Our passage in Mark is the first one of a series of stories that forms the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. In the preceding story Jesus called the disciples who would travel with him and learn from him, so that they could eventually bring their own ministry. Earlier we read about John the baptizer who prepared the way for Jesus. We witnessed Jesus’ baptism, where God called Jesus his beloved Son. We read how Jesus was tested by Satan and overcame temptation. These stories right at the beginning tell us what will be happening—Jesus came to battle evil in this world and would take on Satan and the demons associated with Satan.

Next John was arrested and we see that this is the starting point for Jesus who began to proclaim the good news of God. Jesus was ready to share his mission, message, vision, and ministries with the world. In his culture, the natural place to express a message from God would be in the worshiping community, where God’s people met together. Jesus, therefore, began his ministry in the synagogue, and it expanded into homes, streets, and public places.

The synagogue, most likely a place in a larger home where they could gather, was a place for teaching, learning, and worship. Depending on the ruler of the synagogue, the minister or any competent person could be called upon to give an address and exposition. Since Jesus was well-known to be a man with a transformative message, the synagogue of every community could provide him with a pulpit from which to instruct and make appeals to people.

The story does not tell us whether Jesus was actually invited to speak. We are just told that he entered the synagogue and taught. Jesus’ teachings were new and uniquely revelatory. We read that he taught as one having authority and not as the scribes. People were astounded at his teaching. The author of Mark will quite often depict Jesus as teacher and seems to emphasize it more than even his healings.

Right after this Jesus proceeds with the healing of a man with an unclean spirit. As in some parts of the world, people in New Testament times believed in the existence of demons. Some thought demons were as old as creation itself. They lived in unclean places or in the desert, and were dangerous to lonely travelers, women in childbirth, brides, bridegrooms, children who were out after dark, and those who traveled at night. Jesus spoke with clear, simple words of authority, and the demon was exorcised from the man. No one had ever seen anything like this before—all were amazed. The power was not in the spell, the formula, the incantation, or the elaborate rite. The power was in Jesus, and all were astonished.

In our day, we have diseases that we cannot diagnose easily. The cycle of self-accusation or anger at family members that often accompanies severe illness or death can be as devastating as the disease itself. Serious mental illness, even when controlled by medication, also strains the resources of family and friends.

Sometimes we may think that it would be easier to attribute such afflictions to demons than endure the dashed expectations accompanying each new type of therapy or the lurking fear of suicide. It may be easier to attribute our negative thinking and destructive attitudes to demons than to realize that we too may be part of the problem. The stories of Jesus, the teacher and healer, provide lessons and encouragement for us when we feel invaded by a strange power or darkness. Our lesson is that it is not God’s will for us to suffer. Our encouragement is that God suffers with us, and out of our intimate relationship with God comes spiritual and physical healing.  Worship Helps 1/15/2012