Gospel of Mark 1:21-28
Jesus and his disciples 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.
Let us Pray: Faithful God, your Holy One, Jesus of Nazareth, spoke the truth with authority, and you confirmed his teaching by wondrous deeds. Through his healing presence, drive far from us all that is unholy, so that by word and deed we may proclaim him Messiah and Lord and bear witness to your power to heal and save. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen.
Jesus was able to teach with authority because He is the Son of God, and the Holy Spirit is with Him. We have the creative word of God in action here. Whenever the Word of God is spoken there is always authority, there is always power. The Word of God never ceases to surprise, to astound and to have effect on those who listen to it, an effect that no human words can ever have. Teaching with authority was a gift from His Father.
For many humans, authority becomes merely a means of enriching oneself, of getting one’s own way, of suppressing the truth, and of getting and holding the power to keep doing those things. Witness the parade of totalitarian regimes,
Not so with Jesus. He has all the authority there is, yet he uses it entirely differently from the way many people would. His actions spoke for Him. He took action when necessary. He simply dealt with the problem decisively when it arose. He didn’t overreact. Jesus didn’t make a spectacle out of his authority. He just made it go.
He didn’t gloat about it. Jesus didn’t use his abilities to heal to further his image. He was just Jesus, one who spoke and acted with the authority given to Him by his heavenly Father.
Let us Pray: Holy and awesome God, your Son’s authority is found in integrity and living truth, not the assertion of power over others. Open our imaginations to new dimensions of your love, and heal us of all that severs us from you and one another, that we may grow into the vision you unfold before us. Amen.
Reflections by Bob 