All are welcome to join for church on Sunday, January 28th at 10 am.  The Annual General Meeting will be held immediately following the service.

Here are Rev. Marlene’s thoughts on this Sunday’s upcoming sermon.

Marlene’s Rev. Notes:

“I know who you are,(you are) the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be quiet and come out of him!” Mark 1:24-25

This Sunday’s passage of Mark’s fast-paced gospel, Mark 1:21-28, is typical in that it consists of a lot of action—not speeches or editorial comments. The disciples have travelled with Jesus to Capernaum, where they witness Jesus’ power and authority as he drives an unclean spirit out of a man. The narrator shows two aspects of Jesus authority by using commanding words such as “rebuked,” and by stressing the fact that Christ “taught them as One having authority and not as the scribes.” This is surprising as the scribes were viewed by the people as experts and teachers of the Law. We can only guess at the impact this phenomenon had on those watching.

There is a definite distinction drawn between the holiness of Jesus and the uncleanness or unholiness of the spirit. Holiness here refers to “sacred” or “set apart by and for God.”  The unclean spirit recognizes the holiness in Jesus for which Jesus rebukes him, and proceeds to cast the spirit out by the power of his word alone. By doing so, Jesus reveals himself as One possessing the authority of a divine source to teach, and to drive out unclean spirits.  In Jesus, God continues to communicate to God’s beloved community by giving us the Word of God incarnate. Mark invites us to think about and recognize Jesus’ authority. Because Christ is the fullness of God’s message to us, it is important for us to stay attuned to how Jesus communicates to us on a continual basis: through Scripture, by the actions and words of those around us, and most especially in communion.

Looking back on this passage, I wonder, why did the author select these facts? What meaning did they have for the people in Jesus’ day? What meaning do they have for us today?