Welcome to Resurrection Parish, and thank you for joining us as we begin the fifth week of our message series, “Defining Moments,” which is looking at those brief experiences, so brimming with meaning that they bring definition and clarity into our lives that we did not previously have. Defining Moments matter because they help us to identify where we are and where we are going, especially when it comes to our faith.
Two weeks ago we looked at the life of Samuel, who had to learn how to listen to the Lord to experience the defining moments God had in mind for him.
Last week, we looked at the story of Jonah whose story dramatically teaches us
that growth is outside our comfort zone. God shapes defining moments in which we are challenged to grow.
This week is going to be a little different because we are going to be looking at a defining moment that did not happen to just one person, but to a group of people. Jesus orchestrates for them a moment to help them see something about their lives. It is an insight he wants us to experience as well.
St. Mark writes in his gospel, “Then they came to Capernaum, and on the sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and taught” (Mark 1:21). A bonus fact: while Jesus was from Nazareth, during his public ministry, Capernaum became his home base.
So Jesus enters the synagogue and assumes the role of a teacher, probably at the invitation of the leader of the synagogue. We do not know what Jesus taught, but we do know the effect his teaching had on the congregation, “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22).
To more fully understand this passage we need to know who the scribes were. Remember, this was long before the printing press, so the scribes transcribed the scriptures,
what we would call the Old Testament, to be used in local synagogues. Obviously in their position, they got to know scripture better than everyone else. However, by Jesus’ day they had become legalistic interpreters of the scripture and the law found there.
Jesus elsewhere accuses them of intolerance and also hypocrisy as they had a tendency to insist on the letter of the law for everyone else while letting themselves off easy. Also their teaching could be contradictory, and confusing to the average man in the street.
Jesus on the other hand taught clearly with authority. He knew what he was talking about not just because he knew what the Scripture said, but because he lived it out. He had authority
because he had internalized God’s word, it was on his heart.
The gospel tells us 35 times that in encountering Jesus people were amazed. It was
the most common response he seemed to evoke. Then Jesus does something even more amazing.
Mark writes, “In their synagogue was a man with an unclean spirit; he cried out, ‘What have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are – the Holy One of God!’” (Mark 1:23-24).
An unclean spirit refers to the demonic possession of someone attending the service that day. It is interesting that in the Gospels, demons show up all the time, and they recognize Jesus’ true identity as well as his source of authority. At the same time a lot of the religious people miss it all together.
St. Mark continues, “Jesus rebuked him and said, ‘Quiet! Come our of him!’ The unclean spirit convulsed him and with a loud cry came out of him” (Mark 1:25-26). We are then told that the people were amazed that the unclean spirit submitted to Jesus’ authority. This was something they did not see everyday.
In this moment the crowd recognized that something new was happening. Jesus had orchestrated this moment to make an impression on this group of people that this was a new day, and that God was doing a new thing. In that moment the crowd realized that Jesus was different from every other religious leader. He could not only introduce them to new possibilities and new ways of living, he could provide the power to make it happen.
Jesus Christ is the same, yesterday, today and forever. The same Lord who gave a fresh start to the man with an unclean spirit can give you a fresh start too. What is the new thing in 2021 that you would like the Lord to do in your life? This is the power Jesus has. He has the power to make all things new.
It is ironic that churchpeople so often get stuck in the past and hold on to outdated customs and broken systems way, way too long, because when Jesus came into this world,
he ushered in fresh and new thinking.
What is the new thing you want in your life? If you truly believed that Jesus
had the power and the authority to give you a fresh start, what would you like that to be? Maybe the fresh start you need is with your job. You are stuck in a company you don’t like or work you hate. Maybe the fresh start you need is in school. It’s time to apply yourself and get to work. Maybe you need to do something new in finances. You live paycheck to paycheck and you are carrying a burden of debt that stresses you out. Maybe the fresh start is with your marriage. It needs renewed commitment and more joy. Maybe the fresh start is with your kids. You don’t have the relationship you want with them. It always seems that everything is always a fight. Maybe for you it is friendship with God. You don’t have a strong relationship with him. You don’t know him intimately, you don’t serve him passionately.
I don’t know what you want God to make new for you in 2021, but I do know that God
wants to do something new in your life. But for Jesus to do something new in your life,
you have to take two steps.
The first step is simply to name it. Jesus’ power gets unleashed when people take time to be specific with what they want God to do. What is the new thing a loving, heavenly Father would want for you? Name it as clearly as you can.
Second step: You have to begin a new spiritual practice that you don’t currently have. Jesus will provide the power but you have a part to play, you have to allow his power into your life.
We’re already a month into 2021. The gyms are emptying out, diets are being deserted. New Years resolutions are melting away. But God still wants to do something new in your life this year.
What is the new thing you need God’s power to accomplish in 2021? Name it and take a spiritual action step this week. Don’t wait. A simple, small decision today could change the arc of the whole year ahead. It could even be your defining moment, and that would be amazing.