Today was one of “those” preaching Sundays. Through most of this past week I had a particular theme in mind for today’s sermon, but come Saturday morning another theme seemed to stand out and demand attention. In the audio, I mention January 26 when I should have said Januay 6 – sorry!
“Time to Get Clean” – Sermon preached at St. Stephen’s, Goldsboro, NC. Sunday January 31st 2021.
The Reverend Alan Neale
So, the long anticipated day arrives… St. Stephen’s is to be introduced to its new Rector. As the liturgy begins, you all observe the minutiae of clerical behavior and appearance; you draw what conclusions you can from the walk and the talk, even posture and looks.
And then… the moment of truth. She/he ascends the pulpit steps, the music concludes and all is… silent. This by the way is a very special moment in a preacher’s life; often, at this point, I have said to a new congregation, “Up to now you may only think I’m stupid…in a few moments you will know for sure. But anyway…
The sermon begins and it is astounding… it is powerful, authentic, engaging, literary, inspirational but then, without warning, there are rumblings of a disturbance that erupt into pandemonium as a member of the congregation stands up and shouts and waves and generally creates panic.
But the new Rector does not miss a beat, she/he approaches the miscreant… commands silence… rebukes the “unclean spirit” and all is well.
Now, you and I hope that this is not a prophetic word about the new Rector’s first Sunday but this is how it was on that Sabbath day in Capernaum.
Let’s just for a moment, quarantine the “man with the unclean spirit” and think about Jesus.
I want you to note the spiritual discipline of Jesus (Mark 1:21) – first, his is not a “Lone Ranger” spirituality (“Jesus AND his disciples went to Capernaum”), second, his is a spirituality grounded in regular public worship (“when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue”) and, third, his is a spirituality rooted in the Word of God (“he taught” and the custom was for men of the synagogue to read the appointed Scripture and then comment on the reading).
So, now to the man with the unclean spirit but first… a note about the seriousness of his “uncleanness”.
Later in Mark’s Gospel (chapter 7) Jesus talks about the incongruous and hypocritical pettiness of the Pharisees. They major, they focus on the petty details of uncleanness (Mark writes disdainfully in 7:4 “washing of cups, pots, and bronze kettles”) but choose to ignore the gross and profound unclean morality of their lives as they ignore parents despite the fifth commandment. Jesus curtly summarizes the critique in Mark 7:8 “You abandon the commandment of God and hold to human tradition.”
The unclean spirit (vehement, voluble and violent) in today’s Gospel speaks of “uncleanness” at its most profound and most destructive and, sadly, most pervasive.
This “unclean spirit” is not without conscience. It cannot claim sickness of mind or weakness of body for its behavior, it knows, it knows full well, what is profoundly and obviously right and what is profoundly and obviously wrong. And so, without missing a beat, the spirit-possessed worshipper identifies Jesus with almost theological precision.
This “unclean spirit” is not without subtlety and subterfuge. It had taken its seat; it had participated in the ritual of worship in complete anonymity. Imagine the “shock and horror” of the ones sat near to the possessed man when, without any warning, any portent, any indication the man erupted!
This unclean spirit is not without threat. Its voice bellows throughout the synagogue so Jesus commands it “Be silent”; and the word suggests “Be muzzled”. It is the word of authority with which Jesus commands the wind be still (4:39) and the Pharisees stop their whining (Matthew 22:34). Its power causes the man to “convulse”, the word suggests be torn apart, rent asunder so Jesus commands it, with a word, “Come out”.
For those with ears to hear, and eyes to see, and hearts to know… here was the long-awaited prophet of whom Moses spoke in Deuteronomy 18. Here is the real successor of Moses, the real “Joshua” – for the meaning of Jesus and Joshua is identical! Here is the one both called by God and of the people; Deuteronomy 18:15 “The Lord your God will raise up for a prophet (‘vocation’) from among your own people (‘identity’)”.
Here is the one who identifies fully with God (for He is God) and fully with humankind (for He is Man). Here is his authority to respond with power against those who proliferate suddenly and wreak havoc terribly.
Friends, this story brings with it a solemn warning. It does not allow us naively to assume the best while being indifferent to the care of our souls, our churches, our families and our nation.
Friends, this story brings with it a solemn warning. It prepares us to be on guard for the unexpected threat from those we once thought sensible, responsible and truthful.
January 6 2021 will ever be carved in the annals of American history; reflection on that awful day prepare us for future attack not only in deed but also in word as conspiracy theories influence, hold sway, manipulate. All this the work of those, who like the unclean man, know better, assume anonymity and wreak havoc and terror.
We begin by surveying our very being, our own soul; only then are we equipped to take care of church, and family and nation.
But it is not all bad news for in the hands of God, in the economy of the Sovereign Lord, we celebrate the One who became unclean that we might become clean, cursed that we might be free.
Galatians 3:14-15 Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse.
Friends, it is time to “get clean with God” in all the arenas of our life, and the work begins here… today… now… and every day. Amen