Mark 1:21-28 (NRSV)
Read Mark 1:21-28 on biblegateway.com
Verse 21They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. Verse 22They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Verse 23Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, Verse 24and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." Verse 25But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" Verse 26And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. Verse 27They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." Verse 28At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.
Devotion
What’s in a name?
The man with the unclean spirit is looking for an upper hand with Jesus. He thought by naming who Jesus really is, ‘the Holy one of God’, he would have power over Jesus and the situation. But the people were amazed that even though the unclean spirit held the edge in knowing Jesus’ true identity, Jesus’ authority is stronger.
Names are important identifiers. Not only are we given an earthly name at our birth, we are baptized and given the name ‘Child of God’. When we invoke Jesus’ name in our prayers, we are drawing upon a power greater than ourselves; a name even unclean spirits obey.
Prayer
Holy God, thank you for the gift of being named ‘Child of God’ and for the blessing to call upon your all-powerful name. Amen.