The two passages that interest me this week are as follows:

1 Corinthians 8:1-13
Now concerning food sacrificed to idols: we know that "all of us possess knowledge." Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up. Anyone who claims to know something does not yet have the necessary knowledge; but anyone who loves God is known by him. Hence, as to the eating of food offered to idols, we know that "no idol in the world really exists," and that "there is no God but one."

Indeed, even though there may be so-called gods in heaven or on earth–as in fact there are many gods and many lords– yet for us there is one God, the Father, from whom are all things and for whom we exist, and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom are all things and through whom we exist. It is not everyone, however, who has this knowledge. Since some have become so accustomed to idols until now, they still think of the food they eat as food offered to an idol; and their conscience, being weak, is defiled. "Food will not bring us close to God." We are no worse off if we do not eat, and no better off if we do.

But take care that this liberty of yours does not somehow become a stumbling block to the weak. For if others see you, who possess knowledge, eating in the temple of an idol, might they not, since their conscience is weak, be encouraged to the point of eating food sacrificed to idols? So by your knowledge those weak believers for whom Christ died are destroyed. But when you thus sin against members of your family, and wound their conscience when it is weak, you sin against Christ. Therefore, if food is a cause of their falling, I will never eat meat, so that I may not cause one of them to fall.

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Mark 1:21-28
They went to Capernaum; and when the Sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, 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."

But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

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." At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.would bring upon them; and he did not do it.

I believe there are two approaches one can take on these scripture lessons.  The gospel is all about Jesus’ power and authority.  Jesus teaches like no one else before him.  As Mark states “He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”  This power and authority is then amply demonstrated  when Jesus casts an unclean spirit out of a man who had come into the synagogue.  The amazement of the people only grows when they see this.  It is interesting to note here that the unclean spirit recognizes who Jesus is (as opposed to the people at this time).  It is also interesting that Jesus commands the spirit to be quiet. 

This has led some biblical scholars to develop a theory about Mark called the “Messianic secret.”  The idea is that Jesus, in this passage and in others, does not want his true identity and nature revealed, at least not at the beginning of his ministry.  Perhaps Jesus wishes to avoid attracting too much attention at first, or maybe he would rather people listen to what he has to say at this time rather than just turn to him for miracles. The speculation behind this is endless, but for my purposes, I do not feel lead to preach about it tomorrow.

The other passage (from Paul) has the wonderful verse “Knowledge puffs up, but love builds up” in it.  Corinth was a church with many, many problems.  And one of the biggest problems it had was members thinking better of themselves and what they knew (or thought they knew) than they thought of others.  Paul reminds them (and us) that while knowledge is a good thing, it can lead to pride and feelings of superiority that are contrary to nature of being a disciple.  Knowledge that does this can lead to conflict and the destruction of the church.  Instead Paul tells the people here and elsewhere in this letter that the better way is always love.  Love builds up rather than destroys.  Love is more concerned with the other.  Love is the cement, the glue that holds a church together.

Paul takes this idea and applies it to a situation facing the church of his day:  whether or not one should eat food sacrificed to idols.  And while this specific situation does not apply to us today, the general principle does.  This, I think, will be the focus for my message.  Paul goes on to write about this gift of love that God has given us and how it works in the life of the believer in 1 Corinthians 13.  Below is a paraphrase I have written of these verses.

If I speak with great eloquence, conviction and beauty, but do so without love, my words are little more than bombastic bellowing or a grating noise.

And though I have the power to speak for God and understand every mystery and comprehend all knowledge, and if I have all the faith that could move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

And though I give away everything I possess, and even if I offer my own body as a sacrifice to the flames of fire, but have not love, I have gained nothing.

Love is patient; love is kind. Love does not envy, love is not arrogant or proud. It does not act unseemly; it is not self-seeking, not easily provoked, and does not dwell on evil. It does not rejoice at injustice, but rejoices in the truth. Love bears all things, has faith in all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails.

As for prophecies, they will vanish away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it too will end. For now we know in part and prophesy in part, but when all is brought to completion, then all that is partial will pass away.

When I was I child, I spoke as a child, I thought as a child, I reasoned like a child. But when I became an adult, I put away childish ways. For now we see as in a mirror darkened and distorted, but then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know even as I am fully known.

And so it is that faith, hope and love live and dwell within us, these three; but the greatest of these is love.