In today’s Gospel the unclean spirits call out to Jesus, “You are the Son of God.” Somewhat surprisingly Jesus commands them not to make him known. The title of this Gospel is, “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1). The title tells us from the start that Jesus is the “Son of God.” This understanding of Jesus is reinforced by God the Father at Jesus’ baptism, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased.” (Mark 1:11). In today’s Gospel these unclean spirits correctly identify Jesus as the Son of God but Jesus commands them to not make him known.
The key to Mark’s Gospel is the correct meaning of the title Son of God. The disciples will struggle to come to a full understanding of this title. At this point in the Gospel Jesus has revealed himself as one who both teaches and heals with authority… “What is this? A new teaching with authority.” (Mark 1:22, 28). His teachings and healings as the Son of God are attracting large crowds from all over: “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 neighborhood of Tyre and Sidon.” (Mark 3:8).
This power to teach and to heal is only part of the truth about Jesus, the Son of God. Jesus is destined also to humble himself and suffer and die, “For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many.” 10:45; 8:31; 9:31; 10:33-34). Jesus’ ministry is one of service and sacrifice. The disciples are ready to follow Jesus as he attracts large crowds through his teachings, his exorcisms and his healings. The disciples find it difficult to accept that the Son of God must also be a suffering Messiah:
“He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed, and rise after three days. He spoke this openly. Then Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said, ‘Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do.’” (Mark 8:31-33).
You and I are challenged, like the first disciples, to come to a full understanding and acceptance of Jesus as the Son of God. Like Peter we are challenged to think not “as human beings do” but “as God does.” Let us take this faith journey with the disciples as we hear “The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1).
Image: “Jesus Christ teaching on mountain” by Sealino is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.