still exists today and it would have been a place for all the locals to gather during the period of sunset on a Friday to sunset on the Saturday. Here the scribes would teach traditional interpretations of scripture, eg "as Isaiah says," but Jesus we learn taught as "one with authority". His close relationship with God is shown to all present and he exercises that authority to cure the man with an evil spirit, while demonstrating his ability to confront the spiritual power of evil wherever he may find it. Note that there are no complaints about healing the man on the sabbath from the Pharisees or other authorities at this time.

Mark has quickly established in word and action that Jesus comes as the Messiah - the one who brings justice and care for the sick, and who will speak truth to the people. The Kingdom of God comes closer when we show compassion!

Lord Jesus Christ,
may we make You the authority
for our life's work,
deferring to You in all decisions,
and following Your commands to love You
and to love one another.
Keep us ever faithful to this vow,
and forgive us when we confess our sin
Amen.