Powerful Words

Jesus shut him up:
“Quiet! Get out of him!”

Mark 1:25 (The Message)

It shouldn’t be considered circumstantial that the first healing told in the gospel of Mark is Jesus expelling a demon. Having arrived in Capernaum Jesus heads immediately to the synagogue and begins teaching. Right there smack in the middle of the synagogue, where many were gathered for the Sabbath, the first declaration of Jesus’ identity, other than John the Baptist, comes from a demon. The encounter sets the stage for the drama that will increasingly unfold as Jesus begins his ministry. Repeatedly the demons recognize the power of a Jesus spoken word.

Most of us have gone through varying degrees of difficulties. Just as soon as I begin to set a table for one pity party a “perspective” story comes my way. It’s a story of someone else’s difficulties that far outweigh my own and I’m slapped with the reality of my “troubles.” The problem with my pity party is that I shouldn’t have had it in the first place. Jesus doesn’t want to be a guest at a pity party. He wants to heal from the inside out.

The words of authority that Jesus uses on the troubled man in the synagogue are the same he wants to say to us. When we find ourselves with issues that “drive us insane”, problems that “torment us”, or worries that “plague us” the authority of Jesus speaks into the tumult, “Quiet! Get out of her.” They alone are the words that will drive out the “demons”, heal us from the inside out, bringing us real peace.

Jesus, thank you that your
authority surpasses any issue,
problem or worry that troubles me.
Speak your healing words, “Quiet! Get out of her!”
bringing me healing from the inside out.
Amen.

Artwork--Man with the Unclean Spirit, Ian Pollack, EICH Gallery