It’s the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany with the following three readings, “Deuteronomy 18:1-20; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13 and Mark 1:21-28. The chosen text to preach about is Mark 1:25, “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be quiet, and come out of him!’”

About what did Jesus say to someone to keep quiet? Was it that they were mocking God or rejecting Jesus as the Son of God? No, instead, Jesus was urging quiet when He heard the words, “You are the Holy One of God.” Does that make sense? There was another such occasion when Jesus told the disciples not to inform anyone that He was the Messiah.

In that situation Jesus did not want Him to be referred to as the Messiah because the title “Messiah” had been understood to refer to the destruction of the Romans and the renewal of the land of Israel. But Jesus came to provide a spiritual kingdom as He Himself said, “My kingdom is not of this world.”

In the former situation, it is not a disciple or a believer confessing Jesus to be the Son of God. It is the unclean spirit (demon) who did not have the authority from God to speak the Word of God even if what he said was true. This has ramifications for us today.

First, it is ridiculous to imagine that a 12-year old boy could be considered to be ready to pastor a congregation because he is a good speaker. No, instead there is a call process and other considerations for someone to be a proper pastor. So also, regardless of the speaking ability of a woman, it is against God’s will for a female to be a pastor.

In contrast to the word from the demon, the word from the Word, Jesus Himself, was caricatured as one Who taught with authority. That takes place because the true message carried by the Holy Spirit is so radical and against all our experience that it stands out truly as the Word of God which does not return empty.