At Georgetown Lutheran Church, we’ve restarted weekly Bible study. We’re studying the book of Mark, going through and reading together, sharing thoughts and questions, learning together and building relationships. This is a standing invitation to join us in person on Thursdays at 7pm or Sunday mornings at 9am. Jump in at any point, and come when you’re able. As we read along, I’ll be sharing here each Monday some brief reflections, resources, and questions (or frankly, whatever I feel like) related to the scripture we’ve studied.
So, first, read the scripture, or read it along with this post: Mark 1:21-45 (opens in a new window).
some thoughts on Mark 1:21-45
an unclean spirit is how Jesus’ ministry gets started – he’s teaching in the temple and that gets him noticed – as one teaching with authority, but then this guy shows up with an unclean spirit. What’s an unclean spirit? Interestingly, in this first part verses 21-28, it’s a different word used than later in the chapter with the references to demons, there the word is the Greek one from which we get the word demon. . . anyway…
What do you think when you read these passages about unclean spirits/demons? Most folks fall on a spectrum of understanding as modern readers somewhere between either believing these to be the ancient understanding of mental illnesses, or something totally supernatural and/or mysterious. These passages are dangerous, though, because they have led some to fall off the tracks in a number of different ways, thinking that there’s no such thing as mental illness and all issues are spiritual, or that people with mental illnesses are demonic, or that the world is somehow rife with these other spirits that take over people… All of these, I believe, need to be clearly negated, because they can be very dangerous, leading to beliefs like not seeking mental health care, forcing individuals to undergo possibly harmful spiritual treatment, etc.
This – as well as how we interpret the healing stories in general – can lead to the dangerous theology that says – if you just pray hard enough… if you just were a better person/had a better relationship with God… These are spiritually and at times can become literally damaging perspectives. Let’s not turn our faith into an idol, a magic wishing stone, or some formula that is ultimately self-destructive if we believe that it all comes down to someone’s doing it right.
But the aspect of healing is amazing – beautiful. Have you witnessed real healing? Some of the most powerful ones I have witnessed have been healing of relationship, healing of a spirit, healing of a life from a dangerous situation. Consider what big news this would’ve been that Jesus cured basically the whole town of Capernaum’s sick, hurting, and pained.
One person who came to Bible study in person, who grew up in a community and culture without many Christians, and hence not knowing a lot about Christianity or Jesus, shared that this is one thing that everyone knew – that Jesus heals people. That’s so powerful and meaningful to me, and interesting that of all the things that could be known from outsiders, it’s a pretty good thing that the word on the street is that Jesus is a healer.
It makes me think – how do we tell the story of Jesus, and be the church, so that even if someone has never had experience with Christianity or been to church or know any Christians, but they’ve heard that _______________?
Jesus gets quite a reputation for himself in these chapters, quickly rocketing to fame – so much so that he can’t really get away. Twice in this section there is reference to him trying to get away – and that he can’t travel openly without creating a stir. Which led us to conversation about – do you think that Jesus was an extrovert or an introvert? I personally think he was probably an introvert who loved people, or somewhere in the middle – as I feel sometimes, I’m a professional extrovert but a personal introvert – introvert just meaning that you need time on your own to recharge.
The last healing story here is Jesus’ conversation and healing of a leper. It’s important that Jesus touched him. Jews (like Jesus and all his disciples) believed that touching someone with leprosy made you unclean, and unable to participate in the religious community until you had rectified that. So it’s no small thing – plus, if we’re honest, we all have people that we’d avoid touching as well. It makes me think of the faithful actions of Pope Francis to embrace people with skin disfigurements, wash the feet of criminals, etc. It makes me think of one of my heroes, Fred Gibson, a gentle giant of a man and a champion for justice, but also just a quiet, faithful leader and a great pastor.
Fred Gibson, speaking to middle schoolers about Martin Luther King, Jr., his friend and seminary classmate, in 2015. Fred died on Christmas day in 2015, the same day my niece, Addie, was born.
A classmate of MLK who himself was from Selma, Alabama, Fred worked as a campus chaplain and pastor here in the states continuing work of civil rights, up through his last work in North Carolina in partnership with Rev. William Barber in helping organize what would become the Moral Mondays Movement and now the Poor People’s Campaign. But 18 years of Fred and his wife, Mary Ella’s ministry was in Singapore, working and building a supportive community for people suffering from leprosy and also particularly with youth. There are still incredible stories. We can be a part of incredible healings and inclusion that changes the world.
Join us for Bible study – or simply read the Bible on your own. There is no magic to this, but it is meaningful and faith-building. There are no single or right answers, but each time we open scripture, especially with others, we notice and learn new things, and find ourselves opened in new ways. If you ever get stuck, ask yourself these questions:
What do you notice in the text?
What do you wonder about? What questions do you have?
What’s comforting? What’s challenging/concerning/upsetting?
A Wideness in God's Mercy 