In the name of One God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, Amen.
In Harper Lee’s wonderful book, and almost equally wonderful movie, To Kill A Mockingbird, Atticus Finch is an authority figure. He is a lawyer in the poor, small town of Maycomb, Alabama, during the Great Depression. Atticus is one of the pillars of the town and someone whom the townspeople, by-and-large know and trust. In other words, when Atticus Finch speaks – whether they agree with him or not – people listen. And the first part of the story deals heavily with establishing Atticus’ level of authority, both at home and in the town.
Twice in only seven verses, the author of Mark’s Gospel tells us that the people were astounded and amazed that Jesus taught and acted, “with authority.” Clearly for Mark, Jesus’ authority was an important thing, and one that the congregation members in today’s Gospel story had never seen until that day.
The people in the synagogue at Capernaum that day had no idea who Jesus was. Mark tells us in previous verses that Jesus had just begun His ministry by choosing His first four disciples, who lived in Capernaum. Jesus wasn’t a local boy. He had just gotten to town from Nazareth. So, when he began to teach that day, he came to the people as an unknown quantity. But as soon as He started to teach, they “were amazed.” Jesus taught them “as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” That was a real difference for the people, even though the scribes were the men who had been trained in the Scriptures and were given the job of teaching them about their faith. Mark wants us to understand that Jesus’ teaching was a new experience for a people who had been previously taught by trained experts.
In my days in the courtroom, I saw some of the best, and some of the worst trial lawyers in Texas. I sat across from some very good ones and some very bad ones, but I also spent countless hours in the gallery – the place where “the audience” sits – waiting for my turn to go before some judge. Through those experiences, I learned that there are very real differences between lawyers. Some will out work and out prepare their opponents every time. Others will never be prepared, no matter how much time they have or how important the matter they’re handling. But there are also some (a small number to be sure) who have a God-given gift when they step inside the bar. They do their jobs with authority and with authenticity. And it makes a difference.
If you’ve ever been into a real courtroom, you may have seen these same things. One lawyer gets up before the judge or jury and has a whole stack of papers and file folders. Methodically, he or she goes through each one, asking good questions or making good arguments, in a very measured and careful way. And inevitably you’ll find yourself falling asleep, halfway through their presentation. Then the other lawyer gets a turn. This person begins to speak, either with few – or no notes, and you find yourself riveted; captivated by every syllable, waiting to find out what is coming next. One of the main differences between these two is that one presents the case with authority and one does not. One knows which files to reach for in order to find the pertinent fact, the other knows, and has lived, the case.
The Scribes knew what the Scriptures said. They knew where to find every law in Leviticus and Deuteronomy. They knew where to look to find what the prophet Isaiah had said. But Jesus knew the God from whom all the Scriptures had come. “The Law,” of Scripture was written on His heart and the Prophets spoke words that Jesus didn’t have to look up, He knew the God who had spoken the words to them. The Scribes taught the Hebrew Scriptures, Jesus was the Scriptures.
People were – and are – drawn to Jesus, not because of the miracles He produced. Sure, the miracles made people gasp and show their awe, but in the long run, the miracles were signs, not events. They were signs of who Jesus was, signs of where His authority came from, signs that the things He taught, said and did were true – were authentic.
One hundred and forty-odd years ago, the Bishop of Rhode Island, Thomas March Clark wrote a book entitled Primary Truths of Religion. In it, Bishop Clark wrote this about Jesus:
The great evidence of Christianity is Christ. And He authenticates Himself. The most natural solution of His life is the supernatural. The truths which He uttered were not truths which He had learned; He was the truth. The works, the wonders and signs, that He performed, were the natural development of His superhuman power.
Thomas March Clark expressed the amazing power of Jesus that the people of Capernaum saw – Jesus’ supernatural authority; that which drew people to him as if by magic so that they could experience who God really is, just by being around Him.
Here is where Atticus really distinguished himself from even the most gifted and authoritative of lawyers. Not only was Atticus an authority figure around town, but when Tom Robinson was being unjustly charged with rape, Atticus got down into the middle of the racially heated situation and faced danger with him. And probably more importantly, when Jem was injured in Bob Ewell’s attack, Atticus stayed up all night, sitting by the boy’s bed, looking after and caring for him. He did not send anyone else to be a caregiver, he got into the middle of the suffering and helped to bring healing.
Atticus is a Christ figure in To Kill A Mockingbird. And this is one of the areas where that fact shines through brilliantly. You see, Jesus did not just authoritatively teach the people about Holy Scripture or what God had said and done in the past. When the man with the unclean spirit came in, Jesus left his teaching and went to interact with the man … He got down into the man’s misery with him. And in the process, Jesus brought the man healing and wholeness. Jesus – whom Mark has introduced as none other than “Messiah” and “Son of God” – is also one who confronts and responds to human suffering and need. Even though Jesus has an exalted title, he wades into human misery.
We are naturally drawn to people who speak, “as one with authority,” because they have an authenticity that makes us believe that we can trust what they say. That authenticity comes from “living” what we are talking about. In other words, if I stand here and talk to you about the art of hunting deer or catching fish, you’ll likely tune me out, even if you really care about the subject matter, because you will be able to tell that what I’m telling you came out of a book, or from someone else’s experience. It won’t authentically be my story. But when I stand here and tell you about the power of Christ Jesus, resurrected and living in the world; hopefully you will hear authenticity in my telling.
I have read a lot about our Lord – his life, his teachings, his ministry. And I can tell you lots of Jesus stories. But what might move you is when I tell you how Jesus has moved in MY life. That is an authentic experience of the one who taught with authority. We all have those stories, the stories of everyday miracles that can only happen through the living God.
Have you ever had something that happened in your life that was just beyond your life experience? Something that was simply unexplainable? Perhaps a lost pet – or friend – just suddenly returned. Or maybe a tumor “disappeared,” between doctor visits. Maybe it was something as ordinary as a relationship being healed after a long time of estrangement. Each one of those things can be brushed aside as, “just one of those things,” or a coincidence, or “good luck.” But if you believe that God created everything that is, and that God is active in the world, those would be everyday miracles. And I will guarantee that if you tell someone your story, and include how you felt when God acted in your life – that will be an authentic explanation of God.
Now share your authentic stories of God. That’s how we deepen community, and how we create new disciples for our Lord.
In the name of one God, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Amen.
[Epiphany 4B Sermon 013121, Deuteronomy 18:15-20; Psalm 111, 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28]
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