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“‘Marking’ Time: Authority”
Mark 1:21-28
Today
we continue on our journey of ‘Marking Time’ until Lent. Each week there has been a key word in each
passage to focus our attention on. The
first week it was baptism, and the
power of the Holy Spirit that ALL of
us who are baptized believers in Christ should rely on in our daily
living. (Not that we often DO!) The next passage from Mark we considered was
about the calling of the first
disciples by Jesus. That just as Jesus ‘hooked’ those
fishermen turned ‘fishers of men,’ we too need to cast out our lines in order
to help Jesus ‘reel’ people to Him.
Today,
the ‘keyword’ in Mark’s Gospel reading is “authority.” Twice in just 6 verses we hear of the
people who witnessed Jesus’ words, and actions, in the synagogue… the ‘church’…
and of how they were “astounded” and “amazed” at how Jesus
acted with such “authority.” Why is this
term “authority” so important? With this
word buzzing around in my head, I went to one of my favorite sources of wisdom
and inspiration. No, not the Bible… but Webster’s Dictionary. (See, I don’t always ‘google’
everything!)
“Authority”
is defined as the “right to control,
or command.” An ‘authority’
is “an accepted source of
information… an author, or expert.”
For someone to be an ‘authority,’ they must have a certain degree of
power… power which flows out of
their knowledge. Their power is a direct result of what
they know.
So
let’s think about this. This 30-something
man from Nazareth, a small town west of the Sea of Galilee, comes into the
local church and begins teaching. (A
brief aside here: where was Jesus on the
Sabbath, the customary day of honoring God?
On the golf course? At the
mall? No. In church. Hmmm… if it’s good enough for Jesus…)
Anyway,
this stranger comes into church, that no one has laid eyes on before, and he
starts to teach from the Hebrew Scriptures… their ‘Bible.’ Now, I know that it doesn’t say that
explicitly in this passage, but reference IS made to “the scribes.” These were, in essence, professional
interpreters of the Law. Ones whose
profession was to know the Torah, the Jewish ‘Bible,’ and to be able to
proclaim its meaning to followers of “The Book.” (Hmmm… sounds kind of like ‘preachers’, doesn’t
it?)
So
this small-town boy Jesus, the son of a Jewish carpenter, starts teaching in a
way that far surpasses that of the ‘paid pious professional’… speaking as an
‘expert’ on the subject of God.
Heresy? More like authority. For Jesus spoke as ‘an accepted source of
information… an expert… with the ‘right to command’ the respect of His
audience.
But
then it gets even better! One of the
church members who had some really ‘wicked’ stuff going on in his life speaks
up. Well, not the man himself, but an evil voice speaking through
him. Kind of like these ‘multiple
personality disorders’ that you hear about. But one of a decidedly spiritual nature that
sure knew who Jesus was.
Can
you imagine something like that taking place HERE? It’s bad enough when George speaks
up! But when out-of-the-blue this person
right next to you speaks out in a voice not their own, challenging the preacher
of God’s Word, well, wouldn’t that really ‘freak you out?’ Somehow, I don’t think that ‘possessed
parishioner tirade’ was in that day’s ‘order of worship!’
But what
about Jesus? Was His reaction agitated,
upset? No. He speaks calmly. Firmly.
He orders the evil spirit(s) to
come out of the man. He speaks as one
with ‘right to control, command.’ As one
with authority. The spirit obeyed. And the people were amazed. In awe of one who spoke with a sense of
confidence never seen in any of their previous religious ‘spokesmen.’
Where
did Jesus’ authority come from? How was
his ‘right to command’ such respect expressed?
By the way he SPOKE. The way he
ACTED. By the use of God’s WORD. They may not have known him, but they knew
who He reflected. Who He sounded
like. Who He acted like. YHWH.
God the Father. The words and actions of this “Holy One of God” … the Son… carried
the same weight, the same power, as those of His Dad. The
only One worthy of the ‘right to control.’
Speaking
of ‘dads,’ you may have heard me mention my father before. Hard working, compassionate, innovative, good-spirited…
a man of integrity. Highly respected in
the civic and business community. A
down-to-earth man who loved his Optimo cigars and Ambassador scotch. He has been gone now for nearly 25
years. But there still would be no
higher compliment to me that to be compared to him. There would be no greater earthly accolade
than for someone to say that my words or actions reminded them of my father. And I hope that he is pleased with the man
I’ve become, as imperfect as I am. I
hope that in some way I am a reflection of his character, of what he stood for.
