Mark 1: 21-28 (MSG)
Then they entered Capernaum. When the Sabbath arrived, Jesus lost no time in getting to the meeting place. He spent the day there teaching. They were surprised at his teaching—so forthright, so confident—not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars. Suddenly, while still in the meeting place, he was interrupted by a man who was deeply disturbed and yelling out, "What business do you have here with us, Jesus? Nazarene! I know what you're up to! You're the Holy One of God, and you've come to destroy us!" Jesus shut him up: "Quiet! Get out of him!" The afflicting spirit threw the man into spasms, protesting loudly—and got out. Everyone there was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. "What's going on here? A new teaching that does what it says? He shuts up defiling, demonic spirits and sends them packing!" News of this traveled fast and was soon all over Galilee.
Jesus loved people. And while He understood and practiced balanced isolation, He loved (and still loves) being around all sorts of people. In this passage, as in so many others, we find Him headed for the Meeting Place, teaching the people, sharing His experiences, divulging His knowledge, spreading His wisdom, sowing His love. The gathered mobs not only listened to His message, but were amazed by it. What was so stunning about His teaching? He lived it out in front of the people. Jesus always practiced what He preached. That was such a foreign concept to them because they witnessed the hypocrisies of the religion scholars on a daily basis. I wonder if people swarm to us because of the light-love within us. When they look at us, do they see the embodiment of Jesus or a modern day version of the Pharisees?
In the midst of this spiritual outpouring, a demon possessed man interrupts the proceedings. Although this is a uncomfortable topic for some, it’s a very real part of life. Especially that of Jesus. We have an awesome service, prayer time, or Bible study. And the next thing you know, you encounter something you can’t explain. Something sinister. A person with addictions or mental problems. An evil presence. Whatever. While we shouldn’t fear, we can’t tackle such things alone. We can, however, call upon the One who can.
Through Jesus, even the possessed can be made whole again!
