On most of the Sundays in Ordinary Time this year, we will hear from the Gospel of Mark. We will hear the words of Mark, which probably reflect the preaching of Peter the Apostle, and we will walk with the Lord Jesus. We are traveling with Jesus and Mark serves as our guide this year.
Each of the four evangelists, Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, emphasize different things and sometimes give us different pieces of the story. They originally wrote for different groups of people and in different places. For Mark, every story and every miracle and every teaching shows us two things. In every story and every miracle and every teaching, Mark shows us who Jesus is and he shows us what it means to follow Jesus. Who do we follow and how do we follow? That is what we will hear every time we hear from the Gospel of Mark. Who do we follow and how do we follow?
Today we follow Jesus into the synagogue at Capernaum. In the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus teaches and Jesus casts out an unclean spirit. The people in the synagogue at Capernaum are amazed and astonished. Who do we follow and how do we follow?
Jesus has the authority to teach. It isn’t like the authority of scribes and the scholars. The authority of Jesus comes from within him. He is a prophet greater than Moses. Jesus has the teaching authority of Almighty God. Moses led the people out of Egypt and freed them from the bondage of Pharaoh. Jesus, in the synagogue at Capernaum, frees a man from the bondage of an unclean spirit. Jesus teaches with the authority of God and liberates with the power of God. Who do we follow and how do we follow?
We follow Jesus, the Son of God. We follow the one who has divine authority and divine power. And today we are simply invited to be amazed and astonished. That is how we follow the Lord Jesus on this Sunday in Ordinary Time. To be amazed and astonished once again by the authority and power of Jesus. Who do we follow and how do we follow?
We have heard this story from Mark, which he heard from Peter, many times. It is easy to lose our amazement and astonishment when we hear such a familiar story. The words can easily pass by our ears and by our minds. It was probably the same way for the people in the synagogue at Capernaum on that sabbath day. They heard familiar readings from the scriptures. They heard teaching about those scriptures. There was something ordinary about the sabbath. Except, in the midst of his teaching, Jesus freed someone from an unclean spirit. In the midst of his amazing teaching on the sabbath day in the synagogue at Capernaum, Jesus performed a miracle of liberation and freedom. At his word, Jesus set someone free.
And Jesus wants to set us free. Whatever holds you bound this morning, let the word of Christ free you. Jesus is more than a teacher. Jesus is the one who will set us free. It is amazing.
