The Story of Jesus According to Mark, Pt 3: By What Authority?

 

April 21, 2024             NOTES NOT EDITED
The Story of Jesus: “Authority for Ministry”
Mark 1:14-45

SIS: Jesus ministered by the authority of God He transfers to us as God’s present representatives on earth.

One of the most famous men in the ancient world was a Hebrew by the name of Moses.  Moses was a powerful man physically and by the Providence of God grew up in the most powerful home in the world of his day – the House of Pharaoh.  One day, Moses would be called of God to go confront the Pharaoh and demand that the Pharaoh release all the Hebrew slaves.  This would be something like me walking up to the President of the United States and demanding the keys to the White House.

Moses realized more than anybody the folly of any man challenging Pharaoh in such a way.  Moses protested to God saying, Ex 3:11-12

“Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and that I should bring the Israelites out of Egypt?”

God answered, “I will certainly be with you.”

This is how “authority” works.  It is delegated power.  When we act on God’s behalf we have the confidence we are backed by all the power of heaven.  God’s authority transfers to those who go on His name and God’s authority is backed by God’s Sovereign power.

We see a similar transfer of power to the Apostles as Christ commissions them to carry forth the message of His Kingdom.  As they go Jesus tells them,

¹⁹ I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven,  and whatever you bind on earth is already bound  in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth is already loosed  in heaven.” (Matt. 16:19)

Mark jumps right into the Story of Jesus by demonstrating the His authority as the Messiah—the God-Man on a Mission.  This authority transfers to you and I, His disciples. We have the authority to act on “behalf of Almighty God.”

Jesus transferred this authority, in Matthew 28:18-20, to you and I, the Church.  The same authority exercised by Jesus in this snapshot of one day in His life, is the same authority that you and I have.  Just as with Jesus, the authority to act entails the power and ability to act.

The word translated “authority” in verses 22 and 27 and demonstrated throughout the verses 14-39 (and indeed the entire gospel story), is the word, “exousia.”  This word means, “the absolute right to act on behalf of God backed by the absolute power of God.”

There are several words for power with various different meanings.  Exousia encapsulates the meaning of all the words for power combined.  Dunamis refers to an explosive, powerful ability to accomplish a task.  Kratos, ischus, bia, and energeia all have the idea of a “force, energy or power.”  Exousia encompasses all of these words under the umbrella of an official right to act.

Much of the evil in our world today—perhaps even most of it, and I read one author that said all of it—but, at least much of the evil in our world today exists because the Church of Jesus Christ permits it to exist. Sadly, many churches promote the evils in our society!

When we, the Church, fail to exercise our God-given authority to extend the Kingdom of God one soul at a time, we give the Devil permission to do as he pleases.

Notice in James 4:7 it says, “You resist [antistete] the Devil and he must flee.”  We are told to do something about the Devil.  We are not told to pray that God would do something about it.  God has given us absolute authority even over the demons of hell.

Take note of the words of Jesus in Luke 10:19: 

¹⁹ Look, I have given you the authority to trample  on snakes  and scorpions  and over all the power of the enemy;  nothing will ever harm you. 

Those on mission FOR God are backed by the full power OF God.

Our text this morning expresses “seven significant aspects” of the believer’s authority as modeled in a Day in the Life of Jesus.

We will be reading this passage together as we go, but I would like to begin with us reading of Mark’s summary of the gospel of Jesus Christ in only two verses.  Let’s read that together, Mark 1:14-15:

¹⁴ After  John was arrested,  Jesus went to Galilee,  preaching  the good news  ^d  of God:  ^{g 15} “The time  is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God  has come  near.  Repent and believe  in the good news!” 

NOTE:  Perhaps these are the most important verses in Mark.  These verses summarize an entire year in the ministry of Jesus, and serve as a summary for the entire meaning of the gospel.

“Repent and believe.”  These are the two clear notes forming the gospel chorus.  “Repent and believe” are two bookends that give meaning to all the books in the Bible—from Genesis to Revelation.

Christianity is not about theological education.  It is not about cultural reform.  It is not about social action.  It is not about political equality.  These are issues associated with the gospel but the essence of the gospel is “preaching repentance and trust in God.”

We do err greatly, and have erred greatly in the church by moving the center of our community away from “preaching” and toward entertainment or social action—however honest or sincere our reasoning may be.

Jesus gave us one mandate:  “make disciples.”  The gate of the gospel must swing on the twin hinges of “repentance and trust” or the gate does not swing at all.

Now, as we preach this gospel of repentance and belief, we should do so with the realization we have “absolute authority” backed by the full force of heaven.  Mark describes seven aspects of this authority.

1.  It is a COMPELLING authority (16-20)

Read verses 16-20 along with me:

¹⁶ As He was passing along by the Sea of Galilee,  He saw Simon  and Andrew, Simon’s brother. They were casting a net into the sea,  since they were fishermen. ¹⁷ “Follow Me,” Jesus told them, “and I will make you fish for   people!” ¹⁸ Immediately they left their nets and followed  Him.  ¹⁹ Going on a little farther, He saw James the son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in their boat mend-ing their nets. ²⁰ Immediately He called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men and followed Him.

The word that literally jumps off the page and smacks me in the face in these verses is the word, “immediately.” (v. 20).