When
people hear you speak, who do they hear?
Do your actions bear a recognizable witness to someone greater than
yourself… someone you would aspire to be like?
We should remember the words of Jesus to the disciples in John 14.
Now this chapter is perhaps best known for some of the most
definitive words ever spoken about the Christian faith… words spoken to that
‘Doubting Thomas’ who questioned just how to get to the place where Jesus was
going… to which our Lord replied: “I am
the way, the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father except through
me.” (14:6)
Jesus
goes on to say that “Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father… (that) The
words that I say are not just my own.
Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” (9b, 10b-c) Our Lord later declares,
“I
tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been
doing.” (v. 12a)
Even Jesus, the very Son of God,
wouldn’t take credit for His words and deeds.
But rather, He pointed back to His Heavenly Father. What Jesus said and did wasn’t just about
Him, but about the One who was, in His own words, “living in me… doing his
work.” It was with NO
hesitation, with great confidence… dare I say it, with great pride…that Jesus declared that ‘anyone who sees me sees my Father.’ The Father that Jesus refers to as “Abba…” ‘daddy.’ You see me, you see my Dad. When I speak, it is not just my words, but
the words of the One who sent me.’
Our
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ said that “anyone who has faith in me will do what I
have been doing.” That means
that if we have faith in Jesus, we should do what He does, think how he thinks,
act like He acts. In the words of Philippians, “Your attitude (and mine!) should be the same as that of Christ
Jesus.” (2:5) That ‘attitude of altitude’ means ‘higher
thoughts’, ones that come to us by seeking God’s will in prayer, being in His Word,
serving His people… striving
every day to be able to say, like Jesus, the Father is “living in me… doing his
work.” This ability to speak and act with authority is not reserved for God’s
only ‘begotten’ Son… it is also for all of His ‘adopted’ children as well!
My
first Sunday to preach here, back in June of last year, some of you may recall
a family that came to visit F.P.C. –
Scott and Qsonda, and their three children.
Scott hangs sheetrock for a living.
Works very hard. Never really had
a lot of time for church. When I first
got to know him, he and his family only sporadically came to the church I
served previously. But in the midst of some family struggles,
Scott began to attend a non-denominational church in the area. It was there that he came to truly become a follower
of Jesus Christ. His faith turned from
not ‘what’ you know, but ‘who’ you know… that ’30-something carpenter’s son
from Nazareth.’ I witnessed a
transformation in this ’30-something sheetrocker from Covington’… going from a
guy who drank a lot of beer and talked a lot of football to one who drinks of a
different ‘Spirit’ and talks a lot of Jesus. He
even thought enough of this brother-in-Christ that he brought his whole family
some 200 miles just to spend a Sunday morning in church. He still sends me daily Bible readings by
text message every morning. Indeed, it
is nothing less that ‘astounding’ that Scott speaks now with such ‘authority’…
because of the One who speaks through Him.
More than ever before, Scott’s words are not his own. For they come, at least in part, from the
‘Source of all wisdom’… the One ‘living in him… doing his work’ through
him.
The
same God who is using this simple ‘drywall disciple’ seeks to use you and me as
well. The same Father who wants us to be
‘brothers’ to His Son. Do you want
people to be ‘amazed’ at how you speak and act with such authority?
Easy.
Just repeat after Jesus: “The
words that I say are not just my own.
Rather, it is the Father, living in me, who is doing his work.” May the words you say… no matter how
difficult the situation… not be your own.
But the words, and actions, of the One living in you. The One who is doing His work through
you. To HIM be all glory and honor,
dominion and power, now and forever!
Amen!
Affirmation
of Faith: We have spoken today about ‘authority’… which
comes from the root word, ‘author.’ When
I hear this word, particularly in relation to our Christian faith, I think
about words of Scripture that speak of the ‘author and perfecter of our
faith.’ Let us know affirm that faith
using words from Hebrews 12, as
together we proclaim our trust in the One who should be the ultimate authority
in our life, Jesus Christ. Would you
please rise as we read verses 1-3 of that 12th chapter of Hebrews…
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