David Bahn – Reflections

Mark 3:1-19

Jesus withdrew with his disciples to the sea, and a great crowd followed, from Galilee and Judea ⁸ and Jerusalem and Idumea and from beyond the Jordan and from around Tyre and Sidon. When the great crowd heard all that he was doing, they came to him. ⁹ And he told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, lest they crush him, ¹⁰ for he had healed many, so that all who had diseases pressed around him to touch him. ¹¹ And whenever the unclean spirits saw him, they fell down before him and cried out, “You are the Son of God.” ¹² And he strictly ordered them not to make him known.

A friend of mine went to a well known, but now discredited faith healer. His nationally-televised program featured him asking people things like, “Does the name Jacquelyn mean anything to you?” The answer would invariably come, “Why yes! That’s my sister [aunt, cousin, mother…]!” He would proceed to say that “the Lord” had revealed that Jacquelyn, [Betty, Tom, Joan] would soon be healed. It was quite a production. It was later discovered, however, that by means of a sophisticated system of electronic and human eavesdropping and  manipulation, information was being fed to him as he would speak to each person. Sad. What is even more sad is that such people besmirch the name of Jesus and his Kingdom’s goal.

Jesus was no huckster. He did not work up the crowd so that more and more people would come and hear him. But as people did hear about Jesus’ ministry – and especially his healing – they did come. On this occasion so many came that Jesus was afraid he was going to be crushed. People were clamoring even to touch him. He healed many, and evil spirits acknowledged that he was the Son of God.

It is noteworthy that Jesus’ healing ministry was testimony to his identity. And while the disciples also healed people and cast out diseases, they did it in Jesus’ name. His is the authority. He is King of kings. Jesus is the Son of God and he alone can claim such total and autonomous power. While the demons were commanded not to reveal his identity we are called to do exactly that. Whether we heal, preach or pray in Jesus’ name we who believe in him represent him in the world today. Whether in large gatherings or one-on-one conversations the confession that Jesus is Lord, the Son of God is a powerful source of blessing.