AtomJesus still is more powerful than all evil spirits in our world
Mark, in his Gospel, moves quickly to our text today…in just 20 short verses:
• Jesus coming is proclaimed by John the Baptist
• Jesus is baptized, received God’s seal of approval and God’s equipment for action
• He was tested by the devil and chose the method he would us and the way he would take
• He chose some men to follow him and he would teach them how to fish for men
• And now, starting in verse 21, Jesus “launches” his ministry…in the synagogue, the teaching place of the people
And…does he teach!! “They were amazed” records Mark…because Jesus taught with his own authority. He taught almost as if he was sent by God himself…which, the demon points out, he was!! Let’s listen…as we listen…listen for what you sense is Mark’s MAIN point…what Mark really wants us to hear in this Gospel!!
From Mark 1: 21-28
21 They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 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.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 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.” 28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Grace to you and peace, from God the Father, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who comes to us through His Holy Spirit. Amen.
What do you think? What is it that Mark REALLY wants us to hear??
While it could have been his teaching, I’m not sure, at this point of the Gospel that this is what Mark wants us to hear…because all Mark tells us about his teaching is it amazed the people because he taught with authority. His teaching comes later…
I sense the need to move into the next couple of verses to find the key…
23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 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.”
Did you catch it….Jesus came to destroy the unclean spirits of this world!! Then and now, and someday, for all eternity!! Jesus came to destroy all the unclean spirits that get in the way of our relationship with God and with each other…
Let’s enter into this today…then and now…
If in our day we don’t talk much at all about demons and evil spirits, in New Testament days, the belief in demons and evil spirits was huge!! Reading from William Barclay…
“the demons could eat and drink and beget children. They were terrifyingly numerous. There were, according to some, 7 ½ millions of them: each man had ten thousand of his right hand and ten thousand on his left. They were especially dangerous to the lonely traveler, to the woman in childbirth, to the bride and bridegroom, to children who were out after dark, and to those who traveled at night. They were specially active in the midday heat and between sunset and sunrise. There was a demon of blindness and a demon of leprosy and a demon of heart-disease.
And then, Barclay comments:
“It does not matter whether or not we believe in all this; whether it is true or not is beside the point. The point is that the people in New Testament times did.”
And knowing this, Mark’s Gospel is written to proclaim that Jesus has indeed come to destroy the evil spirits…the demons…those “things” which bring about sin and death and come between us and God himself!!
Mark’s answer to the question asked today, “Have you come to destroy us?” is unequivocally YES!! YES…then and now…and into the forever!!
The question for us today is…what are we to say to all of this?? How does this speak to us today..a day when we don’t speak much about evil spirits and the like?
Let’s be reminded that even though we don’t speak of them often doesn’t mean they are not there!! In my experience and knowledge, without question… YES there continues to be those forces of evil, those unclean spirits, those demons that we do battle against on a regular basis…those forces that Jesus did come to destroy and did destroy…today in part, and someday…FOREVER!! For instance…let’s take a look at the confession we offered today…
Is there any here who had nothing to confess when we spoke of harmful thoughts? I don’t think so. Thus, where do these harmful thoughts come from??
Or…what about those careless words…or destructive behaviors that destroy?? They come from somewhere…and from some “thing” that causes us to continually do those things that get in the way of relationships!!!
12 step journeys calls these evil forces addictions…and they are powerful and destructive: Step one acknowledges these forces:
Step 1 - We admit we are powerless over our addiction - that our lives have become unmanageable
By the way, there is a step two that speaks of other forces at work…we’ll get to in a moment…
A few weeks ago, I mentioned the movie/book “Fireproof”, which, by the way came out this week on DVD AND we’re going to offer as a 3-4 week ministry after Easter.
