What Have You To Do With Us?

The New Revised Standard Version The Man with an Unclean Spirit

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 they 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.

Here we are with Jesus in Capernaum, a fishing village on the north shore of the sea of Galilee. He continues his fishing expedition as a fisher of men. Jesus enters the synagogue casting a different kind of net. What he caught was the attention of those gathered and soon the surrounding regions.

Sabbath was the day to gather in the synagogue for teaching. It was Jesus’ practice to attend synagogue wherever he happened to be. Of course, in his adult ministry he not only attended but taught.

Perhaps the people gathered on that Sabbath thought they would hear what they were accustomed to

Bureaucratic readings of God’s word by the scribes, who were copyists, lower-level officials, judges, experts in Jewish life.

The scribes’ teachings may have been repetition for reinforcement of Jewish custom or law, rather than exegesis or explication of God’s word to renew the mind and heart.

Perhaps the people were accustomed to hearing nothing that would challenge or change their way of seeing or being in the world.

Then came Jesus!

With full and holy authority, Jesus taught with insight and confident understanding that astounded his listeners.

Jesus offered something different. And the people were hungry for this as they marveled at his teaching. Jesus stirred the people up. There was a different kind of energy in the place. Jesus wasn’t yet turning over tables but he was turning the tables and stirring the pots of those present.

Mark doesn’t tell us what Jesus was teaching but the outcry gives us some indication that Jesus was calling for change.

My grandmother used to say, “A hit dog will holler.” When you say something that strikes a nerve, reveals or challenges what somebody is doing, they will get defensive. The greater the challenge, the louder the cry.

As the people were buzzing with amazement. One was buzzing with aggravation!

 “Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 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.” (vv23-24)

Jesus had hit a nerve, stepped on somebody’s foot, got into somebody’s busy!

What have you to do with us?

In other words, why are you bringing this stuff up? We’re comfortable; we are fine with the way things are— this spirit and this body among these other spirits in these other bodies.

Why are you here? Why are you stirring this pot?

Have you come to destroy us; to destroy our way of living? Have you come to change us?

The unclean spirit names Jesus: “I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

People may have a hard time identifying Jesus, but the unclean spirit knew him immediately.

An unclean spirit knows when it has been challenged or convicted by Christ.

Like a hit dog will holler; a convicted spirit will complain.

Jesus rebuked the unclean spirit, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”  And the unclean spirit, convulsing [the man] and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

The unclean spirit had gotten comfortable in that body, was convicted by the spirit of Christ, complained about the requirements of Christ, and responded to the command of Christ with kicking and screaming.

The people were again amazed at this new teaching —with authority!

The unclean spirit came out kicking and screaming. The people went out spreading the good news of Jesus Christ throughout the region of Galilee.

As Jesus’ reputation grew, so would the challenges to his authority during his ministry.

What unclean spirit might object to Jesus’ teaching? To name a few, a spirit of:

arrogance or avarice; egoism or jealousy

gluttony, sloth or complacency.

malice, manipulation, mischief, or mayhem;

pride, privilege or prejudice.

Of course, these unclean spirits and others are still active around the world today. They are unclean because they propagate self-serving excess and cruelty; these spirits promote behaviors that are life-draining or life-limiting than life-giving and loving for the common good. Unclean spirits are contrary to the nature of God.

So what does this have to do with us?

As followers of Christ? The answer is EVERYTHING!

In this country and others, there is a preoccupation with controlling people, politics, and power; a willingness to accept violence and destructiveness that either no longer shock the senses or has a short sting;

Tolerance where there should be outrage.

Silence and silencing to keep conditions as they are;

Segregation and complacency are killing the innocent as the pervasive attitude that says, “if it’s not in my backyard, its not my problem” perpetuates the world as it is.

Any person, idea, or teaching that reveals truth, opens new perspectives, encourages thought , challenges complacency, and empowers people to embody an ethic of love to bring forth a different world is deemed a threat to anyone or anything that claims authority in our lives.

No one has to look far to find unkind words spoken or written; inequitable conditions rendering harm near and far.

