I try to read the gospel scheduled by our church each day. Some readings strike me as relevant and truthful in new ways as I grow, mature and change (sometimes back slide too). On September 3, 2019 the Gospel of Luke Chapter 4 verses 31-37 was the Gospel reading. I read the same story again on January 14, 2020 from Mark 1:21-28 and added some new insights as well.
"Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town of Galilee.
He taught them on the sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching
because he spoke with authority.
In the synagogue there was a man with the spirit of an unclean demon,
and he cried out in a loud voice,
"What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us?
I know who you are–the Holy One of God!"
Jesus rebuked him and said, "Be quiet! Come out of him!"
Then the demon threw the man down in front of them
and came out of him without doing him any harm.
They were all amazed and said to one another,
"What is there about his word?
For with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits,
and they come out."
And news of him spread everywhere in the surrounding region."
This reading hit me in a new way at this time in my life.
Jesus taught with confidence and authority. The ability to convey certainty was key to the spread of his teachings. He taught confidently even in his home region of Galilee. Real courage needed to speak truth to friends and relatives.
In this depicted event he frees a man from "demons" in public in a church. I am not a theologian or expert in ancient Hebrew, Aramaic or Greek terms so I use context available in the story. I have experienced mentally ill people who screamed out outlandish accusations to secular and church authorities in a very similar manner. So this story has immense meaning for me. It may be that in this story Jesus faced emotional and false accusations too. So reading this was interesting to me from this perspective.
A person with "problems" is yelling out at Jesus in the church. Jesus is identified by name and refers to himself as "us" rather than as the person speaking. Possibly there is more wrong than any one malady. Jesus is not his malady but he is the one being screamed at. Jesus ends up being his cure. Interesting that the person screamed at it the one who can offer a cure. I wonder if this is a pattern we could learn from?
Jesus could have inquired about the identity of the "demon" or "demons". Jesus could have asked about when, how and by what mechanism the demon had taken control of the person. Jesus could have asked the person about the possibility of misguided parenting or neglect as a youth that made him vulnerable to demonic activity. Jesus could have asked the man to "try and remember" what event or trauma that "caused" demons to take control of him. Jesus could have referred the man to others in the community who specialized in handling crazy people. Jesus could have attempted to comfort him and possibly offered him money. Some might think that Jesus appeared to have what seemed to be a lack of empathy and compassion. The outcome of Jesus' response was the best form of compassion possible. Jesus provided deliverance and healing.
The two things Jesus did prior to deliverance from his demons and healing was to call out for the person to "be quiet". Jesus did not seek to be entertained with lurid tales that detailed why he was screaming at him. Jesus followed that directive with a rebuke. Based on my experience it seems possible our Church faces a scandal that is eerily similar. The present response to demons screaming out false accusations is one that harms the innocent who are falsely accused, harms those who may have been actually been abused, provides false accusers with public media attention that amplifies the screams and rewards the demon screams with large payouts. It is hard to imagine anything better for demons than what we are doing.
Who is the false accuser? Isn't that what Jesus is driving out?
After the man is quieted Jesus "rebukes" and the "demon" is not specifically spoken of by Jesus. The unnamed demon is ordered to "come out" of the afflicted man. Wasn't this poor man a victim of something? Didn't that man deserve compassion? Does anyone reading this see the quieting and rebuking a sign of Jesus' anger or guilt?
Instead the "unclean spirit" left and that crazy acting man acted different.
The news spread because what Jesus did worked. It was not because Jesus provided a satisfactory or detailed explanation of why the man acted crazy. Jesus spoke and acted with authority, rebuked, commanded and caused a crazy man to throw himself down in front of others. That man became better because of the words Jesus used focused the man ceasing his rant and then becoming different. Jesus did not focus on what he was "screaming about" during or after the event. Clearly the crazy acting person was a different man after he picked himself up. You can tell by the fruit of this interaction.
The kingdom of God spread like wildfire as a result. Maybe others will be moved and changed by the power of his word and example. I have seen it personally. I can tell you this story is truly how Jesus works.
This was so worth pondering.
Why not be quiet, accept rebuke, throw ourselves down in front of Jesus and get up a different person?
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