When the Israelites in the desert beheld the presence of God in the mountain’s storm, even
from a distance, they were afraid. Exodus tells us of the, “…thunderings and lightnings and the sound of the trumpet and the mountain smoking,” which terrified the people (Exodus 20:18-19). Out of their reverential fear they chose Moses to be their intermediary with God.
The first reading today alludes to the Exodus account and makes a promise to the people that God will raise up another prophet, like Moses, to bring God’s words to them. God keeps promises and so Moses began a line of prophets who weren’t afraid to stand before God on behalf of the people; or to face them on behalf of God to name their demons. The line of prophets ceased several centuries before Christ. But people interpreted the interlude as a time of expectancy, watching for God to come in force on a great day to destroy the wicked and raise up the just.
That great day would begin with Elijah’s return and would culminate in the arrival of another great prophet like Moses. We can see where this is going, can’t we? — to the gospel and the arrival of Jesus who, in the synagogue, confronts the unclean spirit in the man. In Jesus the powers of evil are being threatened, “I know who you are — the Holy One of God.”
Jesus has a prophet’s authority, but it’s different. The prophets referred to God when they began to speak, “Thus says the Lord.” Jesus speaks from his own authority and orders the spirit, “Quiet! Come out of him!” The people sensed someone different and something different were happening, “What is this? A new teaching with authority.”
Mark shows the authority of Jesus’ word. He doesn’t have to go through a ritual as other healers did. Instead, power comes through his words. Mark is establishing early in his gospel Jesus’ authoritative teaching. The fact that Jesus can drive out an evil spirit only confirms his teaching authority and the good it holds for those who receive it.
The gospel gives us pause and raises questions. Who and what is the primary authority in our lives? What guides our daily decisions, not just how we worship and pray but: how we educate our children; what we do at work; our choice of leisure and entertainment; our use of money and natural resources. Who and what form our conscience? By what criteria do we evaluate others in the world? When we hunger in the depths of our spirits where do we go for nourishment? Who will help us exercise the demons in our lives and the many powerful demons in the world — poverty, partitionship, militarism, sexism, etc?
Mark has no doubt which authority we must turn fully towards. It’s as if there is a stage with closed curtains. Mark parts the curtains and a spotlight shines on Jesus, the focus of this drama. The action begins immediately, it’s a battle between good and evil. Throughout this gospel the war will be enacted in many battle scenes with other possessing demons, hostile crowds, the religious opposition and the governing Romans. At the end evil will seem to have won the war. But Jesus’ resurrection will confirm God’s power over evil working through him.
We are left with a choice between the prophet Jesus’ authoritative words, or the myriad other seductive forces we hear each day which try to turn us in another direction. We have all experienced the power of evil and sometimes given into it. So we listen as Jesus again speaks out on our behalf, “Quiet! Come out of him/her!” That could be our prayer today, to allow Jesus to speak with authority in our lives. “Speak Lord, your servant is listening.”
Of all places for that unclean spirit to appear — in the midst of a worshiping community! For Mark evil powers work their way even into the best human places, trying to subvert the good we try to do. Even Jesus’ intimates were affected by them. Remember Jesus’ harsh words to the resistant Peter, “Get out of my sight, you Satan. You are not judging by God’s standards, but by peoples'” (8:33). Nevertheless, Mark shows Jesus persevering to heal, help, forgive, gives life, etc.
The battle between good and evil is even fought in the synagogue — or church. Remember segregation was supported by some Christian churches. Whatever our belief in demons, Fred Craddock warns, “No service is rendered simply by announcing that we no longer believe in demons. Although that is true for most, not believing in demons has hardly eradicated evil in our world” (“Preaching Through the Christian Year: B, page 92).
Though we are still very early in Mark’s Gospel we can already sense who Jesus is and where he is going. He will confront evil in all its guises and eventually overcome death. Word spreads quickly among a people who need to know and experience that God is on their side. As a result of today’s cleansing, Mark tells us, “His fame spread everywhere throughout the whole region of Galilee.” But as we said, this is only the beginning. Soon Jesus and the good news he preaches will spread to the ends of the earth! Towards the end of Mark’s gospel, after Jesus was taken up to heaven, the apostles go forth “to preach everywhere.” But they’re not on their own because, “The Lord continued to work with them throughout and confirm the message through signs which accompanied them” (16:20).
Nor are we on our own. We take to heart the message we hear today from the gospel. The One who has authority over evil, accompanies us as we go forth like the apostles, “to preach everywhere.” Name the places we live, work, minister, recreate. Remember those people to whom we are sent. We carry with us a word of Good News for them, a word that has given us life and the power to confront evil in all its subtle and bold manifestations