They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Mark 1:21,22
When was the last time you were truly amazed? Let me clear, by amazed I mean it almost knocked you over. It took your breath away. You couldn’t speak because it was shocking and too powerful for words.
With instant communication and access to the entire world’s library of written words, we are overwhelmed with words. There are too many of them and not enough meaning, substance, or weight.
For me, it really takes something to shut me up. I’m very chatty by nature and love to provide color commentary on just about everything and everyone. The first couple of dozen times I went to the Grand Canyon I just stood, gazing at it. It truly is one of the few places that does not disappoint.
Every time I go into the local Wal-Mart, which is once or twice a day at a minimum, there is always someone or something to notice, requiring a colorful Chet commentary. At least there’s color commentary in my brain if not out loud with my mouth.
Like the day I saw a touching scene, a young father holding a beautiful little girl. You could see the love and affection that the father had for his little girl. The girl had her little arms wrapped tightly and lovingly around her daddy’s neck in utter love and affection.
Now while this was cute, it was not worthy of commentary. What made it rise to the level requiring commentary was the little girl’s attire. She was dressed in a frilly sun dress made entirely from camo fabric. Even her sun hat was made from the same camo pattern. It’s like she was dressed for church and then to go deer hunting.
Jesus gets up to teach and is immediately recognized as an amazing teacher. I don't think he was purposefully trying to impress people, but he was definitely focused in on speaking the truth in a way that could be "caught" by those who heard. He spoke about God's perspective, God's reality, the way things really are from an eternal perspective.
But not only were his words amazing, grabbing people’s attention, but he himself personally embodied the authority behind what he was saying. He had and spoke with power. And this power wasn’t to get more likes on his social media feed but to point people away from themselves and to the God who loved them. Away from self-interests and towards the God who was going to die for them.
He personally possessed and held, not only people’s attention, but possessed power and authority in the way he spoke, in the way he communicated. He did’t try to use quotes or references from others in order to impress or convince. It was through his personal power and impact on people that move them.
Jesus spoke with authority that was both given to him and was within him. He spoke with conviction and power of God himself. Is there any doubt that this would get people’s attention? He was compared to the teachers of the day and blew the doors off of what people had come to assume. They expected more of the same but got something totally different, totally powerful, totally challenging.
And where did Jesus get this authority? What online class did he take? What TED talk inspired him? Where did he go to school to learn the tips and techniques? Where did he learn the ropes of teaching? What app was on his phone to give him direction? What email list was he on to receive daily inspiration and illustrations to use? Where did he practice? Where did he learn what not to do through failure?
Jesus was not in the business of making people feel comfortable. Jesus spoke in such a way to not only demonstrate and affirm who he was, but to move people from where they were to where God wanted them to be. He was not trying to be "politically correct" or to get the support and affirmation of those in power, he spoke to change lives. Period.
Which brings up the question; what’s the purpose in your communicating? What are the goals in the way you write? The way you speak? Are you trying to impress people or are you focused on speaking for God, powerfully pointing people towards him?
At the dedication of the Gettysburg cemetery, Edward Everett spoke for two hours while President Lincoln used 268 words, two-thirds of them of only one syllable. In ten short, direct, and memorable sentences, it took only a fraction over two minutes to deliver.
Which one do you remember?
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