Jesus demonstrates the effectiveness of living out the gospel
Mark 1:23-34 23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 24 and he cried out, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching-- with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." ... 32 they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered around the door. 34 And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
Why didn't Jesus want the demons to tell people who he was? Probably because the people had been taught from childhood an inaccurate view of what the Messiah would be like. And Jesus needed to re-frame their knowledge and gain their trust before he revealed the true nature of the Messiah. The Messiah wasn't going to free them from Roman oppression, but instead teach them an authentic way of living as God's people - servants to one another -servants even to the Romans! This is not going to be a popular message!
Jesus needed to gain their trust by his words and miracles before he revealed himself in full. He needed to first show his love and compassion for them. Sharing the whole picture with them at once would have been too much for them.
Curiously, Jesus was preaching to the most religious people of the day. And they were sick, hurting, needy, demon filled people. He was preaching to those who claimed to be "the people of God". And they were anything but. This is really not too far from our situation today - many claiming to be "the people of God," but they don't know Jesus. They have nationalistic agendas that aren't anything like what Jesus called his followers to be. They've reimaginded Jesus in their own image - a Jesus who serves their interests.
But Jesus shows us how to approach these confused religious people. It isn't by trying to get a right theological message across or by demanding that they change their ways. Jesus' approach is to live out the message. He demonstrates God's love and compassion first - through his miracles.
These Jewish people, just like much of the Christian religion today, has been hearing the wrong message for so long that they associate what they believe with nationalism and family instead of actually walking in a relationship with God becoming servants. Following Jesus means letting go of so much of what they have believed for so long - it is hard. Jesus knows this, so he seeks to live out the gospel in front of them. Jesus lets them get to know him first. Lets them hunger for what he's got and who he is. Then he will reveal the whole story.
We need to live out the gospel to the religous people of the day so that they can hunger for what Jesus really offers them - a complete transformation - a new way of being. They can't handle the truth - not yet.
Do we ignore Jesus' example of living out the gospel?
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