Sunday 29 January 2012

Background

Mark began his Gospel by making a huge claim - "the good news ofJesus Christ, the Son of God" (Mark1:1). And the rest of the Gospel is Mark's defence of thatclaim.

Jesus has just called Simon and Andrew, James and John, from theirnets to follow him (Mark 1:16-20), and now they accompany him on 'aday in the life' of the Son of God, described in the rest ofchapter 1. They are learning what it means to share Jesus'life.

The day begins in the synagogue at Capernaum, on the Sabbath. Jesusis at home with these key elements of the Jewish faith. Thesynagogue had developed as an accessible place for all, probablyduring the exile when people couldn't get to the temple inJerusalem. And keeping the Sabbath had been fundamental to Jewishidentity since the very beginning of their life as the people ofGod (Exodus 20:8).

It would be normal for a visiting rabbi to be invited to teach inthe synagogue (Luke 4:16-17). So was Jesus behaving like anordinary rabbi? Far from it! The worshippers were immediately awareof the difference - he taught them "as one having authority" (Matthew7:29), unlike the scribes. The story does not make it clearwhere this authority comes from, but the readers can recognise thatit is the unique, authority of the Son of God.

Teaching is an important part of Jesus' ministry (though Markdoesn't tell us much of what he teaches). But the story moves on toshow how Jesus' authority runs much deeper.

In Jesus' time, most illnesses were attributed to unclean spiritsor demons, and the Gospels tell us repeatedly that Jesus hadcontrol over them. We don't need to spend long considering whatkind of illness might be described here. What matters is that Jesushas control over hostile powers that limit and damage humanlife.

The words the demon speaks (at the centre of the story - verse 24)were an attempt to gain control over Jesus by naming him (cf.Exodus3:13), but Jesus succeeded in controlling the spirit instead.However, the spirit spoke of "us" - to defeat one spirit is not todefeat them all.

This opening sketches the basis of Jesus' claim to be Son of God.He transforms Jewish tradition by his great authority, shown firstby his teaching, then by his control of an unclean spirit.

To Ponder

What do you think are the hostile powers intoday's society?

How do you think Jesus would show his authorityover those hostile powers in our society?

What would you want Jesus to drive out of yourlife?