4^th Sunday after Epiphany at Epiphany on February 1, 2009

Grace, mercy, and peace are yours through the authority of Jesus Christ, God’s prophet and the Holy One of God. Amen.

Mark 1:21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. ²² The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. ²³ Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ²⁴ "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-- the Holy One of God!" ²⁵ "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" ²⁶ The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek. ²⁷ The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching-- and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

The Holy One of God has authority

Most of you probably drive very sensible dependable vehicles. Imagine if a friend offered you a ride in his souped up Corvette, you would jump at the opportunity. The machine is beautiful to look at and impressive to sit in. Riding a few inches off the ground, your friend puts the Corvette through its paces. In first gear, you are thrown back in the seat. In second gear, it feels like the “g” force is stretching your face, like the astronauts during a blastoff. In third gear, you blow by an 18-wheeler, like he’s standing still. It’s fantastic. You may be going “a tad” over the speed limit. Then you see a parked police car. The ‘vette slows down. The 18-wheeler slows down. Everybody slows down.

The Corvette had power. The 18-wheeler with a full load and a big diesel engine had power. But that parked police car had authority.

Who has the authority in your life? Your boss may have power, but who has authority? Who is the person, what is the thing, that makes you do what you do, say what you say, think what you think? Who is the authority in your life?

Right after Jesus began His ministry, as a rabbi, He was invited to speak at the synagogue in Capernaum. Mark, who recorded that visit, doesn't record a single word that Jesus preached. What he does share is that the people, after it was all over, walked out, turned to each other and said, “Whoa, there's a Man that preaches with authority. He’s not like all those teachers of the law.”

Jesus’ listeners immediately understood there was something special about this Man. His message had authority. It snapped and crackled with power. Their regular teachers didn’t have the advantage of seeing “the big picture” when reading the Old Testament prophecies like you and I have. They were confused by all these different prophecies concerning the coming Messiah: One prophecy said that the Savior was going to be a suffering servant. Another said he would be a King. The Messiah was described as a prophet but also as a priest. Jesus was to be a kingly descendant of David from the tribe of Judah, but all priests were supposed to come from the tribe of Levi. The Savior was to be the Son of Man, yet also the Son of God? How could the Messiah be all of these things? It just didn’t make any sense to the other teachers and Pharisees. So, much of their time was spent arguing and debating and quoting other theologians. And in the end they gave the people nothing firm to hold on to.

Jesus was different. He spoke forcefully, confidently and convincingly. When Jesus spoke suddenly all these things began to make sense. He spoke with authority. He didn’t have questions about the Word, since he was the Word. Jesus spoke as one who knew the whole will of God because He had first-hand experience. Jesus was the only one who could see “the big picture.” His message resonated with the people. Twice Mark emphasizes that “He taught them as one who had authority!” No more wishy-washy interpretation, no more legalistic jargon, no more quoting experts. Jesus knew how all the parts fit together. He knew what was right and what was wrong. He knew how to apply it to their lives. Jesus spoke the simple truth of God, as only God could speak it – with authority – and the people were amazed.

Can you imagine sitting in the synagogue that Saturday, quietly listening to Jesus teach? Everyone was amazed and riveted to every word of this carpenter-preacher. They couldn’t stop listening if they had wanted to. When Jesus spoke, it was as though the Lord God was standing there in front of them. People were on the edge of their seats – you could hear a pin drop … when out of nowhere a tortured scream shatters the silence. “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us?”

Startled, the people look around and this man is ranting and raving like a crazy person waving his arms as he shouts. You might imagine what it would be like if this happened here today in our worship service. Then the demons make the man cry out, “I know who you are, the Holy One of God.”

A chilling fear, almost panic, grips the crowd. Yet Jesus seems undisturbed, unmoved. He looks the man in the eye as though He had been expecting just this moment. The people who had come for what they thought would be a quiet Sabbath service feel themselves to be unwilling participants in a showdown. It is as though heaven and hell, light and darkness, right and wrong have come gathered for war.

Jesus issues a direct order. No fear, no trepidation, no hesitation and no doubt about the outcome. Just the order. “Be quiet and come out of him!” There is a struggle within the man. He convulses. There is a loud shriek. And then … the man stands there quietly … at peace.

