Christian Art | Jesus And Satan
Mark 1: 21-28 – 4th Sunday Year B – also Tuesday, Week 2 (Audio Bible KJV, Spoken Word)
21 And they went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
22 And they were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.
23 And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out,
24 Saying, Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know thee who thou art, the Holy One of God.
25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.
26 And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he came out of him.
27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region round about Galilee.
The Bible offers us different accounts of Christ’s first miracle, each suited to the particular needs of the audiences to whom the Gospel evangelists are speaking. In John’s Gospel, the first miracle is that of the wedding feast at Cana. For Luke, it is Jesus freeing himself when those around him, of Nazareth, seek to kill him. Matthew speaks of the healing of a large number of the sick and possessed, most particularly a leper. Here, Mark tells us of the casting out of a devil. In highly compressed form, we are told of how Christ frees us from the fear of evil. He has power over devils. To a people living in fear, this is a most remarkable and wonderful message.
We can ask ourselves: Which aspects of this story of Jesus appeal most to us and strike a chord in our life? Which bits of this Bible text do we like best?
Perhaps we notice that the people in the synagogue in Capernaum are astonished, before the miracle is performed, by Christ’s teaching. He enters into the synagogue to teach, knowing he belongs in this great role as teacher. He has authority, and this stands out to the people and singles him out from the scribes, exposing them as lacking authority. Through witnessing Jesus, the people gain a critical awareness of what the scribes of the synagogue can offer regarding our human relationship with God. Jesus speaks through his personal knowledge of God. Once again we are alert to the life of Jesus as the crowning moment of God’s interventions in human history. The scribes’ knowledge of Old Testament Bible texts is overwhelmed and transcended by this, by Jesus, the God Man.
The power to teach, to speak truly of God, is shown to us here as being very closely connected with the power to cast out devils. We may think of the evil spirits portrayed in the Bible both literally and also as people’s ways of seeking to explain bad things, including physical and mental ailments, which they could not otherwise understand. They are also a sign of fear and bewilderment. Especially in the darker days of the growing and developing Church, Christians may have felt themselves to be beset by evil powers.
Jesus is a healer. He heals physical problems and he heals mental problems. He is too able to forgive sins. We bring these thoughts together as we contemplate Jesus’ power to cast out devils.
We know that in the time of Jesus, and through the history of the Jewish people, and as stipulated in the Jewish sacred texts, physical and mental problems are seen as both resulting from possession by devils and as resulting from sin. A person’s sickness or disability, in other words, was seen as a mark of sin. It was for this reason that such people faced restrictions in terms of worshipping God in places of prayer. They were both physically and mentally marked and also spiritually marginalised. It is curious, indeed, that the man with the unclean spirit is in the synagogue. Perhaps his affliction was not known and only came to light, as it were a deception might come to light, in Jesus’ presence.
The evil spirit recognises Jesus. This may itself seem remarkable as a way of affirming Christ’s divinity to those present and those hearing and reading these verses. The recognition of Christ by the evil spirit follows very closely upon the baptism of Jesus and the voice from heaven declaring Jesus as the Son of God, and indeed, in Mark’s Gospel, the brief mention of Christ’s temptation in the wilderness. It is a very powerful moment: by his father, Christ’s divinity is affirmed in a very positive way; now we see the evil flinch from him and so we see in action something of what it means to be the Son of God.
This devil, speaking in the plural, on behalf of many devils, knows that Christ is come to destroy its power. It is as if it has claimed a territory in this man whom it has invaded and occupied like a virus, and now sees that the end of its time and of its claim on humanity has come.
Christ’s word, then, is authority. It carries the power to inform, to teach, enlighten, to bring the knowledge of God to humankind, and the power to compel, to command the evil to be gone. This was new. When we contemplate this moment we too can be amazed just as the people in the synagogue were amazed.
Christ’s fame spreads. It spreads through all Galilee. It will encompass the whole world and it will spread through time as well, reaching to us now through the Bible and through the Church to this moment in this place, where we may all say: ‘Where I am now.’
How many of the evils we face are built on fear and the falling away from the knowledge of God? May we remember this moment of Christ’s first miracles. Through our prayer, as Christ prayed, and through our reading of the Bible, there is a light to be carried through all the troubles of our 21st Century world. May God be with us.
