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Maybe you know the saying, “the only thing
evil needs to succeed, is for good men to do nothing.” – Edmund Burke. Then it
is also true that “When bad men combine, the good must associate; else
they will fall, one by one, an unpitied sacrifice in a contemptible struggle.”
Perhaps this is what is going on in this week’s Gospel Lesson (Mark 1.21-28).
Jesus and his disciples (Simon, Andrew, James, John Philip and Nathaniel) went
to Capernaum together. A few Good men who were proclaiming God’s good news and learning
to correctly handle the word of truth.
They went to Jesus’ base of operations and his home there. Capernaum was
located on near the headwaters of the Jordan River. It was rich farming land
and was know for its good fishing in the Sea of Galilee.
He began to preach and to take advantage of the invitations to preach
in the local synagogue. He would leave them astonished, in awe, in wonder and at
least from time to time, in fear. The recognized him as a man who had a different
kind of power and authority – not like the other religious leaders, and in
particular the Scribes. Jesus spoke on his own authority, of the kingdom and of
his Father. He backed up what he was saying with deeds of power – making the
blind to see, the lame to walk up right and the deaf to hear; exorcisms, turning
water into wine, raising people from the dead.
The mission seems clear: The Father wants to bring his own back to himself
and we, in Christ, are going to work at making that happen. But we need to stop
a recognize that if there is a path forward, there is going to be a collision
of kingdoms first – and that means there is going to be heat and friction, some
tearing up, breaking away and some falling apart. To us it might look like
disaster and the end, but it has not been… not yet at least.
As Saint Paul would remind us, For we do not wrestle against flesh and
blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic
powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the
heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able
to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm. (Ephesians 6.12-13)
This brings us back to the Gospel and to the encounter with personal
evil. While teaching and preaching on sabbath in the Synagogue in Capernaum, is
confronted with a man who had a demon. The encounter is often portrayed as a
battle to silence the other. Only one problem with that – no devil or devil is
the Strong one. God is above and beyond his creation. God has no equal. Think
of it this way. It is a bit of a numbers game. You have probably heard that the
sign of the enemy is “666” but have you considered why? “777” is the number that
defines the perfect revelation of God and who God is. “666” is the revelation
of a created being trying to reveal himself as God – the created being always
falls short.
And did you notice that the demon, in addressing Jesus, taunted and
insulted him, telling him that there was no business between them while at the
same time admitted to Jesus’ identity – that he is the Christ. “Be quiet! Come
out of him!” was the stern response. The people were amazed that the unclean,
evil spirit had to obey Jesus.
What does all this mean for us? Well, first we want to clean up this
world. If you don’t believe me, the next time you go to a store, say Wal Mart,
or a grocery store, check out the cleaning products aisle and all the different
cleaners for the different places and spaces we inhabit. Then ask yourself this
question: “What will make me clean up my act where God is concerned?” Is it
nothing but the blood of Jesus?
The kingdom of God comes in contact, and clashes with our kingdoms for
a purpose – so that the holy can reclaim the unholy and reanimate it with new
life, with eternal life. That means that God wants to come into your life and
offer his for yours so that you can live like him and with him in the life, in
the world that is to come. And if that is true then there is something
important about the preaching we participate in. If what we have is real; if
what we have is true, and if hat we have is lifegiving, then it is a big deal.
This means we cannot afford to preach a no biggy Gospel. God’s message needs to
be declared with power and in love.
If Jesus and a few disciples can lay claim to a single life in the middle
of a sermon, what can this Church do this week? It will make a total difference,
not just in the life of one person but in every life that is in this community.
Isn’t that worth something, to God and to us?
Jason+
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