The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 29, 2006
BCP: Deut. 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Cor. 8:1b-13; Mark 1:21-28
RCL: Deut. 18:15-20; Psalm 111; 1 Cor. 8:1-13; Mark 1:21-28
Moses says that God will raise up a prophet like him and the people are to heed him (Deut. 18:15). Subsequently this became the foundation for one messianic expectation. It was not as strong as the hope for a military messiah, but always lurked in the background among an optimistic minority. They sometimes called this messiah “the” prophet. Christians saw Jesus as the one Moses predicted (cf. John 1:21, 25; 6:14; 7:40).
It was natural for New Testament authors, in looking to the Hebrew scriptures, to gravitate away from the military king toward more peaceful images such as Moses’ teacher prophet. Although Mark does not use the expression “the” prophet, he does show that Jesus is the one predicted by Moses. Jesus comments on the scriptures as the only one who has the right to say what they mean. His word is self-authenticating, not like the scribes who rely on the words of others. Mark does not here tell us precisely what Jesus presented. However, both when Jesus initially teaches and then when he heals, the people are amazed by his authority and even refer to his healing as a new teaching (Mark 1:22, 27). Indeed, “the” prophet has arrived.
Who do we emulate today, whether in pulpit or in conversation, in words or in actions? We would like to be like Jesus. However, let us remember that only Jesus’ words are self-authenticating.
We must refer to our source, Jesus, just as the scribes quoted their sources. In that sense we are like the scribes. Remember, the scribes were not the bad guys. On the other hand, we pray that the spirit of Jesus will come through our words. We have an example of this in Paul. In 1 Corinthians he opts for the spirit of Jesus in advocating the more loving action in spite of his opinion that it is permissible to eat meat offered to idols (1 Cor. 8:13).
Look It Up
Some themes found in today’s gospel yet not addressed in the above commentary are worth considering. Look them up in a Bible dictionary: (1) Mark’s messianic secret and (2) the Holy One of God.
Think About It
Being scribes in the best sense of the word, how are we doing in balancing our personal insights with scripture? They are not necessarily in contradiction.
Next Sunday
The Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 5, 2006
BCP: 2 Kings 4:(8-17)18-21(22-31), 32-37; Psalm 142; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39
RCL: Isaiah 40:21-31; Psalm 147:1-12, 21c; 1 Cor. 9:16-23; Mark 1:29-39
