Demons in the Front Row & The Death of "Squishy" Truth
The "My Truth" Trap
I used to have an assistant who, bless her heart, had zero filter. One day, staring at the absolute disaster zone that was my desk, she told me, "The lack of organization in your office is not an accurate representation of your leadership."
Ouch.
She didn't say, "I feel like you're messy." She stated a fact. It stung, but it was the kind of sting that forces you to grow up. I was thinking about that distinct burn while listening to this week's teaching from Traders Point on Mark 1. We live in an era that is obsessed—and I mean obsessed—with being "squishy." We love the concept of relative truth. You have your truth, I have mine, and as long as we don't crash into each other, it's all good vibes.
But as the pastor, Aaron, pointed out in a way that made me laugh and wince simultaneously: that philosophy works great in a coffee shop conversation, but it falls apart the second you deal with reality. Try telling the bank you have "your truth" about when the mortgage is due. They’ll just send the repo man.
Jesus isn't a life coach offering suggestions; He’s the Author. That distinction changes everything. If He’s the Author (authority), then He defines the plot, not us.
The "I Hate Religion" rebuttal
Look, I get it. We've all heard it—maybe said it. "I love Jesus, but I don't do organized religion." It sounds noble, doesn't it? It sounds enlightened.
But the counter-argument here was so refreshingly practical I had to pause the audio. The breakdown of the word synagogue (gathering together) and the simple fact that Jesus—who literally is God—still made it a priority to show up to the service. He didn't just wander the hillsides vibing with the universe. He went to the place where the scrolls were read.
There was this brilliant line about how "disorganized" doesn't equal "spiritual." It usually just equals chaos. We need structure. We need background checks for the kid's ministry (amen to that) and someone to organize the parking lot. As someone who runs a business, this hit home. You can't have a mission without a mechanism.
Golden Nugget: "Disorganized means random, uncertain, and chaotic... Jesus didn't give his life on a cross so that we could just vibe out with him at the coffee shop. He gave his life to redeem the bride."
Uncomfortable Reality: Demons Go to Church
Okay, things took a turn in verse 23. And if you're a modern, rational thinker, your defenses probably go up the second someone says "demon."
But the text is right there. Jesus is preaching, and a guy in the synagogue—in the church, mind you—manifests an evil spirit.
Two things struck me here:
- Location, Location, Location: The demon wasn't at a nightclub. It was in the pews. It makes total sense if you think about it strategically. If you're an enemy, you go where the threat is.
- The Theology of Hell: The demon actually had better theology than most modern people. It knew exactly who Jesus was ("The Holy One of God"). It didn't try to argue; it was terrified.
It’s a sobering check on our own egos. Intellectual agreement that Jesus exists isn't faith—even the demons have that. Faith is submission.
The Walk-Off
The episode ends on this weird, anticlimactic note that is actually the most powerful part of the whole story. Jesus is trending. He’s viral. Everyone in Capernaum wants a piece of Him because He's healing fevers and shutting down demons.
So what does He do?
He leaves.
He goes to a "desolate place" (which, interestingly, didn't physically exist in lush Capernaum, implying a spiritual desolation/warfare state) to pray. And when the disciples find Him, breathless and probably thinking about their follower count, saying, "Everyone is looking for you!" Jesus says, "Let's go somewhere else."
He refused to be a party trick. He refused to be a utility.
I think that's the question I'm left wrestling with this week. Do I want the King? or do I just want the favors the King can grant me? Because one is a relationship, and the other is just a transaction. And honestly? I think we're all a little tired of transactions.
Listen to Traders Point Christian Church (Audio): https://podranker.com/podcast/traders-point-christian-church