“What is this? A new teaching!”

Meditation on Mark 1:21-28                  

Feb. 1, 2015

     They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. Just then (immediately) there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, ‘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.’ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, ‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ And the unclean spirit, throwing him into convulsions and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, ‘What is this? A new teaching—with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

        Today, we will joyfully install and welcome four new members on our session. Two of them will also be ordained, for this is the first time they have served as ruling elders. Ordination to the office of ruling elder is not like serving in public office, where candidates are elected to represent their constituents. Ordination as a ruling elder is a call to a specific form of ministry, recognized and supported by the congregation. One may serve multiple terms as a ruling elder, though not more than six consecutive years.

      One is ordained a ruling elder only once for life. So this is, indeed, a very special day for the church. And it is truly exciting that those being ordained have only been with us as members a few years! This is confirmation that God has some amazing plans for this congregation and community--and that His Spirit is very much alive and well among us, guiding and empowering those who trust in Him.

      Our Book of Order tells us this about the ministry of ruling elders: “As there were in Old Testament times elders for the government of the people, so the New Testament church provided persons with particular gifts to share in discernment of God’s Spirit and governance of the people. Accordingly, congregations should elect persons of wisdom and maturity of faith, having demonstrated skills in leadership and being compassionate in spirit. Ruling elders are so named not because they ‘lord it over’ the congregation (Matt. 20:25), but because they are chosen by the congregation to discern and measure its fidelity to the Word of God, and to strengthen and nurture its faith and life… Ruling elders, together with teaching elders, exercise leadership, government, spiritual discernment and discipline and have responsibilities for the life of a congregation as well as the whole church, including ecumenical relationships.” 

       Session “shall have the responsibility for governing the congregation and guiding its witness to the sovereign activity of God in the world, so that the congregation is and becomes a community of faith, hope, love and witness.  The session has responsibility and power to provide that the Word of God may be truly preached and heard and that the Sacraments are rightly administered and received, and to nurture the covenant community of disciples of Christ.”

    Because our congregation decided some years ago not to utilize the ministry of deacons, ruling elders are also charged with the responsibilities of deacons. Theirs is a ministry of “compassion, witness, and service, sharing in the redeeming love of Jesus Christ for the poor, the hungry, the sick, the lost, the friendless, the oppressed, those burdened by unjust policies or structures, or anyone in distress. Persons of spiritual character, honest repute, exemplary lives, brotherly and sisterly love, sincere compassion, and sound judgment should be chosen for this ministry.”

   Every now and then, the question of authority in a Presbyterian church comes up. Some might wonder, “Who’s in charge? Session? The pastor? The presbytery? General Assembly?”

      The answer is that ruling elders and teaching elders share equally in the responsibility to shape and carry the ministry forward. They have different gifts and some different functions within the congregation, but they seek to be guided by the same Spirit, to see a glimpse of Christ’s Kingdom here on earth, and to be faithful and obedient to Him. And I want to make sure that everyone understands something very important. While the session and the pastor may have more visible ministries, every person in this congregation shares in the labor and mission of the church. Everyone is called to seek the Spirit’s guidance and Christ’s Kingdom, and to be faithful and obedient to Him.  

     So who is the boss of the congregation? Why, Jesus Christ, of course! This is His Church gathered in His name. And individually, we, too, belong to Him.

     The Book of Order says, “Almighty God, who raised Jesus Christ from the dead and set him above all rule and authority, has given to him all power in heaven and on earth, not only in this age, but also in the age to come. God has put all things under the Lordship of Jesus Christ and has made Christ Head of the Church, which is his body. The Church’s life and mission are a joyful participation in Christ’s ongoing life and work.”

 ***

         From the moment Jesus stands up to preach in the synagogues, the question of his authority arises. It comes up repeatedly in all four gospels!  By what authority does he preach, heal, and cast out “unclean spirits”? Today in Mark’s gospel, the people are “astounded at his teaching, for he taught them “as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Yet, we aren’t told what his teaching is. So this “new teaching” must not be just the message but the embodiment of the teaching--the person of Jesus Christ. Haven’t you noticed? Strange and wondrous things happen whenever he is around.

