Maybe you've heard the story about the High School teacher who injured his back and had to wear a plaster cast around the upper part of his body. It was form fitted, fit under his shirt and wasn't noticeable at all. The first day of school he still had the cast on. He looked at his class roster and realized he'd been assigned to the toughest students in school.

He walked into the classroom, which was already rowdy and noisy. All the students were talking and laughing and either acted like he wasn't there or looked at him with disdain, daring him to say something, anything. The teacher walked over and opened a window as wide as possible and then started working at his desk. Several times, a strong breeze made his tie flip up into his face. Finally, he reached over, picked up the stapler and stapled the tie to his chest in three places and then continued working.  The class immediately quieted down and he didn't have any problems with discipline problems that entire year. (1) Wouldn't it be nice to have that kind of authority in everything you did?    In today's passage, the people were absolutely amazed at the authority of Jesus and his teachings. Mark 1:21-28 (NRSV)   

Jesus had Amazing Authority, like no one had ever seen before.

Now there are all kinds of authority.

  There's Parental Authority: Up until a certain age, and that's different for different kids and family situations, Mom and Dad have 100% authority over us. I remember growing up, when my Dad always got my attention and I also respected Mom's authority.  

  Then There's Boot Camp Authority: The Drill Instructor or Company Commander aren't  just in charge, they are like God. I was in ROTC for one year and learned some good discipline there.   That's the kind of authority they had.

  Then There's The Authority of Age: Sometimes there are those who we cherish and whose wisdom and authority come simply from their age. They've lived longer than anyone we know, they've experienced more and seen more than anyone else and their opinion carries great weight. It might be a parent or grandparent. Or a trusted member of a parish or school.

    There's The Authority of Knowledge: Sometimes we respect people because we know they know more than we do. They are the experts we're just beginners.  

    Some people just have an air of authority about them.

 . That's the way Jesus was. Whenever He spoke, He spoke with authority. He wasn't arrogant or prideful, He just carried Himself and presented Himself in such a way that it set Him apart. I've always imagined Jesus as one of those people whom you might not see enter the room, He never made the Grand Entrance. But before long you felt His presence. You might not even be aware of it at first because it was something subtle. But pretty soon you'd find yourself drawn to Him, like everyone else. Why? Because His words rang true. His words sprang from the heart and they resonated with power and authenticity. It was as if He had a direct line to God. And that's what amazed His listeners.

     There were no gimmicky tricks or false promises to get folks to open up there wallets to support His ministry. There was no phony manipulation. Jesus was truly concerned about everyone who came to hear Him. Jesus wanted them to understand, to know, to learn about God's love and forgiveness. He was so concerned that He risked Himself and shared Himself with everyone he met.   Jesus   cared for the people. His love and concern came through in everything Jesus said and did. And Jesus cares for us.

      Not only that, but Jesus gave them and us something besides commentary and quotes about the Scripture. Jesus gave us something to believe in and hang onto.   You see words aren't enough. There has to be something deeper. Something at the very core for you to grab onto and hang onto. That's what Jesus gave us.

      Jesus not only spoke with authority, but He lived what He spoke. The authority of His teaching extended to the authority of His actions. And the day of this particular incident, His words were punctuated with an exclamation point of authority and authenticity when He healed the man. He backed up His words with deeds.     And in the deepest sense possible, that was exactly what happened that day in the synagogue in Capernaum. An event of startling significance happened before the very eyes of the congregation. The demonic powers were subdued. A human life was restored. Jesus was shown to be Lord over all that seeks to spoil and destroy. And the congregation knew that this was not an event merely for the watching. They could not fold their bulletins after the benediction and walk away. This event was not a mere spectacle, but a lasting command. This event contained a truth which made a claim on their lives. Event and wisdom were bonded together that day. What is this? A new teaching!  I heard about a man who went to see a doctor about a headache. A large, businesslike nurse was behind the receptionist's desk. "I'd like to see the doctor," said the man. "I have a headache." The nurse said sharply, "Go in that room, close the door, and take off your clothes." "But ma'am,..." "Get in that room, close the door, and take off your clothes." Well, what did he do? He went into the room, closed the door, and took off his clothes. Suddenly he realized that another man was in the room with him. He also had his clothes off. He said to the other man, "I can't believe I'm standing here like this and all I've got is a headache." To which the other man complained, "You think you've got problems! I just came in to read the meter!"

      Some people seem to have that kind of authority. Jesus spoke with authority, but his was an authority of another kind. Even unclean spirits recognized the authority of Jesus! Even Pilate, when he ordered that sign placed above Jesus' head on the cross, 'King of the Jews,' may have recognized Jesus' authority. Jesus' 
     Christians are always discovering that Jesus Christ is this kind of teacher. He acts powerfully in our lives, giving us overwhelming experiences of grace and love. But warm and exciting religious experience is not the totality of Jesus' impact on our lives. Every action of Christ brings truth, every experience of Christ forms wisdom in our hearts, every encounter carries an enduring claim upon us to live in new ways. Every time we sing "Amazing Grace" we can also sing "This is a new teaching!"  

 Jesus had authority even over death. He raised Lazarus, the widow's son and Jairus' daughter from the dead. And death couldn't hold Him either. As a consequence, it no longer holds us. Jesus holds the authority in our lives. Not sin and death.Perhaps the second cruelest demon is the unforgiving spirit that sometimes consumes us. It makes us demand absolute perfection from everyone and everything at all times. It makes us want never to be disappointed, never to be hurt, never to be let-down, never to be failed. Doctors had better never make mistakes. The driver in front of us in traffic had better get out of the way right away. If anybody or anything ever does something to let us down, well, we just won't be their friends anymore; that's all there is to it. This demon especially delights in destroying marriages. All this demon ever accomplishes is to make us frustrated and angry and lonely.
     The cruelest demon of all is guilt. This nasty one hangs around us, haunting us with our past. We know better than to listen to it; we know Jesus has forgiven us all our sins; we know his blood has washed us clean; we know that in him there is now no reason for God to condemn us; we know that God no longer remembers our sins. But we remember them; we can't let them go, try as hard as we might. Guilt, like a demon, possesses us.
      Jesus is God. He has power over demons.   He has power over all the demons of our lives also. Through Word and Sacrament he brings that power to us and says to the demons in our life, "Be gone!" He says it as often as we need to hear it, over and over again, until by his power we are free from them all.

 Jesus did more than staple his tie to his chest, He gave Himself up to be nailed to the cross for our sin and for our sake. No wonder everyone was amazed by Jesus. No wonder he had such Amazing Authority. Does Jesus have that authority in your life? Have you invited Him to be the core of your beliefs, the rock upon which to stand and build your life?   Jesus IS the true authority but have you given Him full authority in your life?