Tying up the Strongman Today
This week we return to the gospel of Mark which is the beginning of the ongoing story of the good news about Jesus Christ. That story continues today with you and me. In Mark 1:14 and 15 we hear that, “(A)fter John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee announcing God’s good news, saying, “Now is the time! Here comes God’s kingdom! Change your hearts and lives, and trust this good news!” (CEB). The whole gospel reveals Jesus as having authority to liberate people from all that binds them/us. And not everyone is happy about that.
In Mark 3: 20-35 Jesus faces those who wish to silence him, his family who fear the consequences of what he is doing for him and them; and the religious authorities who also fear the consequences. In his short parable Jesus describes his work as a home invasion, tying up the strongman so that he might plunder that house, liberating those bound inside and returning them to God. Jesus gives permission for those listening to stop assuming that things must stay as they are.
Today we celebrate the work of the Spirit in our church that helped us imagine being church in a way that gave space to different voices other than the dominant pakeha voice. Led by passages like this, new possibilities emerged and Te Pouhere – our constitution – the pou here or pole to which we all tie our waka; ndrua[i], ‘alia, kalia; ships to emerged. Together our way is lit into the reign of God. The nature of God is revealed in this Jesus within each of our context enriching the life of us all. The strongman of while colonialism was bound and Christ’s life was found. How does that help us today speak to the many issues swirling around our city?
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