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Swinburnes poem Hymn to Prosperine portrays
the triumph of Christianity as the suppression of all that is joyous,
beautiful, and truly natural to man. Written by one who regrets the
passing of the old religions of paganism, it contains the famous line:
"Thou hast conquered, O pale Galilean; the world
has grown grey from thy breath…"
Yet here in Mark's gospel (good news) we see Jesus portrayed very differently as he moves among the people he came to serve and to save (Matt.20:28).
Authority
Having called his first disciples he went to Capernaum where he taught
in the synagogue. We read that "the people were
amazed at his teaching because he taught them as one who had authority,
not as the teachers of the law" (v.21-22). The teachers of the
law taught be referencing other authorities, much as I am doing now
when I refer to Mark's gospel to lend authority to what I am writing.
Jesus, however, "taught them as one who had
authority", i.e. he was his own authority, and the contrast with
the teachers of the law galvanised people.
As though to underline the lesson a man possessed by an evil spirit cried out:
"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth?
Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are - the Holy One
of God!" (v 23-24).
When the people saw this, and how Jesus rebuked and commanded the evil
spirit they, "were all so amazed that they asked
each other, 'What is this? A new teaching - and with authority! He even
gives orders to evil spirits and they obey' News about him spread quickly…"
(v 27-28) Far from growing grey from his breath people came alive
as he breathed eternal truths into their lives.
Purpose
As Jesus' reputation spread people came to him and, we are told, "the
whole town gathered at the door [of James and John's house], and Jesus
healed many who had various diseases. He also drove out many demons…"
(v.32-33). Early the following morning Jesus found a quiet place
to pray and his disciples found him and told him that everyone was looking
for him. Jesus replied:
"Let us go somewhere else - to the nearby villages
- so that I can preach there also. That is why I have come."
And so they did travel throughout Galilee "preaching
in their synagogues and driving out demons" (v 38-39) Throughout
his ministry Jesus was someone with a clear purpose and here we see
him begin to fulfil that purpose by preaching the good news and demonstrating
it with power and authority.
Compassion
When a man with leprosy came to him and begged "on his knees" for healing he put his petition in a very interesting way:
"If you are willing, you can make me clean"
(v40)
Such was the reputation of Jesus that there was no question of whether he was able to heal but only of whether he was willing to heal. He clearly had the power but what was he about? We then read:
"Filled with compassion, Jesus reached
out his hand and touched the man. 'I am willing', he said. 'Be
clean!' Immediately the leprosy left him and he was cured" (v 41-42)
Far from being Swinburne's "pale Galilean" this Jesus exploded on the world in vivid colour. Far from suppressing joy and beauty he brought real joy and sure hope to a people long burdened with sin. Far from denying men and women their kinship with nature he commanded nature to bring wholeness and healing to the world he created and men had corrupted. May we truly know who he is and recognise his authority that we may know the joy and beauty, the wholeness and healing only he brings.
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