Resources - Weekly Laity Devotional

By Deb Looker

     January 29th is the fourth Sunday in the season of Epiphany. In general, the feast of Epiphany celebrates the manifestation of God in the form of human flesh through, his Son Jesus Christ.

     Last week in the Disciple 4 bible study class, the group got into a wide-ranging discussion that included a look at miracles. We were taking a look at the gospel of John and were discussing how the word and wisdom of God in the Old Testament became the word made flesh in the New Testament. Someone made a comment (paraphrased here): Look how many people, including the Disciples, experienced the word of God through Jesus and some of the miracles that occurred. And how, even with that evidence, it was still hard for people to follow God. Think how much harder it is for Christians today; we don’t get to experience those awe-inspiring moments taking place right in front of us.

     Well, OK, maybe not. But many of us came up with little examples in our everyday lives that count as what I call mini miracles and significant moments. Like when everything has gone wrong all day long and then you bump into someone—for me a former student of mine—who (seemingly out of the blue) tells me that I made a huge difference in their school life just by listening. The connection to God and people is strong and shows up in many little ways. Just look for them.

     What is remarkable in the scripture below was not that Jesus cast out a demon, or even that he talked to the demon. There were plenty of other exorcists in his day. What is remarkable was the authority with which he did so. He did not call upon any other authority in the spirit world to act. Jesus spoke the word, "Shut up, and come out of him!" The demon immediately complied.

Scripture for Reflection:
Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.
They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.
Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,
and 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."
But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!"
And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.
They 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."
At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.