Listen

Suddenly, there in the synagogue, a person with an evil spirit screamed, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are. You are the holy one from God.”

“Silence!” Jesus said, speaking harshly to the demon. “Come out of him!” The unclean spirit shook him and screamed, then it came out.

Mark 1:23-26

Think

One aspect of Mark’s gospel that I love is that everyone who should recognize Jesus as the Christ doesn’t, and everyone/everything that shouldn’t recognize Jesus as the Christ does. The people who hear Jesus teach are amazed at what he is doing and wonder who he is, yet the evil spirit knows exactly who Jesus is and where he comes from.

Where Jesus comes from is an important acknowledgement, for Jesus comes from God. Indeed, as his followers, we proclaim that Jesus is God. Have you ever thought of yourself as coming from God? We don’t come from God in the same sense as Jesus did, but I would argue we do come from God and maybe in an even bigger way. We are chosen by God to be God’s children.

A good friend always told her children “Remember who you are and whose you are!” When we belong to God, we are from God – called, loved, and sent. Don’t be shy of your nature; embrace it, live it, and let the world see it in you.

Kris “Bubba” Brammer

Pray

O Creator God, you know me so well that I cannot possibly hide who I am from you. Remind me always that my identity rests in you as a child of God. Help me to remember in all things that I am yours and that you are my God. Help me to live a life reflecting this identity I have in Christ to others. Amen.

Go

Go. Go from the well of God’s Word and presence, knowing that what we draw there sustains us, renews us, and gives us life to be the people of God and Christ’s light in the world.