"Dealing With Demons "Dr.
James L. Mayfield February 2, 2003
Text: Mark 1:21-28 It was the Sabbath and Jesus and his disciples were in the synagogue in Capernaum. Apparently Jesus had been invited to read and explain the scripture for the day. His wisdom and insight amazed all who listened. "He does not merely quote the Scriptures the way the Scribes do;" they said. "He speaks with the authority of knowing what the passages really mean." About that time, a man with an unclean spirit, a demon, cried out: "What do you want with us? Have you come here to destroy us? I know who you are; you are the Holy One of God." It is at this point in the story many of us begin to struggle with this passage. We do not talk about unclean spirits or demons. Our way of talking and thinking has been shaped by the Age of Enlightenment, with its heavy emphasis on reason and the use of the scientific method in the pursuit of truth. But the world of Jesus and Mark, not only talked about but was aware of unclean spirits or demons. These demons or unclean spirits were understood to be unseen agents of the devil that cause havoc in and among us humans. When we talk about unseen realities that cause havoc in and among us humans, we use more scientific language -- such as the jargon of biology or medicine or psychology or sociology or genetics. There have been many benefits from using the disciplines and languages of the various sciences to deal with problems that cause us humans pain. In fact, because of the success of these sciences, we are tempted to write off all talk about unclean spirits or demons as so much superstitious nonsense. But this would not be wise because, while we do not use the language of the pre-Enlightenment, pre-scientific world in which Jesus and Mark lived, there is profound truth in what they had to say. And we are able to recognize this when we go beneath the surface, and strive to understand. I am convinced, deep within us, we have a pretty good idea about what Mark was talking about when he wrote of unclean spirits or demons. Who among us has not had to deal with persons who have a destructive attitude and outlook and because of that, what they say and do is usually destructive, causing pain and problems? In Jesus' day it might have been said that these people had an unclean or evil spirit, or that they were possessed by a demon. And many of us, if not all of us, do not have go beyond our personal experience to have some sense of what Mark meant when he wrote about persons having unclean spirits. Many of us know what it is to be possessed by resentments or by envy or by hate or by the compulsive desire to control or enjoy. Some of us have experienced what it is to live in bondage to such demons, and because of our bondage to these unclean, destructive spirits, we have found ourselves saying and doing what is destructive to ourselves and hurtful and cruel to others. And even while we are being destructive and hurtful in our attitudes, our words and our deeds, we know we are in the wrong. We know this is not the way we are to live, and yet it is as if someone else is in control of our lives. And with Flip Wilson's comic figure Geraldine, we say: "The devil made me do it." To some extent, most of us can understand something of what Mark meant when he wrote about unclean spirits or demons. What is more, I suspect most of us can understand the response of the man in today's passage. "What do you have to do with us? Have you come to destroy us? We know who you are - the Holy One Of God." Most of know what is to be in the grips of attitudes and behavior we know are wrong and destructive while at the very same time being able to recognize what is truly good, and being aware of the good that calls us and claims us. Even while we are in the grips of a destructive outlook, we are able to recognize what is good and true. Even when we are in bondage to resentment and desires for revenge, we are still able to recognize love; we are still able to recognize God's grace. "I know who you are," the man said to Jesus; "you are the Holy One of God." Even while we are resisting becoming the persons God intends us to be, the persons we know we ought to be, even while we are hanging on to our selfishness, even while we are in bondage to destructive pride, we are able to recognize love and goodness and truth when it is standing in front of us. "I know who you are," the man said. And we also know what that man knew. We cannot have it both ways. We cannot remain as we are and also embrace what is good and true. This is why, in our own way, in our own words, we cry out the way that man did: "Have you come to destroy us?" We know that for us to embrace the kind of goodness, truth and love revealed in the Christ, we must change -- not merely make some minor modifications but change our outlook, our values, our priorities. Deep within most of us is a very stubborn streak. We want the benefits of goodness, truth and love, but we also want to continue living the way we have been living -- even though we know this impossible. Even when we know we ought to change, even when we know we need to change, even when we know we must changed, we still do not want to change. Why, if we changed all that much, we simply would not be the same person we are. It would be as though we were a new creature, someone given a new life, a grown person living as if born anew. We would no longer be who we have been. And this is what that man knew, and why he cried out: "Have you come here to destroy us?" In the story we read, Jesus did not argue with the unclean spirit that gripped the man's life. Instead, Jesus rebuked the destructive spirit and sternly commanded that spirit to shut up and go away. Notice, Jesus did not send the man away. Jesus made a distinction between the destructive spirit within the man and the man himself -- the one created in the image of God. And so it is with us. The Christ rebukes all the destructive realities at work in our lives, distorting who we are. Christ orders the unclean, destructive spirit that is distorting our living to shut up and get out, while at the same time, Christ reaches out to us -- the real us, the true us, the image of God within each of us. Next, Mark tells us the unclean spirit convulsed the man and with a loud cry, came out of the man. Whatever else Mark may have been saying, he is reporting that struggle is involved when we are in the process of being transformed. The destructive attitudes, outlooks and behavior that have been so much a part of who we are do not leave us without a struggle. Sometimes we talk about persons being shaken by some sort of an experience or event. Sometimes we will say: "She was all shook up." Well, it is a big shake up in our lives when our attitude, outlook and behavior changes and we move from that which was destructive and negative to that which is constructive and positive. When God's grace takes over, there is a real shake up that takes place in our living. When this happens --when our negative attitudes and behaviors are replaced with positive attitudes and behaviors - the people who have known us are amazed. In the story we read today, this was the reaction of the people. They were amazed at what Jesus taught and at what Jesus was able to do for this man. "He commands even the unclean spirits, and the unclean spirits obey him." And it is true. What transforms life is the grace of God incarnate in Jesus Christ. It is the grace of God that was incarnate in Jesus that transforms us when, like that man, we are in the grips of an unclean spirit. Today as we come to receive this sacrament, Christ meets us, saying to all that is negative and destructive within us: "Shut up and get out," while at the same time reaching out to embrace each of us with God's grace so that each of us can be the persons God intends us to be -- persons created in the image of God. God, as Jesus set that man free from an unclean spirit, may Christ set us free from destructive attitudes, outlooks and behaviors. Amen. Pastoral prayer: Let us thank God for the gifts and blessings we have received. We have come here with a variety of concerns and problems. Let us ask God for guidance and help. God, we can be so busy and full of chatter we are unable to hear or receive what you are offering. Help us be still and silent within. Enable us to listen in the quiet depths of our souls for your profound voice speaking the Truth we cannot deny. In the midst of our activity and accomplishments, may our joy in achieving not only be joy that is related to what we have done but may it also be the even greater joy of gratitude that comes from realizing all we have been given. As we face problems beyond our ability to control much less solve, comfort us with your peace that is beyond understanding so we live trusting your grace and free from panic or fear and able to be our best even in the midst of turmoil. In the midst of disappointments and failures, help us remember that just as you do not give up on us, we are not to give up on ourselves. In the midst of our pain and heartache, may we discover and rediscover that you are with us, giving us strength to face what must be faced and the power to move on with our lives. As we come to receive this sacrament, may we receive these gifts of your grace. This is our prayer. Amen.
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