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| Eric Cartman from South Park impersonating a police officer |
Early on in Mark's Gospel account Jesus calls Simon, Andrew, James, and John (we actually heard that story last Sunday), inviting them to follow him. Right after this Jesus begins teaching at the synagogue, which was probably not a building so much as a gathering of religious people. From Mark's telling of the story the religious authority of the day, the scribes, were not too impressive. They were without power. Jesus, on the other hand, commanded respect. Not only did he teach with might, he also healed with convincing results.
During the middle of Jesus' instruction a man with an unclean spirit stumbles upon the religious gathering. This distracting figure even calls out Jesus saying, "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God." I will save speculating on what the meaning of the unclean spirit is for another day, but regardless this would have been a critical and potentially deflating moment for Jesus' message and ministry. If he does not respond to the man with the unclean spirit, then all of his teaching with authority will be deflated like a pin popping the balloon that is Jesus' ministry. Yet, Jesus responds by rebuking the spirit saying, "Be silent and come out of him!" The man convulses, the spirit screams, and healing happens. So what does any of this have to do with Cartman?
In the episode in which Eric Cartman impersonates a police officer, the school boy usurps a sense of power behind the make believe badge. He uses one of his most readily available skills, that is being a bully, to coerce others into doing what he wants them to do. While it is funny to hear him say, "RESPECT MY AUTHORITAY!" This is not a commanding moment so much as it is a desperate demand. For no one in a position of power actually gave Cartman the right to police others, his farcical actions bring to the surface a legitimate question about power and authority: Is power something that is given to us or is it something that is earned?
Specifically this question makes me think of politicians, military officers, and police personnel, but also CEOs, other business executives, and even ministers. Do those in positions of power hide behind the authority vested in them or is it possible to earn a sense of respect from others without any favorable position? To me the person of Jesus, who came from a humble background, never asked to receive others' respect. His behavior, his words, and his actions all fell in line with one another, and they all commanded devotion from almost everyone he met. Cartman, and many of us who fear that we truthfully do not have power on our own, must say something like, "RESPECT MY AUTHORITY!"
Of course, we may not always notice when someone is worthy of respect, worthy of honor, and worthy of praise. We are all capable of mistakenly overlooking the power vested in others being who they were meant to be; however, the person of Jesus leaves little doubt in my mind that we respect his authority. In Mark's Gospel God says to Jesus, "This is my Son, the beloved. With him I am well pleased." The author of this text did not make clear if anyone else other than Jesus heard these words. Certainly if they had they would respected him. Yet, Jesus' life seems to fulfill the words from on high. Through calling followers and revealing to the synagogue not only power-filled teaching, but also authoritative healing Jesus never had to say "RESPECT MY AUTHORITAY!" His entire life and ministry said it (and still says it) for him!
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