Rev. Cary M. Richert
4th Sunday after the Epiphany (B)
January 29, 2006
Christ's Strong and Healing Word
Mark 1:21-28
They sat in a circle, holding hands. The room was dark, except for the dim light cast by a flickering candle in the center of the circle. The musty smell of incense filled the small room as the seance leader chanted in a low voice: The one to whom the candle flame points will be the one through whom the spirit will speak. Suddenly a young mother of two screamed and fell off her chair. As she lay on the floor, a voice not her own began to speak through her.(1)
Those involved in witchcraft and satanism can probably tell countless stories of strange happenings in the dark side of the spirit realm ... happenings that, for most of us, sound way too odd to be true! BUT ALSO, way too intriguing to ignore!
Today's Gospel text brings us to one of the unusual miracles Jesus performed during His earthly ministry: driving an evil spirit out of a demon-possessed person while teaching on the Sabbath at the synagogue in Capernaum, on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee.
As a faithful and practicing adult Jewish male, Jesus went to the synagogue on each Sabbath. Synagogues originated during the period of the Jewish exile in Babylon (mid-6th century B.C.). The synagogue was where the Jewish people gathered, especially on the Sabbath, to study the Scriptures and to worship God.
It was customary for the synagogue leaders to invite visiting Jewish rabbis to participate in the worship and teaching. So, Jesus, who'd become somewhat known for His teaching, was asked to speak. And speak He did! With amazing power and authority, so much so, that the people responded: What's this? A new teaching B and with authority! [v. 27] But why were they so captivated?
Biblical commentators indicate that, the typical teaching of the synagogue scribes focused heavily on interpreting the details of the Levitical law: the length of fringes, the proper washing of cups and platters, the particular quarter of a second when the new moons and Sabbaths began.(2) You can imagine why people were spellbound and amazed when Jesus taught. He ignored the usual practice of quoting eminent rabbis of the past. Jesus' teaching was authoritative in and of itself ... simply because it was from Him! How our Lord must have (felt sorry for) those who were getting from their own teachers nothing to nourish their souls. (3)
Then, in the midst of Jesus' amazing teaching, a demon-possessed person emerged. The demon cried out: What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are??the Holy One of God! [v. 24] Amazing words from a soldier in the army of Satan! Something extraordinary made this demon seek out Christ in public (in a sacred place, at a sacred time ... behind enemy lines!) ... and declare before all present that it knew who Jesus truly was!
Strange, isn't it? Even the demons know the true identity of Christ! Mark Mueller comments:
Isn't it sad that the demon understands more than the congregation about who Jesus really is? The demon actually says all the right things: Jesus is the Holy One of God. He's come to destroy the work of Satan! Yet, for all its shallow knowledge and words, the demon is destined for destruction ... because its (mere) knowledge isn't faith. (4)
The apostle Peter made the same confession about Jesus' identity. Jesus commended Peter, [Matthew 16:17]. Yet, Jesus cast out the evil spirit. The difference? Peter's confession was rooted in true faith. The demon's confession was intended to picture Jesus as a holy judge and destroyer of people ... to create fear and distrust in people ... to discredit Jesus, His divine teaching, and His earthly mission as the Son of God.
Satan knew why Jesus Christ had come. His intention was to use every vile means at his disposal ... including demonic possession... to keep people from turning to Christ, and, thus, to destroy Christ's kingdom. That's why, especially during the time of Jesus earthly ministry, as well as the early spread of the Gospel by Jesus' apostles, that there appears to have been an unusual amount of demonic possession and activity. It's as though the devil unleashed his entire army, hoping to foil God's plan of salvation, wrote John Schuetz. (5)
So what about demon-possession today? Does it still happen? Is it something we should be afraid of? Holy Scripture gives us no reason to believe that demonic possession no longer occurs. On the other hand, we can't necessarily jump to the conclusion that it's rampant either. So, let's think about what that means for us as God's children today.
In His holy Word, God warns us: Be self?controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour, [1 Peter 5:8]. Watching for you!! Satan and his army of demonic spirits would love nothing more than to lead us away from Jesus Christ and into sin, unbelief and eternal spiritual darkness. If you're dabbling in palm-reading ... astrology ... Ouija board ... Tarot cards ... and other forms of occult activity, BEWARE! Satan's hiding in the shadows nearby, waiting for a chance to pounce ... an opportunity to devour you.
St. Paul gives us a sobering reminder: Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God ... WHY? ... so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms, [Ephesians 6:10-12].
As God's children through Holy Baptism and by faith, we know that Jesus Christ, Son of God and Savior of the world, has defeated the devil and his evil angels, [1 John 3:8; Hebrews 2:14-15]. Our Lord reassures us: Neither angels nor demons ... nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord, [Romans 8:38-39].
Do you, as a child of the King Jesus, need ever worry about becoming demon-possessed? No! Not if you remain true to Jesus and steer clear of the kind of activity that, by nature, invites Satan into your life! With the apostle Paul, we can joyfully say that, because of our Holy Baptism: It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me, [Galatians 2:20]. And with the apostle John, we can be reassured of the Good News that: Greater is (Jesus) who is in you than (Satan) who is in the world, [1 John 4:4]!
Christ in you ... that's your defense against any form of demon-possession. God's powerful and healing Word ... the sword of the Spirit. That's your weapon against the attacks of Satan and his evil spirits, the fallen and depraved world, and your own sinful flesh. It's the weapon our Lord Jesus Himself used, when He was tempted in the wilderness by Satan, [Matthew 4:1-11].
With Martin Luther, we rejoice in the Word of God, the Word that's powerful to battle Satan and evil ... and to heal us of our sin-wounds:
Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us,
We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us.
This world's prince may still scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none, he's judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him. [Lutheran Worship #298]
One little word can fell Satan. That word is powerful. That word brings healing. That Word is Jesus. Jesus set the demon-possessed man free from his captivity by Satan through His powerful and healing Word. In His life and teaching, our Lord exposed Satan's lies. On the cross, He freed all who are captives of Satan. And in His resurrection from the tomb, Christ shattered Satan's power! You need not fear possession by a demon. Christ lives in you. And, He protects you through His powerful and healing Word! Thanks be to God in Christ Jesus! Amen.
Notes
(1) From The Lutheran Witness, July 1980, as cited in Andersen, Deffner, eds., Sermon Illustrations for the Gospel Lessons, CPH, 1980, 39]
(2) R.C.H. Lenski, The Interpretation of St. Mark's Gospel, Augsburg, 1946, 74-75.
(3) Lenski, 75.
(4) Mueller, AThree Little Words Did Fell Him@ in Concordia Pulpit Resources, v. 16, pt. 1, CPH, 2005, 36.
(5) Schuetz, Angels and Demons, Northwestern, 1997, 88.