A Surprise in the Synagogue

A surprising thing happened on that Sabbath when Jesus went to the synagogue in Capernaum.  It is not surprising that Jesus entered and taught, neither is it surprising that the people who listened were astounded at the way He spoke with such authority.  What is surprising was the presence of some normal looking man who was actually possessed by an unclean spirit.  What is surprising is the fact that the evil one, confronted only a short time earlier in the wilderness, was once again confronting Jesus, but this time is was in one of the holy places of Israel.   

There were, however, some significant differences in the encounter between Jesus and the evil one in the synagogue.  First, in the wilderness, Satan was on the offense.  The evil one was the aggressor.  In the synagogue it is obvious that evil is on defense.  What is actually true is that Satan acts like a fearful and defeated foe instead of the foe of the wilderness so full of confidence in his own power.  When revealed, the evil spirit cries out, "What have You to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have You come to destroy us?" (Mark 1:24)   Another interesting thing about this moment in the synagogue is that the first recorded witness affirming the power of Jesus comes from the realm of the evil one.  

Mark makes it clear that this ministry of Jesus, as full and as powerful as it is and will be, will be an ongoing struggle.  Satan did not just show up in the wilderness and then leave Jesus, but every step Jesus took was contested.  Even though still present and at work, the power of evil knows the power unleashed at the cross and the empty tomb was a signal of its coming final defeat. Martin Luther has us singing truth when he wrote that great hymn, "A Mighty Fortress is Our God."  Verse 3 says, "And though this world, with devils filled, should threaten to undo us, we will not fear, for God hath willed His truth to triumph through us...his doom is sure; one little word shall fell him."