"The Power of Words"

Michael D. Powell February 1, 2009 Mark 1:21-28 Communion Sunday

This morning is communion Sunday. We come to worship with the hope and the prayer that we’ll be fed – strengthened and nourished by the Bread of Life which is shared in a sacramental celebration of holy community. We feed on the Word of God, which comes to us through scripture, so it’s especially appropriate that, in the language of Biblical scholars, our scripture reading this morning is a sandwich. The two slices of bread are the teachings of Christ, which come at the beginning and the end of the reading, enclosing the “meat” of a healing act. Perhaps “meat” is not the right metaphor in this case because the healing is, in fact, an exorcism, in which the possessing demons cry out, “Let us alone.” So it’s actually a lettuce sandwich – there’s no bologna!

The story opens with the first slice of Jesus’ teaching. In the words of Eugene Peterson: “They were surprised at his teaching – so forthright, so confident – not quibbling and quoting like the religion scholars.” Then, after the exorcism, it concludes with the second slice: “Everyone was incredulous, buzzing with curiosity. ‘What’s going on here? A new teaching that does what it says?’”

The point of sandwiching the example of a healing in between two accounts of the “amazing, surprising, incredulous” teaching of Jesus is to underscore the unity, the connection between what Jesus said and what he did. In a word, he practiced what he preached. Jesus didn’t traffic in mere words, opinions or quotations. He shared the Living Word of God that had the power to heal and transform lives, to overcome evil with good. The Greek word that Mark used to describe this is kainos, which is translated “a new teaching.” Kainos can refer to something that did not exist before, a new teaching that no one had ever heard of. It can also refer to something that is “fresh.”

The people contrast his new teaching with that of the scribes. The word scribe originally referred to those who simply copied the scriptures. They became experts in the law (or lawyers). The authority of the scribes came from their detailed understanding of scripture and tradition, and their ability to recite the opinion, or the legal precedent set by earlier Rabbis on any given topic.

But, just knowing past decisions and legal precidents is a far cry from the kind of original wisdom and powerful authority that Jesus displays. There’s a wonderful story in a book entitled, A Treasury of Jewish Folklore: Traditions, Legends, Humor and Folk Songs of the Jewish People. Usually the orthodox rabbis of Europe boasted distinguished rabbinical genealogies, but Rabbi Yechiel was an exception. He was the son of a simple baker. Once, when a number of rabbis had gathered at some festivity, each began to boast of his eminent rabbinical ancestors. When rabbi Yechiel’s turn came, he replied gravely, “In my family, I’m the first eminent ancestor.” His colleagues were shocked and a little amused by his impudence, but said nothing. Immediately after, the rabbis began to expound Torah. Each one was asked to hold forth of a text culled from the sayings of one of his distinguished rabbinical ancestors. One after another the rabbis delivered their learned dissertations. At last it came time for Rabbi Yechiel to say something. He arose and said, “My father was a baker. He taught me that only fresh bread was appetizing and that I must avoid the stale. This also can apply to learning.” And with that Rabbi Yechiel sat down. [p.51]

The teaching of Jesus was new, it was fresh, and it was nourishing. These two slices of his preaching are linked with an example of his practice, which demonstrates how his words combine with his works to incarnate the Living Word of God – the Word that has the power to heal and to overcome evil with good.

As educated and sophisticated modern day United Methodists, most of you probably don’t think in terms of demon possession, and exorcisms are the stuff of movies. But, the fact is that there’s not a one of us here this morning who doesn’t wrestle with certain demons, things we’ve done or left undone that haunt, diminish and demean our lives. That’s at least part of the reason that we’re here this morning. At some level, we know we’ve got problems. We’ve got fears, burdens, guilts, regrets, attitudes and worries that seem bigger than our ability to handle, so we come seeking help from a higher power, hoping and praying that somehow the Living Word of God might somehow exorcise our demons. Maybe help comes from scripture or prayers, from the music or something that gets said in a sermon. Very often we are offered a healing touch, you might even call it an exorcism of sorts, simply through the fellowship of this caring community, and that’s expressed in so many ways. Sometimes it’s playing together, sometimes it’s praying together. Sometimes it’s serving others. I know for a fact that sometimes it’s in the coffee hour where the real ministry of healing community happens.

We used to chant as children. “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names can never hurt me.” But, we know that’s a lie, that it’s not true, don’t we? Words are powerful. Tell a child that he or she is nothing and it will shape that child’s life. Tell a child that she or he is precious and it will shape that child’s life. And we are all children of the Living God. We are all brothers and sisters in the family of God. The words we speak have the power to shape the world we live in. Words can cripple, and words can heal. Damning words can cast us into hell, and healing, compassionate, forgiving words can cast out demons. The simple smile and seemingly superficial conversation may very well be the gift of salvation to a lonely, hurting soul who desperately needs the miracle of community.

It is communion Sunday, a day for feasting on the Bread of Life, the Word of God which continues to incarnate in you and in me, in this church family, which is the sacred, living Body of Jesus Christ. Jesus takes the common loaf of bread, the bread of our common lives, and he blesses it. The power of his blessing transforms the ordinary into the extraordinary, the natural into the supernatural. And when he gives it to us, it is with these words: “This Living Bread is my Body. May it nourish you unto Everlasting Life.”

Words are powerful. They have the power to transform and to heal. As we celebrate this sacrament of Holy Communion we do so with the prayer that our lives, our loves, our words and our works may be transformed into the likeness of Christ, that we may truly become the church we were created to be, the very Body of Christ. We pray that our words and our works may reveal the power and the love of God, and nourish others through his Spirit. These things we pray in the powerful name of Jesus. Amen.