The internet is a great thing. If you’ve got a question and you type it into a search engine, almost invariably, you’ll get an answer. It might not be the right answer, but, almost invariably, you’ll get an answer.

For instance, in preparation for this sermon, I typed, “What does it mean to say someone is 'possessed’?” Boom, instantly, I got my answer: “‘Possessed’ means controlled, as if by a demon, or crazed,” a former English major wrote. “You might say, ‘I’m possessed by that man!,’” she went on. “That would mean he’s ALWAYS on your mind; you’re crazed by him.”

I agree with that. And so did someone named Molly, who added, “‘Possessed’ is also when someone is taken hold of by a demon: ‘The demon possessed her mind and soul.’”

And, speaking of possession, that's what's at the heart of today's gospel reading.

We’re still very early in the Gospel of Mark; only twenty verses have gone by. In that short time, Jesus is introduced and makes his first appearance as he is baptized by John in the river Jordan (more on that in a minute).

After that, in rapid succession, Jesus--like Israel in earlier days--is tested and tried in the wilderness, returns home to Galilee, and begins preaching, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news.” Then, still in rapid succession (and still within the first twenty verses), Jesus begins to call and assemble his team of disciples.

And that brings us to today.

It’s interesting the details that Mark includes and those he omits. Jesus and his new band of followers arrive in his soon-to-be headquarters of Capernaum and, on the sabbath, he and his followers go to synagogue where, Mark tells us, Jesus taught.

What did he teach? What did he say? Mark omits all that, choosing instead to tell us that those attending the synagogue, “were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

As proof of that astounding authority, a man possessed by an unclean spirit verbally attacks Jesus! “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.”

As if it were no big deal, Jesus rebukes the unclean spirit, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!”

And, while the unclean spirit did not come out silently, it obeyed Jesus. And Jesus’ astounding authority has been established.

I don’t know about you, but, when I think of someone being “possessed,” or “possessed by an unclean spirit,” I think of something like the movie The Exorcist or any of its modern equivalents. It’s like the internet said, “‘Possessed’ means controlled, as if by a demon, or crazed.” “‘Possessed’ is .. when someone is taken hold of by a demon: ‘The demon possessed her mind and soul.’”

But what if that’s wrong? What if being “possessed” or being “possessed by an unclean spirit” is far more common than we may realize? And, what if today’s gospel reading is being used by God right now to speak to us in a very important way? ...

I mentioned earlier that Jesus made his first appearance in Mark’s gospel when he is baptized by John in the river Jordan. A couple of Sundays ago, when we focused on that story, we noted that when Jesus came up out of the waters of baptism, he--that is, Jesus, alone--saw the heavens ripped apart, and the Spirit of God flowing down on him like a dove, all the while God’s voice whispered in his ear, “You are my son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

Pause. Let’s make sure we’re noticing what Mark wants us to notice! First, when Jesus is baptized, heaven is ripped open, which means that there is no longer any separation between God and Jesus; no barriers. At the same time, God’s spirit floods into Jesus, and the result of that flooding means that Jesus hears a voice saying to him, “You are my son--my child--the beloved; with you I am well pleased.”

And then, next, what happens today? When Jesus enters the synagogue in Capernaum to teach, Mark jumps over any and all description of the teaching to focus instead on a man possessed by an “unclean” spirit.

Clearly, that’s intentional. Clearly, Mark does this for a purpose. And, I wonder: what is that purpose? ...

Might it be that Mark wants to contrast the spirit that is in this man with the spirit that flooded into Jesus at his baptism, a mere seven verses earlier? And, might Mark want us to see in this story how the spirit that is in Jesus can speak to, and overcome, the unclean spirit tormenting the man today?

I wonder ...

How about thinking about being “possessed” like this? The spirit that was tormenting that man, most assuredly, was not telling him that he was beloved of God or God-pleasing in any way!

In fact, how about this? What made the spirit in this man “unclean” was precisely because it was telling--it was tormenting or “inspiring”--him to believe in forces and voices that were diametrically opposed to the will of God for him! Rather than bless him, they cursed; rather than building him up, they tear tore him down. Rather than encourage him, they disparaged. Rather than promoting love, they raised hate. Rather than drawing him closer to God and to others us, they separated and split him apart.

It was unclean and ugly! And the minute that Jesus became aware of it, he commanded them to be silent and to come out of the man. And, despite loud protests, they obeyed him!

The spirit that is in Jesus--the spirit that God flooded upon him in baptism, whispering in his ear, “You are my son, the beloved; with you I am well pleased”--that spirit speaks to silence and cast out the unclean spirit tormenting that man in the synagogue today.

It’s interesting, isn’t it, that, of all days, this is the story we should be reading in church today? At 11:00 we’re celebrating baptism and, at both services, we’re offering prayers and the laying on of hands for healing.

Isn’t that interesting? It’s as if God really wants to impress upon us the meaning and the message of today’s gospel reading!

Being possessed by an unclean spirit does not have to mean frothing at the mouth and having your head spin in complete circles. It can also mean being tormented by unhelpful, unhealthy voices; voices that try to drown out or silence the voice of God trying to whisper to us, “You are my child, the beloved; with you I am well pleased!”

Jesus has been baptized, tempted in the wilderness, and now comes to proclaim and demonstrate the kingdom of God on earth. He does this by opposing the forces of evil which rob the children of God of all that God hopes and intends for them.

Listen to him! In Jesus’ name. Amen!