Who Speaks for God?

Who Speaks for God?

The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out.  When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him. For they know his voice.

Who speaks for God?  In the Bible a Prophet would speak for God.  They would be someone who spoke the truth that came from God.  They did not speak on their own authority or give personal opinions.  Their job or role was to make the will of God known to God’s people.  There are many prophets in the Old Testament, both minor ones, major ones and some not even named.  For me as a Christian three stand out.  Isaiah, Elijah and Moses.  Moses though, leads this esteemed group, he is head and shoulders above any of the other prophets.  The Book of Deuteronomy tells us; “There has never been another prophet in Israel like Moses, whom the Lord knew face to face”.  There are four reasons Moses knew God face to face; 1-The other prophets received their guidance or prophecy while asleep or in a trance.  Moses was always full conscious when he spoke with God, 2-Moses saw what God was telling him clearly and with absolute clarity, the other prophets  received riddles and parables, 3-The other prophets would become fearful and oftentimes agitated upon receiving this Divine communication.  Moses remained cool, calm and collected. 4-Moses could talk with God whenever he chose.  The other prophets would need to enter a spiritual trance.  Moses was in constant contact with God. He did indeed speak for God.

Deuteronomy 18:15-20 comes at the end of Moses life.  The Israelites after a lifetime of wandering the desert are about to enter the Promised Land.  Moses was the only leader they had ever known, and his coming death is of great concern to the people of Israel.  These are Moses’s last words to his people.  He coaxes and encourages his people to live their lives according to God’s will. “The Lord your God will raise up for you a prophet like me. This prophet will come from among you.  He will be raised up from your countrymen and you shall listen to him”. God is telling the people of Israel, though Moses will die, fear not, there will always be someone who speaks for God.

God continued to raise up Prophets from the people of Israel for nearly 1500 years, culminating  in John the Baptist. His was a voice in the wilderness with an announcement that would change the world for ever.

That change began to take form in Galilee, specifically the city of Capernaum.  Situated 45 kilometres north east of Nazareth, a city that became the home of Jesus.

Jesus chose wisely the location of his new home.  Capernaum was located closely to the Via Maris, the trade route that linked Egypt with Mesopotamia. Visitors and transients would come into contact or hear of Jesus.  Retuning to their homes they would take back these incredible experiences.  Meeting Jesus would have been life changing.

Mark tells us in today’s passage (Mark1:21-28), of two events that really set Jesus apart from other prophets and holy men.  Jesus and the disciples (probably Simon, Andrew, James and John) attend a synagogue shortly after they arrive in Capernaum.  Jesus begins teaching and very quickly the people were astonished, amazed at his teaching.  This man spoke of God with an authority that no one had ever heard.  The scribes teaching was dependant on their knowledge of and adherence to tradition. What Jesus suggested was that the traditional interpretation of the commandments was inadequate.  God’s demands of us goes far beyond what the scribes speak of.  Jesus was not a priest who had the power of Roman Judea, he was not a scribe with the authority and tradition of the Jewish tradition.  So, where did this authority come from?  His authority came directly from God.

Then, probably at the back of the synagogue,  a voice is heard; “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are-the Holy One of God”. Jesus looking directly at the man, answered, “Be silent, and come out of him”. The spirit didn’t fight, he had already lost, cried out with a loud voice and left the man.   

Imagine yourself at the synagogue on that day.  First, you hear a teaching from a stranger that has spoke to you like nothing ever has. Then this same man commands an unclean spirit to obey him and it listens?  You stand there, in silence, mouth agape wondering; What just happened, who is this?  You have no words for what you just witnessed, but somehow you will tell everyone you know about this.

Over the last couple of weeks, we are seeing this power or authority that Jesus had. Both words, power and authority are extremely inadequate when describing this “sense” that Jesus had.  He asked four men to leave their life work and families to follow him and they all hesitated for not a second. They may have heard of this Jesus, some may have even been disciples of John the Baptist. But the fact remains they knew next to nothing about this man who asked them all to be fishers of people. What was it about him? 

The four have now followed Jesus for a few days, listening to his every word and watching his every move.  They followed him to Capernaum, to the synagogue. Listened with the others to a teaching like no other and then, watched as Jesus with only a few brief words drives a demon from a man possessed. Again, who is this?

I think on some level, most likely unconsciously they knew who this was. The devil/Satan knew who Jesus was immediately.  “Jesus of Nazareth, I know who you are, the Holy One of God”. For the disciples and others it would be awhile yet before they realized that Jesus was the one who speaks for God.