Jesus’ Amazing Authority – 31 January, 2021

Mark 1:21-28

It was a Sabbath day, and in the town of Capernaum the whole community had gathered for worship. Everything was familiar for everyone, because it was what everyone did every week. But this Sabbath, there was a new teacher who had come from Nazareth. And as he taught, a stir began to spread through the crowd. What Jesus had to say definitely wasn't what everyone was accustomed to. He was shaking things up. Instead of quoting the respected authority so-and-so, who taught such-and-such, he spoke with an immediate, personal authority, declaring that God's reign was present.

Things were really shaken up when a man with an unclean spirit stood up to challenge Jesus. But Jesus wouldn't give the spirit a chance. He commanded it to be silent and leave the man at once. And it did! And the whole community was shaken up. People were amazed and agitated. They kept asking, “What is this?” What sort of work is this Jesus up to? What's going on?

This is how Mark introduces the ministry of Jesus. And it's like this the whole rest of the way. . .

Our Gospel story for this morning sets the stage for us to see the impact Jesus had then, and is continuing to have now, on us and on our world. . .

Jesus represents God's claim on our world and on our lives. The unclean spirit recognized that, and recognized also that Jesus threatened to shake up the rule of darkness. So it challenged him. That's the reason the unclean spirit says, “I know who you are, the Holy One of God!”

1 Corinthians 8:1-13

Paul adjures, “Knowledge puffs up [lit. makes proud], but love [agape] builds up [oikodome].” We who serve Christ's church, whether lay or cleric, have been called to build the body in the manner of humility, sacrifice, and service demonstrated by Christ.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Although Moses dies and his visible prominence fades after chapter 11, in Deuteronomy 18:15–20 he returns as the epitome of the archetypal “forth-telling” prophet. One like unto Moses will be selected from among the people to speak I AM's words to Israel. The prophet will stand between the Sovereign I AM and his people as I AM's mouthpiece. He will accurately represent the commandments of God. Arbitrariness, presumption or equivocation, however, will suffer severe penalty: death.

Who is this God that can dictate such demands? He is the God of the burning bush, the one who called Moses to bare his feet, for the ground upon which he stood was holy. Unlike priests and kings, whose appointment to office accrues from executive fiat or birthright, Moses receives appointment by the sovereign decree of God himself. Ultimately, he will be regarded as one who points to Christ (i.e., typifies Christ); inasmuch as Moses delivered Israel from bondage, Christ delivers his people from sin, evil, and death.

[Contributors to this Sunday of lections is not noted in the publication.]

Homily Service 42, no. 1 (2009): 116-125.