Deuteronomy 18:15-20, Revelation 12:1-6 and Mark 1:21-28
I offer these worship thoughts on Holocaust Remembrance Day. Some 6 million Jews were systematically killed by those in authority who wielded power and force with little resistance or protest from a nation. On this day 76 years ago the first allied soldier entered the death camps and began the rescue of those who somehow had survived.
Authority misused is a terrible abuse of a gift from God to be used in a fallen world. Our scriptures speak of the authority given to prophets and Jesus as revealed in powerful persuasion through calling attention to what God both offers and commands. The only force seen at work here is the voice of the genuine Old Testament prophet and the voice of the Crucified Lord who does not strike back against his enemies nor his executioners. It is not the authority of violence but that of suffering love.
These passages will confront us in worship and ask us whether we resist or ignore God’s authority and if we don’t, what do we do to affirm and follow God’s authority. And how does God’s authority interact with lesser authorities in nations, communities, institutions, and relationships?
In Mark 1:21-28 we see Jesus have authority over a demonic sprit and “ Amazement gripped the audience….What sort of new teaching is this? ….It has such authority! Even evil spirits obey his orders!”
We should still have many moments when even we today should be amazed at what we see and hear in the Living Lord! And do we obey when the Authority speaks?! Better still, what does our obedience look like?
We will trust and obey for there’s no other way………
See you Sunday in the sanctuary or on-line from your homes!
Pastor Barry †