Word that Astounds

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. (Mark 1:27)

When Jesus arrives at the synagogue, he does not preach and teach like the scribes; instead, he teaches as one who has authority. Although we cannot know precisely how the scribes taught, we can at least surmise that they tended to talk about God, without actually proclaiming the word of God. Jesus, on the other hand, speaks for God, as God. His words have power, they do something.

Just when those of us who find ourselves in worship begin to pride ourselves on having done what Jesus does, we learn that a man in the synagogue had an unclean spirit. This raises two questions. First, how did a man with an unclean spirit get in? The ushers should have turned him away, or people in the community should have made sure he felt unwelcome. That is what our culture tells us, is it not? Go to church when you have it all together.

Stay home if things are falling apart. Even more to the point, a second question may give us pause. Are we ourselves in church with an unclean spirit? If so, what should we do? Jesus gives an answer. He proclaims a word of authority, saying to the man, "Be silent, and come out of him!" (Mark 1:25). When we arrive in worship today, we may have had any number of unclean spirits clinging to us. We can expect, however, that in the hymns, in the proclamation of the word, and at the table, there is a new teaching coming at us, a Lord who speaks with authority over unclean spirits. Listen to the Lord speaking to you in worship today. Be amazed. Let it astound you. Be made clean.