Prophets, Wisdom, Knowledge, New Teaching

 God tells his people that he will choose a prophet from among their people to speak his words to them.

The psalmist talks about the wonders God has created and how he provides for every need of this world. He ends by saying that “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all who follow his precepts have good understanding.”

Paul begins by saying that everyone has knowledge but that it isn’t everything. Knowledge doesn’t have the power that love has. Those who believe in Jesus as the Christ and believe that in God everything came into being have this knowledge but not everyone has the same degree of understanding. His emphasis is on being careful with that knowledge. Be careful…“that the exercise of your rights does not become a stumbling block to the weak.”

And Mark’s gospel is about the teaching style used by Jesus. It was new; it was delivered with confidence. It was different from what they were used to hearing in the synagogue. Mark described it as forthright and confident, different from their normal fare.

So, from all these words what are we to learn? Here’s what I think. It’s all God, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, compassion, and learning. God created, God cares for and provides, God gives us knowledge and understanding and compassion, and God teaches, first through Jesus and now through his Holy Spirit. It’s all God and we would do well to remember that.

God didn’t create all this and then go away to sit and watch and wait to see what would happen. He has been active from the very beginning. His hand has been constantly stirring, rearranging, adjusting, and protecting. He still calls people to prophesy. He still gives people wisdom and knowledge. And he still teaches, and it would be wise to listen and learn.

Friends, that’s the lesson I believe is in these words we have heard read today. As John puts it, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” It’s all God, God the Father, God the Son, Jesus the Christ, and God the Holy Spirit. It’s all God and he cares. Thanks be to God. Amen.