“Fireproof” speaks of a book “the Love Dare”…take a listen to day 23…here “parasites” is the word used for these “evil spirits”…
Marriage is made up of many things, including joys, sorrows, successes, and failures. But when you think about what you want marriage to be like, the furthest thing from your mind is a battleground. However, there are some battles you should be more than willing to fight. These are battles that pertain to protecting your spouse.
Unfortunately your marriage has enemies out there. They come in different forms and use different strategies, but nonetheless they will conspire to destroy your relationship unless you know how to ward them off.
Some are clever and seem attractive, only to undermine your love and appreciation for one another. Others try to lure your heart away from your spouse by feeding you unhealthy fantasies and unrealistic comparisons. It’s a battle you must wage to protect your marriage – when love puts on armor and picks up a sword to defend its own. Your mate and your marriage need your constant protection from things like:
PARASITES: Watch out for parasites. A parasite is anything that latches onto you or your partner and sucks the life out of your marriage. They’re usually in the form of addictions, like gambling, drugs, or pornography. They promise pleasure but grow like a disease and consume more and more of your thoughts, time, and money. They steal away your loyalty and heart from those you love. Marriages rarely survive if parasites are present. If you love your spouse, you must destroy any addiction that has your heart. If you don’t, it will destroy you.
Without question, today there are these forces…parasites…(whatever we call them)…these harmful thoughts…careless words…destructive behaviors…
AND…
Today, Mark wants us to know that in this person, Jesus, there is a Power greater than the evil forces of this world…greater than the addiction and the parasites and whatever other name we give these forces of evil in our lives today…greater than
What are we to do??
AA’s Step two tells us: We come to believe there is a power greater than ourselves…
And today Mark tells us: the name of this powerful one is Jesus!! And He is the one we are invited to turn and return to…he is the one who has authority…
Also know that our Lenten journey this year is a call to return to Jesus…to return to the one that even the evil spirits know by name…it will be a Lenten journey into John 3:16 where we:
Return to his teaching…
Return to what He has to teach…
Return to the one who has indeed destroyed the powers of death and the devil and opened the Kingdom of God to all who believe!!
May I recommend that we start this journey today by asking the question, “What are those parasites, those addictions, those evil spirits that are lurking in your lives that need to go?” Without question, we all have them: harmful thoughts, careless words, destructive behaviors:
Kathleen Norris writes:
“When I think of the demons I need exorcized, I have to look inward, to my heart and soul. Anger is my best demon, useful whenever I have to go into a Woman Warrior mode, harmful when I use it to gratify myself, either in self-justification, or to deny my fears. My husband, who has a much sweeter nature than I, once told me that my mean streak grieved him, not just because of the pain it cause him but because it was doing me harm. His remark, as wise as that of any desert Abba, felt like an exorcism. Not that my temptation to anger was magically gone, but I was called to pay closer attention to something that badly needed attention, and that was hurting our marriage. It confirmed my understanding of marriage as a holy act: one can no more hide one’s true faults from a spouse than from God, and in exorcising the demon of anger, that which could kill is converted, transformed into that which can heal.”
And then she asks:
“What are your best demons? To name them for what they are and how they bring suffering, is half the battle.”
And if the 1st half of the battle is to name them, the 2nd half of the battle is to enter into the presence of the Lord who has power over them…and seek God’s help offered through his people and through Himself!!
Mark has a proclamation for God’s people today… Jesus came to destroy the unclean spirits of this world!! This is a proclamation of hope and promise. This is a proclamation of new life and new possibilities…given in Jesus Christ. This is a proclamation that takes seriously the verse we often sing before the Gospel
Alleluia, Lord to whom shall we go, You have the words of eternal life. Alleluia.
Mark also has an invitation to come…and receive from Him all He has to offer his children. And, as is often said, this coming will be both the easiest and the hardest thing we will ever do…but…it will also the most rewarding and fulfilling journey we will ever take.
In Mark the unclean spirits ask:
“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us
And Jesus answers: YES!!
Then and now
For you and me
Now and forever…
AMEN!!
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