Our faith, the faith of Christ, is a faith seeking understanding.

Ou faith, the faith of Christ, places our neighbor’s concerns and conditions right on our front lawn.

This story is about the challenge that Christ brings into our lives.

What about your own mind and heart? [Warning: this is going to get personal]

The same unclean spirit that inhabited the man who happened to be in the synagogue that day with Christ, still exists along with his buddies and cousins who inhabit bodies today.

What unclean spirit might object to Jesus’ teaching? To name a few, a spirit of:

arrogance or avarice; egoism or jealousy

gluttony, sloth or complacency.

malice, manipulation, mischief, or mayhem;

pride, privilege or prejudice.

An unclean spirit is one that is contrary to the nature of God.

How many people have become addicted to their afflictions,

Sometimes we hold to our afflictions because we have gotten accustomed to them; found comfort in the consistency of the discomfort, conflict, cantankerousness, or chaos that accompany them.

If that’s what we have been conditioned to, that’s what we do.

Jesus calls out our afflictions.

Jesus free’s us…came to preach freedom to the captives!

So it is today. Ancient unclean spirits exist and are inhabiting unsuspecting bodies today along with several offspring like sexism, classism, racism, ageism, etc.

Unclean spirits take up residence deep within, go unnoticed and do not willingly leave.

The real conditions of our nation have been exposed from racial injustices, healthcare disparities, economic inequities to a coordinated insurrection through various media. As some have spoken out about the changes needed to dismantle and redevelop, the constructive disruption is met with a complacency of comfort.

What have you to do with us?

Why are you bringing this stuff up? We’re comfortable; we are fine with the way things are.

The spirit of Racism: What do you have to do with us? The people think there is no racism. That ended with the election of Obama.

The spirit of Sexism: What do you have to do with us? The Equal Right Amendment already passed in 2020. Most of the people forgot about this thing you stirred up before 1972. Why are you stirring this up again?

The spirit of Privilege: What do you have to do with us? I’ve settled in and convinced folks they’ve never had a blasted thing given to they. They think they’ve worked for everything they have. And this white privilege? I’ve worked hard to stifle the fact that the ones labeled ‘white’ have rights while others were not even deemed human beings and had to have their rights legislated.

The spirits of arrogance or avarice; egoism or jealousy, gluttony, sloth or complacency, malice, manipulation, mischief, or mayhem; pride, prejudice and others are crying out to Christ. What have you to do with us? Have you come to destroy us?

Christ is rebuking all unclean spirits and there will be kicking and screaming.

Weeping and gnashing of teeth; temper tantrums; and other reactions of resistance

Unclean spirits don’t leave easily. They are bad behaviors that take hold until we take hold and will not easily release.

We must understand that the change needed to eradicate the evils in our lives or in the world, may not come easily.

But we are not alone. As we walk with Christ, as we turn and open ourselves to the fullness of Christ, we will experience the holiness of God.

Christ comes into our synagogue, into our temple…that is, Christ through the Holy Spirit comes within us to command our spirit as we worship.

True worship brings transformation to our minds and hearts and souls.

This story is about the challenge that Christ brings into our lives.

Are we willing to release that which is not aligned with the nature of God?

Are we willing to allow the Holy Spirit to work within us that we might be vessels of grace and invitation in the world?

Discipleship isn’t easy and requires realignment of our whole lives that we might follow where Christ leads.

The people of Capernaum attended synagogue each Sabbath to hear the word of God. Jesus came offering something different - authoritative teaching ; words that were both provocative and performative to transform lives. Jesus offers the same today.

Jesus' authority threatens other forces that claim authority over people's lives. Jesus' authority is not a threat to his followers but a threshold.

Jesus’ authority is not a threat to his followers but a threshold to healing, help and hope.

Not a threat but a threshold to freedom.

Not a threat but a threshold to power!

Not a threat but a threshold to abundant life!

May we shift from a question to a request. Jesus, what will you have us do? And may we cross the threshold of freedom, power, and abundant life with Christ!