Reflecting on Luke 4:16-30 and Mark 1:21-28
Jesus has a way of bringing out the worst in people! (Especially in the synagogue!) Remember what happened in his hometown? He read from the scroll, spoke a few words about the passage, and sat down. The people spoke well of him and were amazed. He continued this exchange with the congregation and before the service was over everyone there was filled with rage, drove him out of town, and even attempted to hurl him off the cliff! That was in Nazareth.
At another time Jesus and his friends went to the synagogue in Capernaum. Again, the congregation is amazed at his teachings because he taught with authority. At first the responses seem very positive but then one person stands up and presumes to speak for the congregation, questioning Jesus' authority, even questioning his motive. The man addresses Jesus by name--Jesus of Nazareth--and finally calls him, "the Holy One of God." In derision, perhaps?
This person who spoke out had a deeply disturbed spirit, unclean, not fit for proper company (as Mark records it in his gospel). Evil in the middle of the gathered worshipers! (Something we hesitate to admit today, most of the time.) But Jesus recognizes it and responds immediately, speaking directly to the disruption. "Be silent, and come out of him!" Translated in the common tongue of our day: "Shut up and get out!"
Jesus spoke plainly and bluntly and chaos broke loose! The man convulsed and cried out loudly before he calmed down. The congregation was amazed and they began to talk among themselves. What is happening? Jesus teaches with authority and now he has demonstrated spiritual authority over evil. And the news spread like wildfire--without benefit of telephone or text messaging!
In this very public incident Jesus demonstrates love on several levels. He expresses love by consistently proclaiming and living out the values that demonstrate God's involvement in this world (kingdom) even when his words and actions were contrary to what people expected. Jesus expressed love by immediately confronting the disruption, not allowing evil to control the situation and cast doubt on God's purposes. Jesus exercised love even though he knew that a confrontation can often bring chaos before it brings calm. But love bears all things, so love does whatever it takes to bring clarity and calm, with patience and kindness.
I'm not sure how any of that can translate into our world with the same positive results.
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