Mark 1:21-28 (NRSV)
Read Mark 1:21-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 21They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. Verse 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Verse 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, Verse 24and 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." Verse 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" Verse 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. Verse 27They 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." Verse 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Devotion
My fourth-grade imagination was haunted by a slumber party encounter with a Ouija Board. For months I thought I was possessed. While I still believe there are weird, wild, unseen spiritual dimensions in play, I know now that most "unclean spirits" are just that: dirty, noisy, chaotic, disruptive, unhelpful thoughts, feelings or impulses that captivate our lives. Why else would healthy, well-balanced humans spend inordinate time and energy wishing and working to escape into Netflix binges, serial baking (I write in mid-December), internet gaming and worse?
Fighting unclean spirits gives them power. (Ask a 12-stepping friend about this.) I can, however, hang out with Jesus and welcome his clean Spirit to invade my life. I can wish and work to give Christ and Christ’s habits more time and energy in my days.
Prayer
Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right Spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10). Amen.