JESUS TEACHES WITH AUTHORITY

The Gospel text for this weekend comes from Mark 1:21-28. It is the story of Jesus healing a man with an unclean spirit. It is interesting that we don’t learn anything about what Jesus is teaching from the Gospel text. We don’t learn about his new ideas or radical interpretations of scriptures. Instead, we learn about the manner in which he teaches — as one with authority. "He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." (Mark 1:27)

Capernaum is a very interesting location for this healing to occur. The city itself was somewhat small in Biblical times, but large enough to have a Jewish synagogue. The ancient site of Capernaum is thought to be along the border of the territories of Zebulon and Naphtali on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee . . . 2 1/2 miles from the point where the Jordan River enters the Sea of Galilee and about 10 miles from present-day Tiberias. The crest of a ridge of hills, just to the west of the ancient town, is the mountain of Capernaum. The city of Capernaum only appears in the New Testament in the Gospel accounts, and we know that Jesus made Capernaum his headquarters after he left Nazareth. Jesus often returned to the town, after preaching in the countryside along the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee.

In reading Mark's story of Jesus healing the man with "an unclean spirit," it is possible to consider what the phrase "an unclean spirit" might suggest. Does having "an unclean spirit" represent the power of evil in life . . . the power of death and destruction in life . . . those forces that are opposed to good? Or does it represent a man whose personality or soul had been overcome with some kind of disorder or illness? One possibility is that such an act of healing by Jesus is the beginning of His own confrontation with evil in the world! Often the words of Scripture present more questions than answers, but that is the intriguing nature of God's word. You are invited to join us for both learning and worship this weekend. Pastor Elyse will be preaching at all worship services.

TWO SPECIAL EVENTS THIS WEEKEND . . .

SPECIAL ADULT FORUM - 9:00 AM Sunday morning in Room 200 - "Violence in Video Games and Its Cultural Impact" - Presenter Andy Novinska (Counseling Services, Illinois State University)
SOUPER BOWL OF CARING - This weekend we will be joining thousands of other churches and community organizations who are utilizing Super Bowl weekend to mobilize children and youth to fight hunger in their local communities. Please plan to bring your can of soup or other canned food to help feed the hungry in our own Bloomington/Normal community (our donations will go to Clare House Food Pantry) -- Look for the grocery carts and signs outside the Sanctuary and in the Atrium. This is a "prelude" to our Lenten Food Drive, which begins March 1st. Last year, St. John’s members contributed 369 cans of food for Souper Bowl of Caring. For more information about this national event, visit www.souperbowl.org

PRAYER: Gracious and loving God, you enter our lives at the points of our greatest need. We pray that we too may be healed from "the unclean spirits" that drive our thoughts and our lives. Heal us and make us whole. Deliver us through your grace and mercy. Be attentive to our deepest needs and bring us the joy that comes from knowing you. In Jesus name. AMEN.

Alive in Christ,