Discipleship Journey: Led by the authority of Christ!

(A sermon on Mark 1: 21:28)

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.

Friends in Christ, as the body of Christ, we gather today, after service members of this church gather again for a special meeting, to review, discuss and deliberate over proposed changes and hopefully approve the new constitution that was drawn up from LCAQD model constitution. What a fitting context it is then, that we gather today to listen and ponder over this topic at hand, authority!

So, I invite you to reflect with me these words of the gospel reading (Mark 1: 21-28):

21 (Jesus and disciples) 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 impure 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 impure 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 impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.

Let us pray:

Gracious God, by the power of your Word you bring healing and hope to the lost, lonely and suffering. Lead, guide, support us today and always under your authority, for we pray in our saviour Jesus Christ’s name. Amen.

Friends in Christ, when you think of authority, what comes to your mind immediately? A cop in a uniform, a politician perhaps, or a medical practitioner, or a civil servant, Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) for those who like to keep a tab on weather always. Some of you perhaps consider a news journalist report in a TV show or in newspapers as authoritative? Past year, especially with the pandemic, taught us how authority looks like, perhaps even taught a few things about abiding with the authority of the law, for example, learning fill out registrations wherever you go, sanitise regularly, etc be it at a café, a gym, a church, following such protocols gives you access and entry to various premises.

Perhaps, if we pause for a second and move away from recognising authority in a public setting to more a personal setting, maybe you identify your mother, or father, or a teacher, or a coach, or your boss at work or at home as authoritative figures in your life. For some people a philosopher, or a book or a movie can just as much exert authority over their life shaping their dreams, or fashioning their lifestyle as any of the living people in their lives. Wherever may that source of authority comes from, it is easy to see it in others, isn’t it?

But let me ask you this, do you drive? Do you have a utility bill under your name? Do you own things (whatever they maybe)? Do you have a bank account that you are solely responsible for? Perhaps, you manage a property or a business or a club? Do you have a job for which you are responsible for? Do you cook or do you look after anyone? Do you lead in any capacity maybe in a community organisation or over a family as mother, father, wife, husband, etc? If you answered ‘yes’ to any of the above questions, then you are a person in authority. Hope this is this not news to you!

In this context, let me ask you a sincere question, given we all exercise a bit of authority, why then do we consider only a few people as truly in authority and be sceptical of them? What makes us not to trust authorities or at least have cynical attitude towards them?

One answer I could think of is this: we are privileged to live in such times, as consumers we are encouraged to think, feel, sense for ourselves and be the judge of all matters – be the authoritative sources as such! Sometimes, public conversations be it in media or in other places put us in spaces, where we are asked to decide on things based on our powers of perceptions and opinions: ‘What do I like’, ‘what do I want?’ sits at the heart of our decision making. Selfishness to an extent influence people to make decisions, is it not? If you ask me, how is it any different from the context of Genesis 3? Adam and Eve ate the fruit with the pretext that, they would become ultimate authority on deciding things. That is the pitch of the message given by the serpent, ‘you will be like God.’ So then, friends let us examine our hearts under the authority of Christ today.

I invite you to do so because, the Word of God has a great deal to say on matters of authority. In fact, the Word of God today assigns authority to God, and His Word, revealed, proclaimed, and believed. For example, the reading from Deuteronomy 18 speaks about proper authority of a prophet raised by God. Such prophet’s authority rests with the authority of the scripture and people are asked to test. In the Epistle reading, when Apostle Paul gives out his teaching on food offered to idols, he encouraged Corinthian Christians to seek their authority in matters of love for their fellow believers. We are told, puffing up of knowledge, as good as it may seem, the ultimate authority does not abide with knowledge but with love (for neighbour). Jesus, in the gospel reading demonstrates what this authority looks like in word and in deed.

We heard, after inviting disciples to follow him, Jesus entered a little town called Capernaum. In that town, Jesus went into a synagogue. Now for those who do not know what a synagogue is, it is a gathering of Jews, much like our gathering here today. The main business why people gather is this: in synagogue, people gather with the intention of listening to the Word of God. The ultimate priority is given to hearing God’s Word and obeying it. So, going to church is as much a journey as wanting to listen to God’s Word, respect its authority over our life. Jesus being the Word, still managed to go to places where the Word of God is read, proclaimed, and pondered by people. So, we hear, Jesus went into a Synagogue.

