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Who's in Charge around Here?

Rev. Jeremy J. Schultz
Epiphany 4
February 1, 2009

When Christian Herter was governor of Massachusetts, he was running hard for a second term in office. One day, after a busy morning chasing votes (and no lunch) he arrived at a church barbecue. It was late afternoon and Herter was famished. As Herter moved down the serving line, he held out his plate to the woman serving chicken. She put a piece on his plate and turned to the next person in line.

"Excuse me," Governor Herter said, "do you mind if I have another piece of chicken?"

"Sorry," the woman told him. "I'm supposed to give one piece of chicken to each person."

"But I'm starved," the governor said.

"Sorry," the woman said again. "Only one to a customer."

Governor Herter was a modest and unassuming man, but he decided that this time he would throw a little weight around.

"Do you know who I am?" he said. "I am the governor of this state."

"Do you know who I am?" the woman said. "I'm the lady in charge of the chicken. Now move along, mister!"

Who's in charge around here? That's what we'd like to know. The one in charge in that story was not the governor. It was the lady with the chicken. He may exert authority in every other place, but there in the lunch line, he didn't have a leg to stand on. The one in charge is the one with the authority. But that word authority is slippery. Too easily it moves into the realm of law. And people throw their weight around as if to say, "Who's in charge around here?"

The New Testament teachers of the law enjoyed their status among the people. They believed that as the religious leaders of the community they were the ones in charge. They were the ones with authority. To illustrate what I mean about that word slipping into the law, we look to the New Testament. Jesus says, "Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted in the marketplaces, and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets" (Mark 12:38-9). You see this is how they used their authority, not for the praise of God, but to be praised by the people. And it's even worse, Jesus goes on to say, "They devour widows' houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely" (vs. 40).

Now it's not that they weren't endowed with such authority, you might say, from God. It's just that they were using it all wrong and for personal gain. The Bible talks about a lot of groups and individuals that have been given authority. God, in His Words, says that Government, Employers, Husbands, Parents and Pastors all have authority. And we must pray that all who are placed "in charge" use their authority only for the glory of God and not like these teachers of the law. They were using their authority to abuse the people. And later on in Mark's Gospel, after Jesus clears the Temple, they come to Him and demand to know by what authority He is doing these things (11:28)! Because they didn't like any competition.

But when Jesus exercises such authority, it's completely different and the people can tell. In today's Gospel reading, Jesus steps up to the platform and He began to teach as One who had authority. He wasn't showy about it and it wasn't for any personal gain. He didn't abuse the people, but He loved them.

And this surprised and delighted the crowd. The people were use to having the trained "teachers of the law" give scholarly recitations of the views of the various rabbinical schools. They simply quoted other people. But Jesus acts differently. He didn't hand down previous lessons. He didn't offer any opinions. He revealed life-changing truth. "You have heard it said" Jesus began over and over in the sermon on the mount... "but I say to you" He would continue. And a clear, uncompromising line was drawn. And this line drew people to Himself. Suddenly, a man who was possessed by an evil spirit disrupted everything. The spirit knew who Jesus was and didn't like Him being there. Jesus commanded the evil spirit to come out of the man and it did. And again, the people recognized who was truly in charge. It was Jesus. And not in the sort of way where He's tossing around His weight, under a long flowing robe. No, Jesus displays the authority of the only Son of God. And with this authority, He forgives and resurrects and directs.

Once when Jesus was teaching inside a house, the crowd was so large that some men with a friend that was paralyzed could not get to Jesus. So they cut a hole in the roof and lowered the man on a mat down to Him. Jesus recognized the faith and the open hearts before Him and so He gave the man what he really needed. He said, "Son, your sins are forgiven." Friends, if you are weighed down with your sins, know that Jesus has come to set you free. He does not desire the death of a sinner, but that the sinner repents and finds forgiveness. Know then that there is nothing so terrible that you have done or that has been done to you that Jesus will not accept you and set you free. The teachers of the law didn't like this one bit and said that He was blaspheming. Who can forgive sins but God alone? Indeed, said Jesus. And so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…He said to the paralytic...get up take your mat and go home. And he did. In full view of them all!

Another time, Jesus was instructing His disciples about His role as the Good Shepherd who loves and cares for His sheep. This love and care would ultimately be seen in His death and resurrection. And that's what He tells them in John 10:18. "The reason the Father loves me is that I lay down my life - only to take it up again...I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from My Father." Friends, if you or someone very near to you is sick and it does appear that this sickness will end in death, then know that it is for the life of the world that Jesus has come. He is the one with authority to lay down His life and take it up again. He is firstborn from the dead and He is the author of your salvation. He gives you life. Life now and life forevermore.

Finally, we hear this talk of authority on the mountain in Galilee after Jesus was raised from the dead. He says to His disciples, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you and surely I will be with you always to the very end of the age" (Matthew 28:19-20). People of St. Paul know in your hearts that this is the authority that He has given to you and me His church. It is the authority to baptize and teach all nations and by doing so, disciples are made.

So who's in charge around here? Jesus. He exercises His authority in a way of love that brings you and all people forgiveness and life. And He equips His church - His people with the same authority to be used for Him. Who's in charge? It's Jesus. It's always Jesus and He's always doing it all for you! Amen.