Today’s WORD (Text) Mark 1:21-28
21/ They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22/ They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23/ Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24/ and he cried out, “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.” 25/ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26/ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27/ They were all amazed, and kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28/ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Today’s Witness
Jesus traveled throughout ancient Palestine with spiritual authority. We often reflect on the disciples who left their livelihoods to follow Jesus, and the crowds that flocked to him for inspiration, healing, and increased faith in God. There was another element in the land—at the synagogue—that took notice of Jesus, but instead had a visceral reaction to his preaching and miracles. Mark points to the “unclean spirit” residing in a man at synagogue, as an outlier. The unclean spirit recognized Jesus, objected to his arrival, and was intuitive enough to feel threatened by Jesus’ presence. For his part, Jesus did not disappoint the unclean spirit. He called out the unclean spirit, reprimanded it, and commanded that evil spirit to leave the man, and leave the synagogue. The crowds seemed less shocked by the presence of the unclean spirit in the synagogue, and more amazed that Jesus exercised authority over him and rebuked him. History repeats itself in the form of unclean spirits that terrorize our social order, our politics, public policy, and human decency. Even Christians react more harshly very often against their pastors if they publicly condemn the unclean spirits than they react toward the evil spirits. In contemporary times, pastors have been reprimanded and even silenced in some congregations when they name the evil spirits resident among them. We should pray that God will send laborers into God’s harvest with the spiritual authority needed to effectively command and reprimand the unclean spirits in our time. That ought not be a church polity issue, but a spiritual authority issue.
Today’s Invitation
What contemporary form might unclean spirits take in our day and time, and how are they manifested?
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, who commanded the unclean spirits that challenged your authority, we invite your presence in our world today. We appear to be overrun by the riotous and unclean spirits of our age that usurp the hearts and minds of vulnerable people who fall prey to lies, conspiracies and acts of terror and violence. Policies, laws, and law enforcement seem powerless to arrest and subdue the violent outbursts and threats that emanate from the unclean spirits of our time. We call upon you with faith in your miraculous power to bring light, hope and love amid the negative forces in today’s world. Help us to plant our feet firmly in your amazing promises and power. Grant us wisdom and courage to proclaim your words with authority in the face of the evil one. Guide our tongues. Hold our hands. Direct our footsteps that we will acknowledge and glorify you in all our ways, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
- Where will I follow Christ today?
- To whom shall I demonstrate Jesus’ love and justice today?
- How can I play my part in practicing the presence of Christ, right here, right now?
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash
Today’s WORD (Text) Mark 1:21-28
21/ They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. 22/ They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23/ Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24/ and he cried out, “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.” 25/ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26/ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27/ They were all amazed, and kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” 28/ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Today’s Witness
Jesus traveled throughout ancient Palestine with spiritual authority. We often reflect on the disciples who left their livelihoods to follow Jesus, and the crowds that flocked to him for inspiration, healing, and increased faith in God. There was another element in the land—at the synagogue—that took notice of Jesus, but instead had a visceral reaction to his preaching and miracles. Mark points to the “unclean spirit” residing in a man at synagogue, as an outlier. The unclean spirit recognized Jesus, objected to his arrival, and was intuitive enough to feel threatened by Jesus’ presence. For his part, Jesus did not disappoint the unclean spirit. He called out the unclean spirit, reprimanded it, and commanded that evil spirit to leave the man, and leave the synagogue. The crowds seemed less shocked by the presence of the unclean spirit in the synagogue, and more amazed that Jesus exercised authority over him and rebuked him. History repeats itself in the form of unclean spirits that terrorize our social order, our politics, public policy, and human decency. Even Christians react more harshly very often against their pastors if they publicly condemn the unclean spirits than they react toward the evil spirits. In contemporary times, pastors have been reprimanded and even silenced in some congregations when they name the evil spirits resident among them. We should pray that God will send laborers into God’s harvest with the spiritual authority needed to effectively command and reprimand the unclean spirits in our time. That ought not be a church polity issue, but a spiritual authority issue.
Today’s Invitation
What contemporary form might unclean spirits take in our day and time, and how are they manifested?
Today’s Prayer
Dear Lord, who commanded the unclean spirits that challenged your authority, we invite your presence in our world today. We appear to be overrun by the riotous and unclean spirits of our age that usurp the hearts and minds of vulnerable people who fall prey to lies, conspiracies and acts of terror and violence. Policies, laws, and law enforcement seem powerless to arrest and subdue the violent outbursts and threats that emanate from the unclean spirits of our time. We call upon you with faith in your miraculous power to bring light, hope and love amid the negative forces in today’s world. Help us to plant our feet firmly in your amazing promises and power. Grant us wisdom and courage to proclaim your words with authority in the face of the evil one. Guide our tongues. Hold our hands. Direct our footsteps that we will acknowledge and glorify you in all our ways, in the name of Jesus. Amen.
The Passionary Intention
Today, I choose to live my life with passion. Today, I intend to follow Christ more nearly, love more dearly and incarnate God’s grace more clearly by asking myself three questions:
The Passionary Movement Word and Witness devotion is published weekdays (Monday – Friday). Dr. Jeffrey Haggray, Executive Director of American Baptist Home Mission Societies is the author of today’s devotion.
Photo by Priscilla Du Preez on Unsplash