There he opened up the Bible, Mark wouldn’t tell us what Jesus preached from, but all Mark says is Jesus’ preaching was with authority. People recognised this authority and were amazed by it. They marvelled at his preaching. Even, a person who was possessed by an unclean spirit recognised the authority Jesus has. The evil spirit cried out, ‘“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!”’

At the words of Jesus, ‘come out of him’, the impure spirit obeyed and left the man. Verse 26 says: ‘the impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek’. Now witnessing this people marvelled at Jesus. They said to each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”

Many a times during Jesus ministry on earth, people marvelled at his authority over things. When Christ calmed storm, disciples asked who is this, that calmed the storm? Jewish leaders at point asked Jesus, on what authority does Jesus forgive people their sins?

When Jesus made the lame walk, they wondered about the power of Jesus’ words which made the lame walk? Likewise, when Jesus gave sight to the blind, healed every kind of disease, people were puzzled by Christ’s authority. When Jesus raised Lazarus from death people marvelled at the power of his word. When Christ multiplied the loaves and fish, or turned water into wine, disciples realised the power of his word.

At the time of Jesus’ crucifixion, like us all, perhaps these disciples were cynical of Jesus’ authority because he was being put to death. During then, they doubted his words about resurrection and doubted his authority over death. Yes, they have heard Jesus tell Jewish leaders, ‘destroy this temple and in three days, I will raise it again’ (John 2:19)), but they did not trust it. At one point, Jesus even taught his disciples saying, ‘the reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again” (John 10: 18).

It is natural for them, for us to be cynical of the authority until we witness it in its power. Jesus authority made sense to the cynical, perhaps doubtful disciples after witnessing the risen and living Lord. Just as promised, Christ rose again.

Post resurrection, Christ appeared to the disciples and said: ‘all authority has been given to me, go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptising them…..and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you’ (Matthew 28: 18-20). Now why does this command matter? It matters because Jesus’ authority calls people to live as his disciples. By the nature of his authority our brother Jesus forgives us and calls us to share in a new life. By this very authority, the Holy one of God, also makes us holy. You know, to be holy is to be set apart? By the nature of our baptism our Lord has set us apart, to live and reign under his authority. Baptised into this name, you and I come under the authority of Christ.

The good news for you and me today is this, this very Jesus, by the power and authority of his word promises to abide with us. To deliver us from every kind of trouble. Be it in our bodies, minds, souls, Christ promised to deliver us. His promise is to guide us through worries and panics of this world. Jesus words of institution echo Christ’s abiding presence with us, ‘every time you eat of this, and drink from the cup, do this in remembrance of me.’ The authoritative words of Jesus says much about his willingness to receive us, forgive us, restore us, offering hope and life eternal for us. Proper authority is meant to do just that!

Authority exists to serve, and our brother Jesus serves us. Peace, reconciliation and a future belong to the church of God, because Christ rules forever. Ephesians 1: 21-22 says: ‘far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.’ This is God’s doing.

Good authority achieves things, trusting this authority we carry on in our baptismal lives as people of God. Not just that, proper authority is something you could lean on in times of trouble. For such authority is like a beacon guiding people through tough times. The new constitution we might have in place will work towards fulfilling that function, shedding light in times of darkness. But more than authoritative constitution or any other authoritative figures in this world, the Word of Christ, carries us in times of our internal darkness and turmoil. The word of God calls us from recognising authority in our broken, fallen nature to the true authority of our Saviour. For the Word of God is like a lamp unto our feet and guide unto our path.

So then, trusting the word of God, the authority of Christ, let us continue our stories here and now. Whatever might be our grief or trouble, the good news is, the one who promised to be with us, to never leave nor abandon us, journey’s with us. Let us march on then.

To this purpose the peace of God that surpasses all human understanding guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Rev. Jaswanth Kukatlapalli

Pastor at Mackay Community Lutheran Church (Mackay), and

St. Martin’s Lutheran Church (Cannonvale)

Office Address: 44-46 Wellington Street, Mackay, Queensland, 4740