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Mark 1-3 – “Marks” of a Sound Congregation
People ask if a congregation is “sound.” Maybe learning about “sound” synagogues might help.
In Mark 1:21 Jesus went to the synagogue and started teaching. The congregants were amazed because He taught as one having authority (1:22). A demon-possessed man interrupted their service and Jesus threw out the demon in the man (1:27). Mark 1:39 says Jesus did these two things in all the Synagogues He attended in Galilee. In Mark 3 Jesus again goes to a Synagogue. This time He heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, upsetting a certain type of attendee.
These real-life Biblical stories fast forward to what is supposed to happen in our assemblies. Supposed to. But.
Some today are like those who were looking for Jesus to make a mistake. They love to correct as much as they love being correct. Some get their self-holiness disturbed when others actually confess their sins and needs as if such healing is uncomfortable and unseemly. These “unholy roll-over-ers” are the real demons.
Our assemblies today should show these same two “marks” Jesus showed in the Synagogues: 1) His authority; 2) Our healing. It can get messy when there is spiritual healing because someone lets Jeaus cast out their own personal “demons”. If someone gets perturbed at that, they are “marked” as unsound, not recognizing God is in charge and here to help.
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