J. J.
May the words of my mouth, and the meditations of our hearts, be acceptable in Thy sight,
O Lord, our Rock and our Redeemer. Amen.
“Because He says so”
In our Gospel today, Jesus continues on His ministry. You will recall that He has called His disciples to follow Him. And that He had been proclaiming that the kingdom of God is at hand. That is to say, that the reign of God, or the rule of God, was at hand. We see in the lesson today, that the reign of God is at hand, in two ways. It is close at hand in time, and in fact, begins to unfold. And it is close at hand in location. It is right here, right on hand as it were, in the person of Jesus. We shall see that Jesus has authority, and that His authority is not only over the seen, but also the unseen.
Most of us have had experience of parents interacting with children, and in telling them what they must do. The scenario sometimes goes like this. “I told you to do it” “But why do I have to do it.” “Because I said so.” Maybe you said those words as a parent or a teacher. Or maybe you recall hearing them as a child. Or perhaps you have overheard the scene played out.
In any event, it comes done to the point that the parent need not explain, and that parent's word must be obeyed, because as Mother or Father, they have authority. That is, they have the “say-so.” And that’s what “say-so” is, isn’t it? It’s about authority. The force of the words is not just in the words, but in the authority of the one speaking the words.
That is why when brother or sister tries to tell their siblings to do something, it will quickly draw the response, “You’re not the boss of me.” Brother or sister may have used the exact same words that Mom or Dad used, but they don’t have the authority to back it up. They don’t have the “say-so.”
Jesus and His disciples come into Capernaum, and it is likely Friday, for the Sabbath comes immediately at sunset on Friday, and one could not travel on the Sabbath. And so they are in the synagogue, and Jesus is teaching. Remember, synagogue worship was different from temple worship. There was only one temple, in Jerusalem. It was the place of sacrifice. It was the place where sin and impurity was atoned. There was some teaching also in the temple courtyards, but the primary activity of the temple was sacrifice.
While there was only one temple, there were many synagogues, in each community, just as we have churches. "Synagogue" means to come together, it is a Greek word. We use its Latin equivalent, "congregation", which also means to gather together. And just as we use "church" to mean building or people, so here, sometimes synagogue can mean the building, other times the people. And there was not one rabbi or teacher at each, who did all of the teaching, but all of the men who were learned of the scriptures might speak.
So Jesus was teaching. But His teaching was different. Our text says, he taught "as one having authority, and not as the scribes." To get the picture, we need to know how the scribes taught. They would teach from the scriptures, and they would be careful to say, “Moses says this,” or “the Prophet such and such, wrote etc.” Sometimes they might refer to what another scribe or rabbi, a famous and respected one, often deceased, had said about a passage. But they would never say it themselves. For they themselves had no authority. They had no "say-so."
But Jesus teaches, “as one having authority.” He not only says it, but He has the right to say it. This amazed the people. What kind of man would have such authority to speak on behalf of God? Jesus continued teaching, and the people were whispering to each other and were amazed. While he taught this man act outs.
He is the one possessed of an unclean spirit. He was in their synagogue. Remember, how synagogue can mean the place or it can mean the group of people? So we don’t know here if Mark is only telling us that this man happened to be inside the synagogue at the time, or whether he was a member of the synagogue. I tend to believe that he was a member of the synagogue, as only Jews could be inside, so unless he had traveled and was visiting, as Jesus was, he lived in Capernaum and so was a member.
It is okay that we don’t know exactly whether it was place or people, for what it does tell us, is this: that we cannot escape evil, here an unclean spirit, by where we go, the kind of place where we are. Evil is everywhere. Nor can we escape it by being religious, the kind of people we are. Evil comes to all people. That was so then. It is true today. In your own life you know that you cannot run away, physically, from evil. And you know that evil will come up against us, to tempt you or to harm you, or both. Young or old, rich or poor. Bad things happen even to good people.
The unclean spirit in this man can perceive the truth of Jesus. His knowledge is not limited to the physical sense. “I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” Just as the people sense that Jesus had authority, this spirit knows it, too. “Have you come to destroy us now?” The spirit knows that Jesus has that power and authority, and was afraid. We know this, or should know it, too. How does the explanation to each of the commandments begin, “We should fear and love God…”
Now Jesus speaks. “Be Silent, and come out of him.” And so the spirit does. Christ’s word is performative. He not only states a truth, but His word brings about what He says. He has the “say-so.” He says it, and it is so. And again the people are amazed. Listen carefully to what they say. “Such teaching with authority, even the demons obey Him.” They are not amazed only at the exorcism. They know that Christ’s power shown in the exorcism is joined together with His authority as teacher. He has the authority to speak it, teach it, proclaim it, “The reign of God is here.” and He has the power to back it up and make it happen. These are not separate things, but one.
As John writes in His Gospel, “He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.” (John 1:2-3). Christ was active in the creation of all things. And how was the universe created? “In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth, … And God said, “Let there be light, and there was light.” "And God said." He spoke the Word. The Word is Christ. And the Word of Christ is not words only. It is even more than a command given to another to do something. No, the Word of Christ itself performs what it declares. And we see this, don’t we Church?
How is it that in the Holy Supper, we receive Christ’s body and blood. Not because of the words or actions of the pastor or vicar. But by Christ’s Words. His “say-so” He says This is My Body, and it is so. How is it that our sins are forgiven? By Christ’s say-so. He said, “Whosoever sins you forgive, they are forgiven them.” And it is. What does the absolution declare? “As a servant of Christ, and by His authority I forgive you all your sins.” Jesus says it, and it is so.
Christ has cleansed us from sin. And His say-so brings us forgiveness in absolution and in the communion. But Christ has not only paid the debt of our sins, and opened the gates of heaven, Christ is also victorious over the Adversary, and the powers of darkness.
Dear Ones, we strive against evil every day. Day in, day out. Sometimes we see it. Sometimes the evil goes unseen, but it is still there. As people of Christ, we can go about our daily lives, living to His glory, without fear of Satan, devils, or demons. For the Adversary and all his minions have been conquered by our victorious Christ. Powerful though they may be, the Evil Foe has no power over us.
Though devils all the world should fill, all eager to devour us.
We tremble not, we fear no ill, they shall not overpower us.
This world’s prince may still scowl fierce as he will,
He can harm us none, he’s judged; the deed is done;
One little word can fell him.*
Amen.
S. D. G.
* A Mighty Fortress is Our God, stanza 3, Lutheran Service Book 656.
