Mark 1:21-28
Today in this wonderful season of Epiphany, the great and complete revelation of God in Christ Jesus, we look at an aspect of Jesus’ teaching and healing that is fundamental to our lives as his disciples and children of the living God; that he has the full authority of God himself.
We have thought about Jesus as a child to be adored, a God to be worshipped, a Saviour to be followed, and a Lord to be obeyed. Today, we are thinking about Jesus as a healer and teacher with authority, to be trusted.
Our gospel today is set in Capernaum, the hometown of Peter, and Jesus has gone into the synagogue and was teaching there. “The people were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, not as the scribes” (v.22).
Now the scribes were the teachers of the law and had the final spiritual authority. They had been the spiritual leaders in that community for years, they had deep learning, they were revered for their knowledge, they were, in many respects, the brokers of truth.
Isn’t that what authority is all about? I think that we might think so. So why then does Mark write that Jesus taught as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law?
In its essence, authority is the right someone has or a right that an institution holds to enforce or expect obedience from others. Certainly the teachers of the law had that type of authority: they had legal qualifications, they had the right to judge people, and so people would indeed obey the teachers of the law.
But there is the other sort of authority that is based not on a position or office that is held, but on relationships – how they relate to other individuals. Sometimes we might call this ‘charisma’ or ‘magnetism’ or ‘a natural leader.’
But they are worldly terms and plain inaccurate when applied to Jesus. Jesus’ has authority because Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are one. He is one with the Father and all things came into being by him and through him and for him.
As believers we are drawn this authority (just as those in the synagogue were) because we know the authoritative voice of God when we hear it.
What is that authoritative voice? Its Jesus himelf. The apostle John writes, “The sheep hear his voice, and he calls his own sheep by name ... he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice” (John 10:3,4).
If we are fortunate we may have met leaders like this in the church, who have the voice and authority of Christ and lead though humble service. I have been blessed to know, and continue to know, some, but not many.
If we look to the example of Christ Jesus, despite being God the Son and having the authority to summon even the angel armies of God, showed a whole other way.
This is God’s way. Paul tells us that, Jesus, “being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant” (Philippians 2:6-7)
He could have clung to his ‘positional’ authority as God, but became a servant instead.
This sort of authority is responded to. It is simple, “‘Be silent, and come out of him!’ ... and the unclean spirit ... came out of him” (vv. 25-26).
Because the people then, and I’d suggest we now as well, are so used to authority coming from the position or office of the person, that when we come across the relational, loving and absolute authority of Jesus we too are astounded.
This authority is pure and absolute because there is no being, or part of creation, or angel, that can act against it. What comes with the authority of God is absolute and will come to pass.
The people were “astounded at his teaching”. The word used for ‘astounded’ or ‘amazed is a strong word, it suggests people are shocked and even panicky.
This is the strength and power of the mighty authority of Jesus Christ.
And so we are not surprised that even the evil spirits went into panic and shock! “‘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’” (v.24).
What is interesting here, of course, is that even an evil spirit knew who Jesus was, but the scribes, who apparently had all the authority, didn’t recognise Jesus for who he is.
The holy wise men of office-held authority missed the Way the Truth and the Life in their midst, and yet the unclean recognised Jesus for who he was.
Something very important is happening here. The unclean spirit confesses a deep knowledge of Jesus. First, he says, “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth?” and by saying that he recognised the authority that resides in Jesus, Son of Man.
Then he says, “I know who you are, the Holy One of God,” and by saying that he is recognising the divinity of Christ; Jesus, Son of God.
But even though the unclean spirit knew who Jesus was, it refused to submit to his authority until Jesus commanded it to go.
And that is our call too as Christians. Not just to know who Jesus is but to submit our lives to his authority and power. Not just Jesus of Nazareth. Not just the Holy One of God. But Jesus our Lord.
Jesus is not interested in academic acknowledgement of who he is. Jesus doesn’t want us to speak about him purely from our knowledge.
Jesus wants us to speak out about him from a position of us accepting his Lordship. This is the great question; whether we are prepared to sit under his Lordship and give all our lives over to him as disciples.
An intellectual belief in Jesus is worthless. The issue is how much authority Jesus has in your life.
Martin Luther (16th century reformer), said, ‘We can say Christ is the Saviour. We can say that Christ is Lord. We can say that Jesus is God. But can I say that Christ is my Saviour? Can I say that Christ is my Lord? Can I say that Jesus is my God?
And so, to prove his authority, Jesus heals the man and drives out the unclean spirit. By this exorcism, he proved his authority over Satan and the uncleanness of this world.
Mark concludes this passage by saying: “At once his fame began to spread throughout the surrounding region of Galilee”. The gospel, the good news, of Jesus Christ began to spread because of word and deed.
And so it is with us as a church here in Drayton parish, the good news of Jesus will spread throughout our community as we engage constantly with God in Christ Jesus and each other with purity of heart and mind.
So, as our part of the body of Christ, we re-commit ourselves to our Saviour Jesus and accept the full authority of the one who rejected the temptations of high human office offered by Satan, and as the Son of Man, endured all things for the love of us.
This is where this authority comes from – the great love of God for us. This authority allows us to pray to our great and loving father directly, because by Jesus’ authority alone, we have been kept from falling, and presented without blemish before the great glory of God.
Let me pray...