Authority, Rules, Principles and Freedom

Scripture: Deuteronomy 18:15-20  • Psalm 111  • 1 Corinthians 8:1-13  • Mark 1:21-28
 Paul's first letter to the Christians in Corinth instructs them on why they should not eat the meat offered to idols. His reason is nuanced, offering insight into the responsible exercise of Christian freedom, considering rules, rights, responsibilities, principles, and people.  See The Rev. Machrina Blasdell's "What's the Question."

Remember our discussion of the authority and power exercised by Jesus, ἐξουσία,  authority associated with freedom instead of domination. An authority which when exercised and recognizes us frees us from powers which bind us, to do God's will, to love with God's love, to serve rather than be served. That is the authority recognized in Jesus' exorcism of the man from Capernaum  possessed of an unclean Spirit. Can you think of teachings and practices of Jesus concerning eating, food, and banquets? How does that relate to Paul's instructions to the Christians of Corinth concerning eating the food offered to idols? Think about how Jesus used his authority. How should we, as the body of Christ, act in Jesus' name? Read what Sister Kym Harris says about the authority of Jesus in her Exposition.

In "Astounded," Debie Thomas wants us to be open to be astonished at the healing freedom Jesus offers as he speaks with authority so that even unclean spirits submit to him. What has he do do with us? Everything.

 

Why did the disciples answer Jesus' Call?

Scripture: Jonah 3:1-5, 10  • Psalm 62:5-12  • 1 Corinthians 7:29-31  • Mark 1:14-20

The gospel this week is about Jesus calling his disciples, particularly, Andrew, Peter, James and John, to become fishers of men. How is it that they dropped what they were doing, their livelihood, and family and way of life to follow Jesus?

Our authors this week look through the lens of the writer of the gospel of Mark, Paul's letter to the Corinthians, and even the Jonah's mission to the Assyrians, as well as the times in which they were written, to give us insight into why, and how, the disciples answered Jesus' call.

There is more to the term "evangelical," which comes from the Greek εὐαγγέλιον (euangélion), or "good news, although "good news" it is! See Dan Clendenin's "Evangelicals: When Labels are Libels." The urgency of getting the good news out, in God's time (καιρός - kairos) is viewed in the urgency of the time ( Χρόνος - chronos) Paul's letter and the gospel of Mark were written. The challenge is to see, believe, and act in God's time, with the love, forgiveness and compassion God showed the Ninevites in Jonah's story, and which is recognized in this week's Psalm. As this week's gospel begins, "The time is fulfilled, the  kingdom of God has come near, repent (turn around - renew your minds and thoughts and hearts), and believe in the good news. That's what grabbed the disciples, and that is what can grab you and me.

See also, Beth Scibienski's "Irresistible Grace," Sister Kim Harris' Commentary,  Exposition, and Reflection (all separate short articles), and Fr. Rick Morley's "time fulfilled - a reflection on Mark 1:14-20."

O Lord, You have searched me and known me...

Scripture: 1 Samuel 3:1-10, (11-20)  • Psalm 139:1-6, 13-18  • 1 Corinthians 6:12-20  • John 1:43-51

The lessons this week are about knowing, recognizing the truth, and recognizing the presence of God in our lives. Samuel recognized God's presence and truth with Eli's help, overcame his own reservations, and told Eli God's truth, as hard as it was.

Beautiful Psalm 139 is a confession and hymn of gratitude to God who knows us all our days, knit us together in our mothers' wombs, and is still with us.

Jesus knew Nathanael before Philip called him, as an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.

Professor Alyce M. Mackenzie helps us be aware of God's presence in our lives in "Recognizing Jesus: Reflections on John 1:43-51."The Rev. Debie Thomas, in "Come and See," says that Nathanael, a skeptic, experienced an epiphany in recognizing Jesus as the Son of God, and Light of the World. More importantly, is what Jesus sees in Nathanael - in you and me.

Baptism of the Spirit

Scripture: Genesis 1:1-5  • Psalm 29  • Acts 19:1-7  • Mark 1:4-11

Every Epiphany we consider the baptism of Jesus. This year, in "The Politics of the Individual - Mark 1:4-11,"  Alastair Roberts gives us a good geo-political look at the time Jesus was baptized, and its significance then, and now.

In "The 'Great Wind' of God," Dan Clendenin provides a good exegesis of the term for "breath" or Spirit of God, considering one of the two creation stories in Genesis, the baptism of repentance by water by John the Baptist, and baptism of the "Spirit" which descended on Jesus, and later on a group of Ephesians baptized by Paul in the name of Jesus.