Now, That's Some Preaching

Scripture: Mark 1:21-28; Luke 4:18-19

Title: Now, That’s Some Preaching!

Sermon focuses on what happened the day Jesus preached at the synagogue. Distinctive authority and power. Confronted Evil. Freed Humanity. Lessons for us today.

INTRO:

Grace and peace from God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

What do Joe Friday1 (Dragnet), Steve Jobs (Apple) and Robert Gaskins2 (Power Point) all have in common with John Mark, our Gospel writer?

Well, you could say that all of them primarily focused on:

+Just the facts +Just the data +Just the bullet points

You get that idea the more you read the Gospel of Mark.

However, it does come as a surprise today that our passage takes up a whole eight verses. So, let’s take some time to look at what Mark wanted to share with his readers this morning.

It all starts with Jesus, Peter, Andrew, James and John going to the synagogue in Capernaum. That wasn’t an unusual thing given the fact that the four-fisherman lived either in Capernaum or near Capernaum. What was rather unusual was what happened at the service.

Now, the service no doubt started like all synagogue services started in the time of Jesus.

1. First, there was the Skeliack Tsibbur or " messenger of the congregation," who oversaw the reading of all the different prayers.

2. Then there would be the Readers of the Law (Torah) – this usually involved as many as seven people – who would read from the Torah.

3. After they were finished would come the Reader of the prophets.

4. At times there would be those who did not understand the Hebrew that was being read and so there would be an interpreter who would translate all of it for them into Aramaic.

5. After all the readings and prayers were done it was time for the selected speaker to come forward and share some teaching on either the Law or the Prophets.

6. After he spoke there would be more prayers and then the benediction.

And it appears that up until Jesus spoke things pretty much went the way they normally did. But then as Jesus began speaking people noticed something unusual.

I. Jesus spoke with a definitive authority and anointing.

Normally, the chosen speaker would get up and share their knowledge about Moses or one of the prophets. They would quote some words from Moses and then try their best to help people not only understand them but how they were to be applied in their everyday lives.

Or they would take one of the writings from the Prophet that was read that day and speak about what they were saying and how what they were saying was to apply to people’s everyday life.

If the speaker was good, he would also throw in a couple of key quotes from this rabbi or that rabbi. At the time of Jesus, the two rabbis that were quoted most were Hillel and Shammai (Šamma?y).

Hillel was known for saying things like this: "That which is hateful to you, do not do unto your fellow. That is the whole Torah; the rest is the explanation; go and learn."

Shammai was known for being stricter when it came to everything. One day someone asked both rabbis how they should handle the appearance of a bride. Should one tell an ugly bride that she is beautiful. Rabbi Shammai said it was wrong to lie, and Rabbi Hillel said that all brides are beautiful on their wedding day.

It appears that Jesus didn’t speak that way. He didn’t speak like the normal scribe or guest speaker would have spoken that day.

Instead, he spoke like Moses, like Elijah, Isaiah and Jeremiah.

Jesus didn’t speak about God; He spoke for God. He was God’s mouthpiece for God’s People to hear God’s Words for them.

He didn’t give a lesson on God. Instead, Jesus shared words that His Heavenly Father had given Him to say to His People.

Jesus spoke with an anointing given to Him by the Holy Spirit. He spoke God’s Word from His inner core.

There was a power in Jesus words. A power that was convicting and uplifting. A power that revealed, cleansed and healed all at the same time. A power that St. Luke describes this way in Luke chapter 4:18-19

“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,

because he has anointed me

to proclaim good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives

and recovering of sight to the blind,

to set at liberty those who are oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”

II. Secondly, we see Jesus Confronting Evil

I don’t know about you but when that man stood up and the demon started speaking through him, I wonder how many people wanted to find a door and get out of that synagogue.