“The Power of Learning” – Mark 1:21-28 – February 1, 2009
One time I overheard two people talking in a restaurant. One of them was telling the other about a problem he was having. He said, “I am really overwhelmed at work. I just don’t have the help I need to keep up.” The other man said, “That’s nothing, not only am I behind at work, I am so busy, I never get to go on vacation.”
That exchange is fairly typical table talk. One person tells someone about their troubles but instead of listening, the person they are talking to “trumps” their problem with one of their own. It’s a fairly common experience, one I am sure you have had. How often to you hear the words, “That’s nothing, let me tell you what I am going through.”
I believe that is a good example of a modern day “unclean spirit.” It happens when folks are so consumed with their own agendas they don’t take the time to listen to people around them. It is a very self-centered attitude. It can be very frustrating when we confide in someone and then to be “trumped’ by the problems of the very person we are confiding in.
When Jesus was in the synagogue, teaching, a man with an unclean spirit challenged his authority. I believe he was trying to trump Jesus, His attitude was, “Who the heck are you?” Obviously the man wasn’t listening. To get his attention Jesus confronted him. He said, "Be silent and come out of him." He was referring to his unclean spirit. Those listening were surprised at his response and said, "What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him."
Yes, it was in fact a new teaching. Jesus was demonstrating how crucial it is for us to listen. He simply told the man with the unclean spirit to "Be silent." That’s it. There was no condemnation, no guilt trips, no punitive threats, nothing that would demean the man’s character or make him feel inferior. Jesus did not attack the man. Jesus it not about destroying lives, Jesus is about restoring them. By ridding the man of his unclean spirit Jesus would have another listener and a man whose soul was liberated.
What are some of the unclean spirits of our day? Besides trumping people’s problems with problems of our own I can think of several. Misinformation comes to mind. I am amazed how many people are listening to voices that speak untruths or say things that breed despair and malice.
Recently, Rush Limbaugh said, “I hope Obama fails.” What a terrible thing to say about the new leader of the free world. It was a statement that was disrespectful and an attitude that does nothing to give people hope or encouragement. Unfortunately many people listen to such voices, voices that are divisive and abusive. These are the voices that Jesus wants to be silent.
When Jesus confronted the man with the unclean spirit he was confronting the power of evil. Evil is in our world. Evil destroys relationships and hurts communities. Evil corrupts churches, our places of work, our schools and destroys peace. When we don’t listen to teach other or when we listen to voices that are demeaning and hateful we give evil power.
The writer of Mark wants us to see Jesus as more of a teacher, not as a miracle worker. In fact, he tells those he has healed to say nothing about it. Jesus did this because he didn’t want people going around the countryside telling everyone that he worked miracles. Jesus wanted his listeners to be disciples, active participants in his ministry. Disciples are those who follow all of his teachings. Disciples live sacrificial lives and disciples are not focused on their own selfish desires. Rather, they are those who are concerned for the greater good. In other words, students of Jesus are those who serve.
One of my greatest challenges in counseling is helping those who are depressed. Depression is a psychological problem that could qualify as a modern day unclean spirit. There was a study conducted by Harvard Medical School for people who suffered from depression. They divided those who suffered from depression in three groups. The first group received medication in the form of anti-depressants, to help them with their depression. The second group was put on a program of exercise and diet. The third group was given volunteer opportunities. The group that showed the most success in overcoming their depression was the group that was involved in volunteer programs. Those that volunteered had the opportunity to serve others rather than be self-serving.
Mark illustrates the authoritative power of Jesus. Jesus listened. Jesus confronted those who did not listen. Jesus was the voice of education, the voice of truth and the voice of faith. “He taught them as one who had authority and not the scribes.”
There are many voices of authority in our lives. There is the voice of government. We live by a constitution and its laws. There is the voice of parents. Until we are an adult, they are responsible for our lives, including what we learn. There is the voice of religion which includes rituals, traditions and teachings we follow. But the authority of Jesus was different. His authority came from God. The authority of Jesus was the authority of the heart.
It wasn’t what Jesus taught, it was how he taught. He had authority because of the way he lived his life. He was compassionate, inclusive and invited the man with the unclean spirit to change his ways. He reached out to this disruptive and overbearing personality by engaging him personally. He didn’t attack the man, He confronted the man’s character flaw which was talking instead of being quiet.
Jesus did something that day in the synagogue that few of us would have the courage to do. He acknowledged the presence of an unclean spirit. Ironically the man with the unclean spirit knew who Jesus was. The Jews didn’t have a clue or refused to believe. I believe that when Jesus silenced the man there was a hush that went over the congregation, one of those moments when everyone is actually listening. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Teaching from the heart has that kind of impact on an audience. It’s those “holy” moments when everyone simultaneously experiences the presence of God. Those moments are rare, but they are moments we cherish, because we learned that God was close.
This past week we had a tremendous snow storm in Ohio. Following the storm the world seemed very quiet. We had just been humbled by mother nature, unable to rush about in our usual way, confined to our homes, literally speechless from the power of the weather. In that brief period of silence I once again learned the valuable lessons of humility, patience and the overwhelming presence of God. It was God’s way of telling society to be quiet and listen. Indeed, there is a higher authority. God loves you and wants you to listen because God wants the best for your lives
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Dr. Keith Wagner, St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, Sidney, Ohio