There was a battle of forces that took place that day, and the stronger force won. You see a battle like this whenever two powerhouses meet in a sports contest or on the battlefield. The top rated defense against a rated offense in the Super Bowl. During the Second World War, there was an incredible clash between the forces of good and the forces of evil. The Allies gathered to stop Hitler and his forces.

On that Sabbath, in that synagogue, Jesus showed His strength over the forces of Satan and His evil demons. This was only a small demonstration of how Jesus has all authority in heaven and on earth. Later, Jesus would show that He had power over death by willingly giving up His own life and then powerfully taking it back up again. He would show His authority over sin by canceling out the sins of all humanity by the one sacrifice of the Holy One of God.

Jesus has authority! But is it possible there are other authorities in your life? What other authorities have shoved the Savior aside? Possibly, like Eve, the eye-pleasing pleasures of this world are your authority. Maybe, like King David, lust has lured you away from the Lord and become your authority. It is possible that you, like Ananias and Sapphira, are looking to advance your life by making shady business deals; or like Achan find yourself caught up in a particular or pet sin separating you from God’s grace.

Is it possible that like the crowds on Palm Sunday, you shout hosannas on a bright Sunday, but you are strangely silent on a dark Friday? Are you supportive of Jesus in a crowd of His followers, but have denied Him among critics? For the promises we have not kept, for good intentions we have not implemented, for high ideals we have allowed to wither, we beg for mercy. For enthusiasm that eroded with time, for devotion that faded, for the commitment that got distracted by our own interests, we plead forgiveness.

It makes little difference what your authority is. If your authority is not Jesus Christ, it is a false authority. It is an influence that will rob you of joy in this world, and the next. But when Jesus, by the Holy Spirit’s power, rules your head and heart; when Jesus is the Authority above anything and everything else, your life is changed immensely for the better.

The gathered worshipers must have all sat stunned when they saw this demon-possessed man miraculously turned back to normal. Jesus not only talks about God and the love and care of God – He actually brings it about in someone’s tortured life. Evil flees in the presence of purity!

Jesus drastically and dramatically changed that man’s life – forever. Jesus has that same power to change us. Think about what God has done to change people throughout Bible history. Noah was a drunk, but he was used by God to save life on this earth. Abraham was too old, yet he became the father of all believers. Jacob was a liar, Rachel had trouble bearing children, and Leah was ugly, yet together they became the parents of an entire nation. Joseph was abused, but he staved off hunger for Egypt during the famine. Moses couldn’t talk, but he became a great leader. Gideon was afraid, yet he “cleaned the clocks” of those Midianites. Samson was a womanizer, yet God used him to exact revenge on the Philistines. Rahab was a prostitute, yet is one of the ancestors of Jesus. Jeremiah and Timothy were too young, yet they were powerful preachers.

David was an adulterer and a murder, yet God used him to pen some of the greatest of the Psalms. Elijah was suicidal, Isaiah preached naked, Jonah ran from God, yet God still used them to preach His powerful Word. John the Baptist ate bugs, Peter denied Christ, the disciples fell asleep while praying, yet God used them to be the pillars of his Church. Martha worried about everything, Mary Magdelene was demon-possessed, the Samaritan woman was divorced more than once, yet they were great followers of Christ. Zaccheus was too small, Paul was too religious, Timothy had an ulcer, and Lazarus was dead! Still God used them!

When others would see us as junk God sees our potential. Others see sinners. God sees saints. Others see hypocrites. God sees His children. Jesus gives the order. There is a struggle within us between our sinful nature and our New Man, but in the end, Jesus wins. And there we are … changed … righteous … at peace. If God can change people like David, Paul, and this demon-possessed man, then surely Jesus has the power and authority to change sinners like us as well.

Dear friends, having Jesus as the Authority in your life, knowing Him as Savior, doesn’t mean you won’t ever have problems. Difficulties will come your way. But, when you have Jesus as the Authority in your life, you are able to do more, be more, care more, love more and forgive more, than you ever thought possible.

Don’t say no to Jesus. Don’t sell yourself short. Jesus really is the Holy One of God. He has the authority to teach you. Listen to Him and obey. He has the authority to change you. Let Him do the amazing inside of you. Don’t underestimate how Jesus can use you and how much He wants what is best for you! He has both power and authority. Listen to Him and be changed. Allow Him to be the authority in your life. Amen.