The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
His Word Possessed Authority Grace, mercy and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen. In today’s Gospel, the people were astonished at Jesus’ teaching. They were bewildered, amazed, taken aback—“What is this guy saying?”—because “*His Word possessed authority*.” Dear Christian friends: Today’s Gospel requires our attention—perhaps also our repentance—for at least two reasons: · First, we Americans are a hyper-sensitive, easily offended people. We have very little respect for authority and we have absolutely no interest in being corrected by anyone. If you are not certain what I might mean by this, o just think about the last time you had to discuss a difficult topic with a friend or loved one. You choose your thoughts and words with surgical precision and the conversation probably blew up in your face, anyway. Who are you to say that to me? o or think about your attitude toward the most recent police officer who pulled you over. If you hate cops—as some bumper stickers boldly proclaim—then it is probably because you have been corrected by a cop. o try being a pastor for a few weeks. Figure out a way to approach those members of your congregation who deliberately avoid you because they know what you need to say to them and they do not wish to hear it. Here in today’s Gospel, our Lord Jesus spoke with authority. “*His Word possessed authority*.” The Words of Jesus require us to recognize, believe, and accept that there is Someone Who has every right, every freedom and every justification for speaking to us whatever He desires to speak. “*His Word possessed authority.*” Therefore we must listen. We must take His Word to heart, even if He should send someone else to come and do His speaking for Him. Admittedly, this is a tough pill to swallow. Doing otherwise—refusing to listen—would only indicate that we are more American than Christian. It would also indicate that we have abandoned the faith. May God forbid it! · The second thing to notice in today’s Gospel is the personal benefits we each receive precisely because the Word of our Lord “*possessed authority*.” The people of Capernaum were astonished at His teaching (v. 32) and they expressed their astonishment by saying to one another, “*What is this Word? With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits*” (v. 36). Today’s Gospel even illustrates for us the powerful authority of Jesus’ Words by recording for us the conversation Jesus had with a demon: Sounding somewhat like the Tasmanian Devil in a Bugs Bunny cartoon, the demon shrieked at Jesus, “*Ha! 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*.” Unimpressed, Jesus only said, “Shut up and go away.” What does this mean for us? Today’s Gospel wants us to know that, when Jesus speaks with authority, it does NOT mean: o He is speaking as a highly-trained expert in His field. Jesus certainly knew His stuff, but the authority of our Lord does not come from scholarly ability or advanced education. o He used grandiloquent articulations toward the dual objective of delineation and lucidity. Jesus’ authority was not rooted in big words. o He preached with a deep voice or with tele-evangelist persuasion. The authority of Jesus did not depend upon theatrical devices. Jesus speaks with authority because He is God. Stated another way, Jesus speaks with authority because He was sent from the heavenly Father do to the divine work of delivering God’s Word to the nations. He said it Himself in the last chapter of Matthew: “*All authority in heaven and earth has been given to Me*” (Matthew 28:18). The Scriptures also say of Jesus, “*He will not cry aloud or lift up His voice*” (Isaiah 42:3). Today’s Gospel shows us that our Lord did not need to get loud. When He speaks in common, everyday language—using His indoor voice—power and authority pour forth from Him. As it leaves His lips, the powerful authority of His Word comes to you and to me and to the entire creation and even to the unclean spirits who hate God. “*What is this Word?*” the people of Capernaum marveled, “*With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits.*” As I said earlier, you and I both receive personal benefits from the authority of Jesus’ Words—even when He sends someone else to speak them to us. Stuff happens here in our worship that is directly comparable to today’s Gospel. Here in our worship, the Words of Jesus can be heard in their full authority and power. Granted, you and I do not get to see our Lord’s lips move while He speaks. We must content ourselves to hearing God speak through someone who has been sent—just as Balaam had to hear the Word of the Lord from the lips of a donkey (Numbers 22). But the divine Word we hear in our worship and the divine Word that was heard in Capernaum is one and the same Word. Word of the Lord in our midst means: 1. we no longer have reason to fear any enemy—not even a violent demon. “*What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?*” Nothing, says the Lord. Be silent and show yourself to the door. 2. we do not need whooping and hollering, spasmodic behavior, or thrills and chills in order to participate beneficially in worship. Jesus threw out wild worship when He threw out the demon. The Scriptures say of Jesus, “*He will not cry aloud or lift up His voice*” (Isaiah 42:3) and that is a good thing. Our Lord’s “indoor voice” is a good thing because the Scriptures also declare that, when “*He lifts His voice, the earth melts*” (Psalm 46:6). Our worship does not need to be wild, or energetic, or even creative because a spiritual brawl is already taking place in our midst. Every time God’s Word is preached and heard, the bondage of sin is broken, the demons all get chased away, and even death gets the boot. In the Old Testament, Samson killed 1,000 Philistines with the jawbone of a donkey (Judges 16:15). Christ Jesus our Lord—our New Testament Samson—accomplishes even more, simply by speaking. As you heard in today’s Gospel: “*His Word possessed authority*.” 3. when Jesus declares His forgiveness of our sins—spoken by the pastor as by Christ Himself (Small Catechism)—these Words carry “*all authority in heaven and on earth*” (Matthew 28:18). Therefore, the Word of Forgiveness that has been spoken to you should not be doubted. What God says you have, you have. 4. the powerful authority of God’s Word is continually at work upon us. “*What is this Word?*” the people of Capernaum marveled, “*With authority and power He commands the unclean spirits*” and this Word has now come near to you. “*The Word is in your mouth and in your heart*” (Romans 10:8). When the divine Word comes to your heart, it creates and renews your faith. When the divine Word enters into your mouth, it speaks forth thanks and praise. · The final thing to notice about today’s Gospel is the reaction of the people. “*Jesus was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at His teaching, for His Word possessed authority*.” Again, “*They were all amazed*.” By pointing out the reaction of the people, I am not suggesting that you ought to manufacture some artificial response to hearing God’s Word. None of us needs to act amazed or bewildered or astonished when we hear the Scriptures read in our midst. What I said earlier, I say again: the Words of Jesus require us to recognize, believe, and accept that there is Someone Who has every right, every freedom and every justification for speaking to us whatever He desires to speak. If we can somehow manage to allow this to happen, we might end up being surprised by the result.
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