4th Sunday in Epiphany; Mark 1:21-28

Jan. 29, 2011; 4^th Sunday in Epiphany; texts: Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Ps. 111:1; I Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28;  Title: Immediate, Amazing, Authority;  Rev. Tim Beck

Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

In Mark’s gospel account, three words jump out by repetition: immediately, astonished, and authority. These three words accompany Jesus throughout his public ministry. He acts immediately. He is amazing. He has authority. For example, immediately after his baptism Jesus is driven into the wilderness to be tempted. Victorious, he immediately begins His public ministry. Immediately he teaches. Immediately there is opposition. Immediately Jesus liberates. Jesus, God-made-man does not hesitate. He brings light to those walking in darkness. He releases the captives. He frees the oppressed. He opens the eyes of the blind, the deaf hear, the dead are raised. The kingdom of God breaks through immediately, busting up evil and building what is good. That’s what Jesus does “immediately.”

          And people are amazed, astounded, dumbfounded, silenced, spell bound. Jesus is not what they, or we sinners, expect. Note what was so astonishing. For example, it wasn’t that a demon spoke. In the gospel histories there are     several accounts of folks being demonized, none of which surprised people. The fact is, their evil is ordinary, as is any and all evil in this world. We are only astounded by the intensity of evil, especially if it strikes us. But that’s only because we don’t believe in our own capacity for evil. Perhaps that is why the actor Heath Ledger, committed suicide after playing the “Joker” in “Dark Knight?”  After playing that part, He couldn’t shake what he found inside? Evil is as common as hatred, bitterness, gossip, jealousy, intentional apathy, injustice, resentment, prejudice, maliciousness, manipulation, covetousness and idolatry. Evil is common as death. Good is not as common. That’s why the crowd is equally astonished by Jesus’ teaching as the fact that demons must obey Him. Jesus’ uncommonly good teaching and exorcisms have something in common - His authority. What is that? He has jurisdiction, power and freedom to act. He has the ability to do what only God can do... and he does it. As Son of God all things hold together in Him. He is in his jurisdiction to act, immediately. And He did so with a passion, looking toward His Passion.

          To see what Jesus taught in contrast to how and what the teachers of Israel taught, consider this example from the scribes: “From what time in the evening may the Shema be recited? From the time the priests may begin to eat of their heave-offering, until the end of the first watch… On what basis does the Tanna set forth with the statement, ‘From what time’? Besides, why does he first state it in terms of evening? He should first state it in terms of morning!  For the Tanna the basis is Scripture, where it is written, And thou shall rehearse them… when thou lie down and when thou rise up (Dt. 6:7). And this is the meaning of his statement in the Mishna: When is it that recitation of the Shema at lying down time may take place? From the time the priests may begin to eat of their heave-offering.  If you wish, say this: The Tanna has taken his cue from the idiom in the account of the creation of the world, where it is written, And first there was evening and then there was morning, one day (Gen 1:5).  In that case, what about the sequel, which states, in the morning  two benedictions are read before the Shema and one after it, and in the evening two benedictions are read before and two after?  Why not the clause about the evening first?  (etc., etc., etc...) (Goldin, Judah, The Living Talmud, New American Libr., 1957, pg. 13 ff.)            The Scribes turned the Torah into the professional attorney’s play book. Jesus cut to the heart of the matter. How did He teach? He cut the heart with the law, in order to heal the broken hearted. His teaching enticed faith through life-giving words, authoritative words. What set Jesus apart is what His teaching does, in contrast to all who distorted, misused or minimized Scripture. The scribes, Pharisees and Sadducees each in their own way turned the law into a means of salvation or turned the gospel into law. That too is evil, but normal in our fallen, unbelieving race. By nature we sinners want self-justification, a way to be good enough for God while fleeing the God who is good.

          But Jesus justifies sinners. That’s what His teaching does.  And that is about authority. The authority to forgive distinguishes Jesus. Sometimes we think authority is measured by naked power, like the shrillest - in your face - voice... not so.  Although Jesus can break rock with His voice, he clothed his power in humility to set prisoners free. He uses authority to absolve, reconcile, regenerate and liberate. His authority calmed wind and wave, fed multitudes, restored sight, cast out demons, rose the dead, and atoned for all sin, past, present and future. When it comes to the bottom line, Jesus not only has authority, He alone is good. He is the Son of God veiled in human flesh. As Creator - He made and sustains all things. As Redeemer - He reconciles us to the Father, granting eternal life.

