Speak Out

Then Jesus went down to Capernaum, a town in Galilee, and on the Sabbath began to teach the people. They were amazed at his teaching, because his message had authority.

-       Luke 4:31-32

Throughout the Gospels people refer to Jesus as rabbi or teacher. Even as a 12-year old boy Jesus was teaching other people…people significantly older and more experienced than himself. People listened to Jesus. They listened to what he had to say and they were amazed by it. Why were they amazed? Why did they listen to Jesus? Did they listen to him because of how he looked? Did they listen to him because he told them what they wanted to hear? Absolutely not. Did they listen to him because he was funny? Absolutely not. The people listened to Jesus and were amazed at his teaching because his message had authority! Not only did the message itself speak to people, but they way that it was delivered blew people away. He didn’t teach like the other teachers did, with a sense of  coldness or indifference. Not only was Jesus preaching a new message, he was preaching with new authority. We are called to spread the Good News to the world, to our neighbors, and to our friends. We are not called to coldly condemn or indifferently ignore. We are not called to weakly and quietly blend in. Jesus’ message had authority. Go out and share the Gospel with authority! Share Jesus’ authoritative message with authority. Proclaim the truth with boldness, honesty, and love.