WHAT HAVE YOU TO DO WITH US?
Mark 1:21-28 with Deut 18:15-20 in the b.g. (Epiphany 4a, Jan. 29, 2012)
This morning we are encountered by quite the Gospel lesson. Jesus comes early on in the Gospel of Mark to a synagogue. Yes, Jesus is Jewish. He worships in his life as Jewish people have for many hundreds of years. Once in the synagogue He teaches. But he teaches as one having AUTHORITY. Jesus' authority gets played out in a particular way that day. There is a man who has been marginalized by his condition, by his the realities of his person and the society in which he lives. Mark says that this man has an "unclean" spirit. These could be code words for an illness that separated him from the mainstream of society – that may have prevented him from being part of the synagogue community. Whatever it was – others could see the results of this man's condition and then withdrew from him. His condition may have been such that he hurt himself, that he occasionally yelled obscenities at others or perhaps even that he acted in ways that just weren't acceptable in that time and place– we don't actually know all that this designation "unclean" meant. What we do know is that others saw him as "unclean", not belonging, different from the usual synagogue crew. And this meant that these others kept a certain distance from him.
This morning we are encountered by quite the Gospel lesson. Jesus comes early on in the Gospel of Mark to a synagogue. Yes, Jesus is Jewish. He worships in his life as Jewish people have for many hundreds of years. Once in the synagogue He teaches. But he teaches as one having AUTHORITY. Jesus' authority gets played out in a particular way that day. There is a man who has been marginalized by his condition, by his the realities of his person and the society in which he lives. Mark says that this man has an "unclean" spirit. These could be code words for an illness that separated him from the mainstream of society – that may have prevented him from being part of the synagogue community. Whatever it was – others could see the results of this man's condition and then withdrew from him. His condition may have been such that he hurt himself, that he occasionally yelled obscenities at others or perhaps even that he acted in ways that just weren't acceptable in that time and place– we don't actually know all that this designation "unclean" meant. What we do know is that others saw him as "unclean", not belonging, different from the usual synagogue crew. And this meant that these others kept a certain distance from him.
What's also fascinating about this, and what must not be underestimated is that this man somehow, perhaps even as a result of his being shunted to the margins of society, truly recognizes Jesus for who he is. On the other hand, those regularly at the synagogue although being amazed by Jesus' teaching, maybe even having their minds blown by Jesus' teaching, don't recognize who Jesus actually is, that Jesus is "the Holy One of God".
Those forces that had control of this "unclean man" ask Jesus a direct question. Their question is profound. It is also a question that is important for us to ask: "What do you have to do with us Jesus of Nazareth?"
Ah, yes, what does Jesus have to do with us, here and now?
Surely there aren't any among us who are unclean, who need an authoritative word from Jesus – are there? Surely I, your Pastor am clean? Aren't we all relatively, well, "clean", not under the influence or control of anyone or anything else? WE all belong, don't we?
Do we?
There are many times that I wonder about the realities of power and authority – how they might be similar or different, how power and authority are being experienced and then lived out among us.
While I was in seminary there was a Swedish singing group called Fjedur that attended our chapel one morning. They were just off a tour of South Africa. This was in the late 1970's while apartheid apparently still had its vice grip on South Africa. Fjedur sang songs that morning which I will never forget. One of them was titled Freedom. Freedom, oh freedom, freedom is coming, oh yes, I know. Freedom, freedom, freedom is coming, oh yes, I know. Yes, I know. Yes, I know. Freedom is coming. . .Those songs embedded themselves in my being, not only because they were beautiful and beautifully sung but because Fjedur said that they learned these songs from South African black people who often sang these songs while being imprisoned for protesting their lack of freedom in the political and military landscape of that day. Can you imagine singing with joy and hope to those who had imprisoned you? THAT'S AUTHORITY. It is also powerful though it may not have what we usually think of in North America as power.
The authority to sing came from within themselves. It was and is a gift from God who wills all people to be free, to be valued, to be loved, to know and experience God's love and care. Regardless of the outside powers that rail against such a hunger, such a yearning, this authority of God will not be quenched or drowned. Truly people may and have been killed while exercising such authority, but even their death will testify to the authority of God's dream for all.
In the past, I have sometimes looked at this Gospel text from the context of a cure for a man who may have been ill on many levels. There is part of that which may well be true. Jesus can bring healing to individuals on many levels. But what I have often missed is the authority of Jesus to restore community to any and all. This man is not only made well, but he is restored to community where his restoration and his words point to the very authority and identity of Jesus. This One is the Holy One of God. And as such He brings people back together in ways that are creative and life bringing.
So, how about us? Are we ever in need of Jesus' authority? Or do we like to think of or treat Jesus as someone, even "something" that is comfortable or relegated to a particular box that we bring out on certain occasions? We need to be careful.
For you see, just as that age old song declares, Jesus does love us. As the holy One of God, Jesus loves not just us but all people, all creation. This Gospel lesson shows us that Jesus does not stand still as we or others are relegated to margins, by whatever realities we are caught up in or by. This Holy One of God wills to speak a word – that if even for a moment we be silent, be still, so that we can be opened to his authority and so made whole, delivered into community with God and with each other.
To be sure these ongoing changes may be difficult for us. With that so-called "unclean" man in the synagogue we as individuals or even as entire communities may from time to time be thrown into convulsions, even loud cries in order for such life bring alterations to be made. But if indeed it is the Holy One of God, this Jesus who is speaking a word to us – even that struggle, that pain will lead us to new life. . .
Finally, I say "if it is the Holy One of God is speaking to us – because there are some, and sometimes even we ourselves, me myself, who have been convinced that we are speaking for God, when in fact we have been mistaken. The institutional church has from time been so guilty – in demanding that people stay in slavery, that women keep their place, that the laity mind their p's and q's. Discernment must be collective, intentional and humble.
Here is good news. The Holy One of God, this Jesus still loves this world, including each and every person. He, through the Spirit continues to speak, to work so that evil and death lose their grip upon us and others, so that we are enabled to live and love for the well being and the wholeness of all, including ourselves, knowing that God continues to work.
May Jesus speak that cleansing, life bringing, earth changing word to us. And may we be made whole, even as we begin to glimpse that He is the Holy One of God. Who knows we too might be able to sing and live in new ways proclaiming that freedom, oh freedom is coming. Oh yes we know. Amen.