There God stood, in the dust of Caper′na-um, speaking with Authority to change eternity, as though it was just another day.
When I was a young school girl, I enjoyed debating, public speaking and mock trials very much. The real joy for me in those activities was being able to speak – to say my mind in front of a room of people and not to be afraid of the consequences of speaking. I enjoyed being able to speak confidently and with authority n certain matters – even if I was not entirely informed about them. And there was something so exciting in the adrenalin of the moment that caused me to have to think on my feet and make decisions about how I wished to proceed with certain responses to arguments that were presented in the moment…
Now, I have been meditating upon the words of Christ. Not the words themselves so to speak, but rather, the way that He spoke. I am reflecting on how the Son of God – God Himself – would have been able to address the crowds. How He would have said His teachings. I am reflecting on His confidence.
You see confidence – true confidence – comes from knowing that you cannot be contradicted because what you are saying is correct and true. When a human speaks with confidence it is because they know that they are speaking the truth and therefore should not be interrupted…
And Christ spoke not only with confidence, but with authority…
“And they went into Caper′na-um; and immediately on the sabbath he entered the synagogue and taught. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. And 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, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him. And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, ‘What is this? A new teaching! With authority he commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.’ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.” (Mark 1:21-28).
Christ’s authority and his teachings astonished people. “…All the people hung upon His words” (19:48). One of the early Christian writers, Origen, said, “we should reverence every word of Scripture in the same way we reverence every particle of the Consecrated Host.”
And I have been thinking about that today. For my Beloved spoke with AUTHORITY. For God has authority over all the earth and all the heavens and over all things. And it occurs to me today that such a vision of the Preaching Lord would be a wonder that is too magnificent for all the world to contain. And yet, there God stood, in the dust of Caper′na-um, speaking with Authority to change eternity, as though it was just another day.
For with prayer, I stand on Holy Ground where everything is clear. Here. At the Foot of the Cross.
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