John 4:13-14 (KJV) ‘Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.’ Introduction to the Life of Saint Bernadette Saint Bernadette Soubirous, a humble peasant girl from Lourdes, France, lived her life of faith, humility, and divine grace. Born on January 7, 1844, in the small town of Lourdes, Bernadette was the eldest of nine children in a poor and struggling family. Her father, François Soubirous, was a miller, and her mother, Louise, a laundress. The family lived in a former prison cell known as the Cachot, a damp and cramped space, according to their dire financial situation. Despite their poverty, the Soubirous family was deeply rooted in their Christian faith, a foundation that would profoundly shape Bernadette’s life and spiritual journey. Bernadette’s early years were marked by significant health challenges. She suffered from asthma and other respiratory ailments, which often left her weak and unable to attend school regularly. This lack of formal education meant that Bernadette struggled with reading and writing, and her understanding of Christian doctrine was limited. Nevertheless, she possessed a remarkable simplicity and purity of heart, qualities that would make her an ideal recipient of divine revelations. Bernadette’s life changed irrevocably on February 11, 1858, when she experienced the first of eighteen apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the grotto of Massabielle. On that cold winter day, Bernadette, her sister Toinette, and a friend were gathering firewood near the grotto when she heard a rustling sound and saw a beautiful lady dressed in white with a blue sash, holding a rosary. The lady, who later identified herself as the Immaculate Conception, appeared to Bernadette over the course of several months, delivering messages of penance, prayer, and the need for a chapel to be built at the site. Despite initial skepticism from her family and the local authorities, Bernadette remained steadfast in her account of the apparitions, enduring intense scrutiny and even ridicule. The apparitions drew enormous attention. Soon, people from all over France and beyond began to visit Lourdes, hoping to witness a miracle. One of the most significant messages conveyed by the Virgin Mary to Bernadette was the instruction to dig in the ground near the grotto, which led to the discovery of a spring. This spring, believed to have healing properties, became the focal point of the pilgrimage to Lourdes. Many miraculous healings have been attributed to the waters of Lourdes, reinforcing the belief in Bernadette’s visions and the sanctity of the site. As the apparitions concluded, Bernadette’s life took a different turn. In 1866, she joined the Sisters of Charity in Nevers, taking the name Sister Marie-Bernard. Her time in the convent was marked by continued poor health and humility, as she carried out menial tasks and lived a life of quiet service. Despite her physical suffering, Bernadette remained devout and accepted her hardships with grace, often repeating the phrase, “I am happier here in my little corner of the convent.” Her unwavering faith and dedication to her religious duties exemplified the depth of her spiritual commitment. Bernadette Soubirous passed away on April 16, 1879, at the age of 35, after a prolonged battle with tuberculosis. Her legacy, however, endured far beyond her earthly life. In 1933, she was canonized as a saint by Pope Pius XI, recognized for her humility, faith, and the miraculous events associated with her life. Today, millions of pilgrims flock to Lourdes each year, seeking spiritual renewal and physical healing at the site of her visions. Saint Bernadette’s life continues to inspire countless individuals around the world, reminding us of the power of faith, the virtue of humility, and the enduring presence of divine grace in our lives. To Visit Lourdes Visiting Lourdes, in the picturesque foothills of the Pyrenees in southwestern France, is an experience that transcends the physical journey, drawing pilgrims into a profound spiritual adventure. The small town, known for the Marian apparitions witnessed by Saint Bernadette Soubirous in 1858, has become one of the world’s most revered pilgrimage sites. As we approach the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes, the atmosphere is imbued with a palpable sense of reverence and anticipation. The grand basilicas, the tranquil Grotto of Massabielle and the gently flowing waters of the miraculous spring together create a sacred environment that invites reflection, prayer, and a deep connection with the divine. The focal point of any visit to Lourdes is the Grotto, where Bernadette experienced the apparitions of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Here, pilgrims can touch the rock face, light candles, and drink or bathe in the spring’s water, believed to possess healing properties. The profound silence and sense of sacredness at the Grotto allow visitors to contemplate their faith, seek solace and find spiritual renewal. The Rosary Basilica, with its mosaics, and the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, perched above the Grotto, offer spaces for communal worship and personal meditation. The nightly candlelight processions, where pilgrims from around the globe unite in prayer and song, highlight the universal bond of faith and hope that Lourdes represents. Beyond its physical beauty and historical significance, visiting Lourdes offers a deeply personal and transformative experience. Pilgrims often arrive burdened with ailments, grief, or spiritual crises, seeking comfort and miracles. The stories of healing and faith that emerge from Lourdes are testimonies to the enduring power of belief and the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The communal aspect of the pilgrimage—sharing meals, prayers, and stories with fellow believers—fosters a sense of solidarity and mutual support. For many, the visit to Lourdes is a journey of healing, not only of the body but also of the soul, providing a renewed sense of purpose, peace, and spiritual clarity that lingers long after returning home. Prayer With Saint Bernadette Prayer for Intercession Dear […]
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