      In today’s reading, he is preaching when suddenly a man with an “unclean spirit” interrupts, crying out, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, you are the Holy One of God.”

     Jesus rebukes him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” This is the first of many healings and the casting out of demons that Jesus will do in Mark. Sometimes, people respond with joy and gratitude. Other times, they will respond in anger, jealousy, fear, and unbelief. Some will say Jesus has a demon in him that gives him the power to cast out demons.

     On this particular day, though, at this early point in his 3-year ministry, the people are amazed. They ask one another, over and over again, “What is this?? A new teaching--with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.”

    As I read this, I find it hard to understand why they are not asking, “who is this?” rather than “what is this?” Perhaps the people may think they already know Jesus. He is the son of Joseph the carpenter, isn’t he? From the little town of Nazareth, with fewer than 400 people. This is Capernaum--a fishing village of 1,500 or more! He isn’t a scribe or a priest. He isn’t formally educated. He isn’t from a well to do family. He has no human authority to preach. And yet, when he speaks, people listen--and strange and wondrous things happen.

     Only the demons know the truth, that Jesus is the “Holy One of God.” And the demons are right to be worried. He has come to break down all that divides human beings and God. He has come to destroy the power of evil and death--to make what is unclean and broken clean and whole.  To do for us what we cannot do for ourselves--to die on a cross. And take all our sins away.

   Word of Jesus’ miracles spread quickly. Crowds begin to mob him wherever he goes. They bring him their sick and demon possessed, without knowing who he really is or from where his authority comes.

   They don’t understand that this “new teaching” is the person of Jesus Christ. But the demons know. He is “the Holy One of God.”

***

       Friends, I look forward to ministering with our new and returning ruling elders this year. I ask you now to pray for your session and your pastor--that the Lord would reveal to us a glimpse of Christ’s Kingdom and guide us as we seek to follow Him. I ask that you encourage all our ruling elders, especially our newest ones. We aren’t perfect. We are all learning. I am still learning. Trust that we are all doing our best, and that we care very much for one another, for this church, and for the Lord.

   And to our new ruling elders, especially those who will be ordained and serving for the first time ever, I urge you to pray often for the church, to seek Him who has been given all the power and authority on heaven and on earth. Nurture your spiritual life. Don’t ever get to be in so much of a hurry that you no longer pray and read God’s Word. The busier we are, the more we need times of quiet, and to be in conversation with Him.

      There may be some days when you wonder why you said, “Yes,” to serving on session! You will experience the joy and wonder of shared ministry, but sometimes the labor will feel like hard work. And it is! Or you may tell yourself one day that you aren’t that important to the group, and that maybe it won’t matter if you don’t attend every meeting. But you are important. And it will matter.  If you don’t come, you will miss a blessing and we will miss being blessed by you.

    Remember it is not just the Church, but the Lord Himself who has chosen you to serve. Remember to whom this church belongs--and to whom you belong. Put your trust in Him. You are the Lord’s. He is with you now and forever!

    And haven’t you noticed? Strange and wondrous things happen whenever Jesus is around…

Let us pray.

    

Holy One, we thank you for Jesus, whom you gave all power and authority on heaven and on earth--so that he would be the one to break down what separated us from you. Thank you for your wonderful plans for this church, for each of our ruling elders, and for every person who attends this church. Help us to be your faithful and humble servants. We trust that you know what you are doing by choosing us for your work and that you will guide us in your will. Help us to obey. Strengthen us with your joy and stir us to compassion to bring the good news of your salvation to our community and world, so that all that is broken and unclean will be made clean and whole. Grow us in spirit and number this year. Give us your Kingdom vision so that we may live here on earth as it is in heaven. In Christ our Savior we pray. Amen.