          The question is - if Jesus’ authority is for us today, immediately?  After the resurrection He said All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore, when you go, make disciples of all nations by baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and by teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age (Mt 28:18-20). Is that astonishing? Is it astonishing that the Son of God became man to break our broken world, and now sends the church in His authority? In Jesus’ day, how was his authority manifest? Jesus left Capernaum immediately, healed Simon’s mother in law, then continued healing and casting out demons. He declared good news, returning to Capernaum to say to a paralytic, “your sins are forgiven” immediately proving His divine authority by healing the paralytic… and immediately earning the hatred of the scribes, for they treated God’s Word as if it belonged to them.  Jesus’ face is turned toward Jerusalem for this amazement, His death is authoritative. By dying, God the Father immediately forgave the sin of the world. By that death Jesus authorizes the church to proclaim the same liberating word, the authoritative word, clothed in humility like our Lord.

          And the church that declares the Word is victorious even over demons, as it announces Christ’s victory over sin. For example: Having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities, and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. (Col 2:12-15) (Note: we confess in the Apostles’ Creed, “He descended into hell.” This was not to suffer, but to proclaim victory.)

          So the church proclaims His victory won on the cross and administers it in a justifying and sanctifying baptism, teaching all he commanded. That’s how the church exercises His authority. And more so, the Word of God dwells in us richly, a well springing up for life… for Jesus has all authority. However amazing, He conquered sin by becoming a sacrifice for sin. However amazing, He brings us into His victory by means of baptism; however amazing, when the church says, “your sin is forgiven” it is; however amazing, He comes to us in His body and blood to forgive; however amazing, we shall never die, we who are joined to Christ’s death. These are the things the church is authorized to proclaim and do. We are authorized by Him who has jurisdiction, power and freedom to act. Hence the church’s war is won, even if we battle until called to rest. We battle to rely not on ourselves, but on His authoritative declaration: justified! Does He who created the heavens lack in power? Does He who died lack jurisdiction over sinners, death and the devil? He who rose and ascended rules all things with the Father. He who has all authority sends the church into the world to declare the gospel. He also promised “I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

          Now, what about the word immediately? In the last couple of weeks I haven’t heard of anyone miraculously feeding 5,000. That doesn’t mean miracles of a visible nature don’t occur… to lead us to Christ. But our glory-hungry, tainted hearts often fail to see the most powerful manifestation of Christ’s liberating authority. This passage from Colossians aptly summarizes the purpose of Jesus’ many mighty works.  Buried in baptism, so raised with him through faith… you were dead, but God made you alive, having forgiven all our trespasses. That’s glorious, salvation from death for eternal life. Who but Jesus can declare us guiltless, reconciled, justified, sanctified and alive forever?  That authoritative word liberates the captive, it heals all diseases, and it restores us to fellowship with God. Like the glory of the Son of God hidden in the crucified Jesus, the church’s glory is mostly hidden since the days of the Apostles. But his authority is not. Despite 300 plus years of State persecution against the early church, Christian faith spread throughout the Roman Empire. Through the centuries since, the church has often suffered like her Lord. In our nation the religious liberty enjoyed for hears is being eaten away. Yet the authority of Christ breaks in for faith, overcoming the power of sin. Through Christ’s word, death and the devil are conquered and we become holy. The justified receive His body and blood, immediately partaking of the ascended Christ for forgiveness of sin, hence for life and salvation.

          You eat and drink the authority, although hidden to the world’s eyes, hidden under the cross, hidden under His sin bearing; and you partake of salvation, of hidden glory! Christian, this is the word we are authorized to declare everywhere, a word without outward glory, but giving the eternal glory. Yes, because of visible miracles Jesus’ fame spread everywhere. Out text literally says “the hear” spread everywhere. You know how attractive fame is, just watch American Idol or Dancing with the Stars. You also know Jesus avoided popularity. He silenced the demons who said “this is the holy one of God.” He fled into the wilderness to avoid these crowds. Besides, when is the church helped by fame, fortune, and power? Our task is declaring the authoritative word, Christ crucified for sinners. That authority overpowers the enemies of God to provide what is good. By that word, the Word, our Lord overcame the blindness of sin, the maliciousness of the devil, the captivity of death. Through forgiving your sins, His word created and sustains in you eternal life. Forgiven, you have confident hope in the glory to come, sustained by Him immediately.

The peace of God that passes all understanding keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus (Amen)