+In Nomine Iesu+
Pentecost 15
St Mark 9:14-29
13 September 2009
The incidents described in todays gospel place us in
the middle of a larger series of events. Obviously there
are things to be learned here. And, if we look more broadly
at what is going on we might find something we might not
otherwise notice. Thats our goal.
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Our reading begins at Mark 9:14. In the earlier verses
of Mark 9 we find the story of Jesus transfiguration.
You remember the story well. Jesus took three of His
disciples Peter, James, and John up on a mountain to
be alone with Him. While there Jesus was
transfigured. In other words, those three disciples
were given opportunity to see the full divinity the full
glory of Jesus. They saw His God-ness, as it
were. His divine nature was, for a few moments, no longer
hidden under His human nature. And what did the
God-ness of Jesus look like? Like overwhelming light.
A brilliance so radiant so luminous that human eyes
could not look at it. It can only be described as a
blinding sight. Unexpected. Overpowering. Their feeble
humanity forced the disciples to the ground. They were
terrified. And then a brilliant cloud surrounded them. A
cloud from which they heard the voice of God. A voice that,
again, surrounded them. This is My beloved Son, listen
to Him. What those three disciples experienced was so
beyond anything they had ever experienced they became
virtually incoherent in their amazement.
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Meanwhile, down below another event was unfolding.
Something totally different. Below the mountain where
the other nine disciples remained we do not see the
power and majesty of God. Rather, those disciples are
embroiled in a battle against the power of Satan. A certain
father had brought to them his son. A beloved son, you can
be sure. But this son is possessed by a demon. He is under
the control of a Satan. Its as if the demon plays with
this son, much like a cat plays with a mouse. And it is a
playing that will end in death if not interrupted by
some greater power. The demon makes this son mute. Causes
him to foam at the mouth and grind his teeth. This son
becomes physically rigid under the influence of Satan. The
demon casts this son into fire and water with the intent of
destroying him. The father is at his wits end. He pleads
with the nine disciples to take pity upon him and help his
son if they can. But they cant. In the face of this
demon the disciples are helpless.
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But wait a minute. It wasnt as if the disciples had
never dealt with demons. Not long before Jesus had sent
them out by twos. Specifically, in that going out,
they had been given authority over unclean spirits. In
other words, they had been given authority over demons. And
the demons had obeyed them! The result? The disciples came
back with glowing reports. Their newfound authority over
demons pleased them greatly. To use modern language, they
were a bit cocky about their successes. But now? Now,
nothing. They were helpless in the face of this demon. And
they couldnt understand it.
<>
Now, put those two stories together. Three disciples up
on the mountain with Jesus and they cant comprehend
what is happening around them. Meanwhile, nine disciples
down below trying to cast out a demon. They cant.
Again, they cant figure out whats happening.
Confusion above. Confusion below. And yet what do the
disciples do? (Youll find this little detain in verses
33 and following.) After its all over they are walking
along the road with Jesus. Among themselves they argue.
Argue over what? They argue over which of them is the
greatest! Incredible, when you think about it. Absolutely
amazing. In the face of incomprehension and failure they
consider themselves great!
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So, where are we in this story? Where do we fit in? In
all honesty we must admit we are much like the disciples.
Helpless in the face of much that we face in life
uncomprehending we still argue about which of us is the
greatest, the smartest, the best Christian, the most pious.
Think for a moment. How much of life do you truly
understand? How much of what happens do you really grasp?
Anything in life baffle you? Anything happened to you or
among your loved ones that you just cant figure out?
Think carefully. Do you understand all the things that have
befallen you physically? Why you developed a certain
ailment, and someone else didnt? Why your joints should
give out while someone else your age still has all their
original parts working just fine? Why someone was involved
in a car accident maybe more than one while another
of the same age has never even had a fender-bender? Why one
woman cant seem to turn round without becoming pregnant,
and another seems totally incapable of having a successful
pregnancy? Why someone who has never smoked in their life
develops lung cancer, and someone else who puffed away for
60 years doesnt? Why the kids from one family always
seem to be in trouble while those in another seemingly never
are? Why one crook is caught and another isnt? Why a
lazy bum always seems to land on his feet, and a hard
working individual never seems to get ahead? How much of
life do you really understand?
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Jesus makes a comment almost an off-handed comment
that should bring us up short. O faithless
generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to
bear with you? Those are condemnatory words. Those are
words addressed against unbelief. And what is the nature of
the unbelief that often afflicts us? Rationalism. The idea
that everything can be explained in simple rational terms.
Why did you get cancer? The environmental pollution that
surrounds you. Why does one person have a car accident and
another doesnt? Its only a matter of driving skills.
Why the need for joint replacement? Genetic makeup.
Pregnancy or lack thereof, same reason. Name the problem
and well find a nice rational answer that seems to fit.
Everything can be explained.
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But in this thinking, what is left out? God. Or, more
precisely, the cosmic battle between God and Satan. The
ongoing battle between good and evil. The battle that rages
all round us for our souls. Why dont we hear anything
about that? Why dont people speak in those terms? If
demons were real in the time of Jesus, why dont we think
they still are? Because such thinking would be seen as
medieval. Hopelessly old fashioned. Out of date. From a
different world. Our modern, rational neighbors would not
only look upon us as backward, but as totally out of touch.
But think. Jesus dealt with demons. Not make believe
the devil made me do it foolishness mind you, but real
demons whose ruler was Satan. Martin Luther was absolutely
convinced that Satan pursued him. That Satan sought his
Martins destruction. But were over that, arent
we? Weve moved way beyond such primitive thinking,
havent we? Were modern. Were rationalists.
Were enlightened. Were up-to-date scientific
creatures for whom there is an explanation for everything.
And in this weve become fools!
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To us Jesus says, How long am I to bear with you?
When will you admit your ignorance, Jesus is asking.
When will you give up on yourself, and listen to Me?
Come to Me? When Jesus promises Come to Me and I will
give you rest, He isnt speaking about a hammock in the
shade and ice tea. He is speaking about rest for the soul.
A rest in which the soul takes refuge in Him. A rest in
which the soul abandons its own wisdom and trusts God
completely. Trusts that God will always provide what is
good, and needed, and proper. Each week in the bulletin we
have a short piece dealing with the wonders of creation.
The point of those is the ongoing wisdom of God. The
overwhelming wisdom of God as creator and sustainer of all
that exists. Man contends for the wisdom of evolution and
his own understanding. God surrounds us with the evidence
of His wisdom. His perfect wisdom that creates and keeps
both body and soul.
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How long am I to bear with you? Jesus asks. How
long until you get the point? How does a Christian
answer? How do we answer? Like Peter on the Mount of
Transfiguration. Like him, we fall to our knees and blurt
out, Lord, it is good for us to be here. Good
because here we are in Your presence. Good because
You have promised to care for us. Good because You
forgive our sins of arrogance and unbelief. Good
because You constantly remake us into Your children.
Good because You claim us as Your sons and daughters.
Good because You give us eternal life. Good
because by Your blood we are set free from our sins.
Good because You and You alone save us.
Amen
+Soli Deo Gloria+
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