If a student walked into a classroom and announced to his peers, ‘there’s no class today’, the students would probably question him. But if the teacher walked into the room and announced no class, he would probably be stampeded by the students rushing to leave. The difference in responses is that the teacher had the authority to say that, and the student did not.
Our gospel tells us today that when Jesus spoke, “he taught them as one having authority” and “the people were amazed.” There was something about Jesus that made Him stand out from anyone else. People would go without food and travel long distances just to hear Him.
And there was something very special about Jesus’ words. They were different from the Scribes who would just quote past scholars and wouldn’t offer any new truths or ideas. Scribes just reinforced what had been said before and exhorted the people not to eat pork and walk only so many steps on the Sabbath.
But when Jesus spoke, people were astonished and probably riveted to his every word. It was as though God was standing there in front of them; indeed, God was. Jesus, the Word Incarnate, spoke words the people needed to hear: words of comfort, of freedom, of pardon, words that had authority, power, and hope for living.
But then, as he was teaching, he was suddenly interrupted. A major distraction happened. A man with an unclean spirit started screaming at Jesus. No doubt everyone was startled. Jesus stopped, and in no uncertain terms, told the spirit to be quiet and come out of the man. It did…with a loud shriek! Then the man stood there quietly, at peace.
The people are even more amazed now. Jesus not only talks about God, and God’s love and care, but actually brings it about in that poor man’s tortured life. God’s word and works, Jesus showed, are bound together intimately.
Perhaps there are 2 lessons here for us today. First, sometimes it’s very annoying to be interrupted when we’re doing something. But maybe that interruption is something that will bring about a greater good. The phone ringing when you’re on the computer trying to concentrate might be someone needing some advice from you. The person you encounter while you’re hurrying to shop might need to hear a comforting word from you, or just a listening ear. Jesus was interrupted while teaching, but when he attended to the possessed man, that man’s life changed.
Second, we know the people were ‘astonished at his teaching.’ For us, we hear Scripture so often that perhaps we’ve lost that amazement and astonishment at the power of Jesus’ words, words that challenge us, console, heal and save us.
- Can we listen to Jesus’ words, and experience their awe and power, as if we’re hearing them for the very first time?
- Do Jesus’ words ignite our hearts and amaze us?
