Mark 1:21-28 |
Immediately.
Suddenly.
Right away.
Are you feeling Mark’s urgency yet? There are times in scripture when silence and the marination that comes with time and waiting. Mark has none of it, at least in terms of the pace of the story. But in Mark, we will see Jesus take time to himself and encourage his disciples to take time as well.
But for now, the gospel story is moving!
Mark 1:21-28
Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts. Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”
“Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.
Everyone was shaken and questioned among themselves, “What’s this? A new teaching with authority! He even commands unclean spirits and they obey him!” Right away the news about him spread throughout the entire region of Galilee.
Revelation 3:14-22
“Write this to the angel of the church in Laodicea:
These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your works. You are neither cold nor hot. I wish that you were either cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I’m about to spit you out of my mouth. After all, you say, ‘I’m rich, and I’ve grown wealthy, and I don’t need a thing.’ You don’t realize that you are miserable, pathetic, poor, blind, and naked. My advice is that you buy gold from me that has been purified by fire so that you may be rich, and white clothing to wear so that your nakedness won’t be shamefully exposed, and ointment to put on your eyes so that you may see. I correct and discipline those whom I love. So be earnest and change your hearts and lives. Look! I’m standing at the door and knocking. If any hear my voice and open the door, I will come in to be with them, and will have dinner with them, and they will have dinner with me. As for those who emerge victorious, I will allow them to sit with me on my throne, just as I emerged victorious and sat down with my Father on his throne. If you can hear, listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.”
Prayer
God,
Thank you for a new day. Make me a person of decision today. Give me wisdom, discernment, and decisiveness. But all along, keep me mindful of people. Let me not be a bulldozer, but a tractor, cultivating and churning for the good.
Give me eyes for the future and a respect for the righteousness of the past. Keep me in community, yet give me individual agency.
Move me like Christ, who set his face toward the mission.
By your spirit & in Christ,
Amen.