Mk 3:7-12

The Mercy of Jesus

Jesus withdrew toward the sea with his disciples. A large number of people came from Galilee and from Judea. Hearing what he was doing, a large number of people came to him also from Jerusalem, from Idumea, from beyond the Jordan, and from the neighbor of Tyre and Sidon. He told his disciples to have a boat ready for him because of the crowd, so that they would not crush him. He had cured many and, as a result those who had diseases were pressing upon him to touch him. And whatever unclean spirits saw him they would fall down before him and shout, “You are the Son of God.” He warned them sternly no to make him known.

SON OF GOD: One of the ways that Mark characterizes Jesus is an exorcist, one who gets rid of unclean spirits. It is important to note that unclean spirit is not equivalent to what today might be referred to as demonic possession. For Mark, any ailment – physical, psychological, emotional, etc. – that cannot be understood is an unclean spirit.

            Also, these so-called unclean spirits always know who Jesus is and call him “Son of God.” Mark continually contrasts the unclean spirit to the disciples, who should know who Jesus is but never seem to figure it out.

            In the first half of Mark’s Gospel, the designation “Son of God” by the unclean spirits is contrasted to the designation “Son of Man” in the second half of the Gospel. “Son of God” indicates power – the kind which is greater than of the unclean spirits, although there is never any “contest” between Jesus and the unclean spirits; they simply acknowledge defeat.

            “Son of Man” also indicates power, but it is power of a different kind. In the second half of Mark’s Gospel, Jesus’ power is made manifest in his powerlessness. Authentic power is found in weakness.

            For Christians to call Jesus “Son of God” is to declare one kind of power, a type which Jesus in the Gospel of Mark clearly rejects. To refer to Jesus as “Son of Man” is to indicate a kind of power which stems from powerlessness. It is in weakness – rejection, suffering, and death – that God’s power reaches perfection.

Response

How in your life have you experienced the power of the “Son of God”? In how many more ways in your life have you experienced the power of the “Son of Man”? Which was more effective?