Mark 1:21-28 Recognizing the Authority of Jesus

Mark 1:21-28

1:21 They went to Capernaum; and when the sabbath came, he entered the synagogue and taught.

1:22 They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

1:23 Just then there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit,

1:24 and he cried out, “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.”

1:25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”

1:26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying with a loud voice, came out of him.

1:27 They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching–with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

1:28 At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.

In the context of the first chapter, Jesus is affirmed as the beloved Son of God, sent into the wilderness to be tempted, begins preaching, and begins calling his disciples. It all happens quickly in Mark. Mark uses descriptive phrases like “at once” and “immediately” to show the urgency of hearing and recognizing who Jesus is. Many of the verbs are in present tense in Mark for possibly the same effect.

 

As he enters the synagogue and begins teaching, the people hearing him recognize his teaching is different. He is not speculating about the possible meaning of scripture; he speaks with authority. It would be an easily recognized authority. It would be like the difference between hearing someone give a book report and having a question with the author of the book. The one giving the book report is telling you what he thinks the author was doing. The author is telling you exactly what he thinks. The author explains until you understand exactly what he means.

 

You will hear people talking about the authority of Scripture. That is important for us to understand and embrace. We do order our lives according to the Bible. However, there are many interpretations of the Bible. A healthy way to interpret the Bible is through the lens of the Gospels. The whole of scripture is taken together to understand the revelation of God and his will for humanity and the world. That is all focused and understood through the person who is the focal point of history. Jesus taught the scriptures as one having authority because he is the authority. He has been with the Father from before the world began. He has an intimate relationship with the Father. He, with the Father, inspired the people who wrote scripture. If we want to understand the Bible, it must be understood first and foremost through the teaching and example of Christ. An eye for an eye, is trumped by the teaching of Jesus to turn the other cheek.

 

Just a few verses later in our scripture reading a demon possessed man who happens to be in the synagogue cries out. “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.”

 

There are some things to see here. First, demons are not too uncomfortable in religion. The demon possessed man was there in the synagogue, apparently without much notice. However, when Jesus came in and began teaching with authority, things became uncomfortable for the demon. Religion does not keep demons in check, Jesus does. There were demons in the synagogue. If a church is based on empty, dead religion, there could as easily be demons in a church too. To keep the demons out, you need a place where Jesus is exalted, and alive in the members.

 

Second, I want to point out the glowing statement that the demon made about Jesus. He said, “…I know who you are, the Holy One of God.” That sounds almost like praise. Could that demon be a Christian? Obviously, from the description of the man and what happen to the demon… he was cast out… he was not a Christian demon. Be careful not to invest yourselves too fully into people just because they throw around Christian buzz words. There are many influential people who will wear a cross or mention prayer or say something that sounds like what you would hear a Christian say. However, they are no more of a person committed to Christ than the demon was.

 

After Jesus casts out the demon, his authority is even more obvious. They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, “What is this? A new teaching–with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”  The casting out of the demon with ease and authority made it obvious that Jesus was someone special. The people went out and began to tell everyone about him and spread his fame “throughout the surrounding region of Galilee.” Through that genuine encounter with Jesus, they knew he was above the other religious teachers and leaders. He was able to teach scriptures as one who knew them as his own words. He was able to cast out demons because he had the authority and power to do so.

 

From the scriptures we also know of many other encounters with Jesus that proved his authority and power. He walked on water. He commanded nature and the winds and waves obeyed him. Jesus healed many people and cast out other demons. He raised people from the dead. Ultimately, he died for our sins, and he himself was raised from the dead three days later. The Holy Spirit has led us and is leading us to encounters with Jesus that confirm his authority in our own lives.

 

Just as he did with the original disciples in this first chapter of Mark, Jesus calls us to follow. He has the exact same authority in our lives that he did in theirs because of who he is. Jesus is the Holy One of God. He can call us to leave our current vocation to follow him. He can call us to head overseas to become missionaries. He can call us to continue where we are proclaiming his fame to our community. Whatever it is, our only acceptable answer to Jesus is “yes Lord” because he is the authority in our lives.

 

Before we close, we would be amiss if we did not recognize the full scope of the authority of Jesus. Jesus is the authority and as such empowered his first disciples and future disciples to make a difference in this world for his Kingdom by giving them his authority. We are called to do the things that Jesus did, and we are given the power and authority to do them by Jesus himself.

 

”Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it.“  John 14:12-14 NRSV

 

Jesus is the authority in the world because he is the Holy One of God. Jesus is the authority in our lives because he is the Holy One of God. Our only correct response to Jesus’ call is “yes Lord.” We have also been given authority and power in Jesus to make a difference in the world, so claim your authority in Christ and “accept the freedom and power God gives you to resist evil, injustice, and oppression in whatever forms they present themselves.”

Blessing: Go in peace, submitted to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ in your life, as you embrace the authority and power Christ gives you to change the world. In the name of Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit, for the Glory of God our Father. Amen