I’ve heard more than a few preachers say, “I knew the Lord was calling me to full time Christian service, but I rebelled and resisted.”

Friend, that is not my testimony as a preacher.  When I came to realize Who Jesus was and that He was inviting me to join His team, and to be a player-coach no less, I jumped at the chance.  And, I’ve been “jumping for Jesus” for the last 48 years! 

So it was from the beginning.  Jesus said jump and these fisherman said, “How high and where do you want me to land?”  There response to the authority of Jesus was immediate and extreme.  They left everything they had—on the spot—and took up with an itinerant Jewish preacher named Jesus.

I like to suggest that there has never been a more COMPELLING figure in all of history, nor will there ever be, than Jesus Christ.

2.  It is a COMPREHENSIVE authority (21-22)

Let’s read verses 21-22 together:

²¹ Then  they went into Capernaum,  and right away He entered the synagogue  on the Sabbath  and began to teach.  ²² They were astonished  at His teaching  because, unlike the scribes,  He was teaching them as one having authority.

When you study the teachings of the Bible, and the Lord Jesus Christ, you will discover that there is no question that can be asked that the Bible cannot answer.  The scope of the Bible’s truth covers every discipline from anthropology to zoology and everything in between.  The Bible gives in depth insight to the mind and the body, and of course, the spirit.  The Bible is like a super sharp sword that is so precise and comprehensive it can as Hebrews 4:12 teaches:

[penetrate] as far as the separation of soul and spirit, joints and marrow. It is able to judge the ideas and thoughts of the heart.

You can be sure of this:  a person who is an authority on the Bible is a person with COMPREHENSIVE authority.  A believer need never fear that someone can ask a question the Bible cannot answer.

Mark was deeply impressed by the comprehensive knowledge of Jesus Christ. All the great Rabbis and all the great scholars of note in Jesus’ day would quote from ancient authorities.  The Pharisees would quote from the great Rabbi Hillel, or the great Rabbi, Gamaliel.  But, Jesus never looked to any other authority but Himself, as Mark puts it, “the one HAVING authority.”

3.  It is a CONTRASTING authority (23-28)

Let’s read together: 

²³ Just then a man with an unclean  spirit  was in their synagogue.  He cried out,  ²⁴ “What do You have to do with us,  Jesus—Nazarene?  Have You come to destroy  us? I know who You are—the Holy  One of God!” ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked  him and said, “Be quiet,  ^v and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit convulsed him,  shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him. ²⁷ Then they were all amazed,  so they began to argue  with one another, saying, “What is this? A new teaching  with authority!  ^b He commands even the unclean  spirits,  and they obey Him.” ²⁸ News about Him then spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.

Make no mistake about it, friends, our adversary the Devil is a “powerful” enemy.  The battle for souls is a fierce battle—the fiercest battle that has ever raged.  There is a “dark, insidious, deadly power” associated with the Devil that corrupts, that confuses, and that kills.

Mark wastes no time in demonstrating in this first chapter that the authority and power of heaven is much different and much more powerful than even that of the netherworld.  Nothing was more frightening to the people of that day—and even our day—than demon possession and oppression.  For the most part, people considered those under such authority of hell as to be beyond hope.

Our text, however, shows that while the “Devil shook the man, the power of Jesus shook the whole region of Galilee—indeed, the world.

Mark CONTRASTS the authority of Jesus over against the authority of hell itself.  His was an authority like no one had ever seen.  His power was not just different in quantity, but in quality.  His power was not just “one stick of dynamite more,” but was of a completely different type of power—as different as the power of a match is to the power of atomic fission. It was a whole different kind of power.

You can always tell when a powerful moment is of God or if it is not.  The CONTRAST of Christ’s authority with that of any other authority is as different as night and day.

Man’s power requires manipulation.  God’s power is intrinsic, with no requirement but God’s sovereign will.

I was on patrol in the Pacific Ocean cruising along in about 36,000 feet of water when I first learned of that movie.  It was 1974.  One of the hottest movies of the time was the movie, The Exorcist.  Linda Blair starred in this head-spinning horror film.  News accounts detailed how some of those leaving the theaters after watching this film were screaming, crying, vomiting and even fainting. Some even worried that they had become demon possessed by watching the film.  It was very effective.

In the film, a girl is demon possessed.  Two Catholic priests are called to assist in an “exorcism” (a religious rite to expel evil spirits).  They go through all kinds of battles with the demon in the girl using everything in their arsenal: prayers, holy water, crucifixes and the like.  The girl is finally delivered by the end of the film, but the triumph is not absolute.  The demon killed the two priests in the process.

Contrast the impotence of human religious manipulations with that of Jesus.  There is no religious mumbo-jumbo.  There are no ritualistic gymnastics.  There’s no show.  Jesus simply speaks and rebukes the spirit and the word says it, “shouted with a loud voice and came out of [the man].” (v 26) There is no partial victory. It is an absolute victory.  Mark shows how the authority of Jesus CONTRASTS with any other authority—especially the authority of hell.

4.  It is a COMPASSIONATE authority (29-31)

Let’s read verses 29-31:

²⁹ As  soon as they left the synagogue,  they went into Simon  and Andrew’s  house  with James  and John.  ³⁰ Simon’s mother-in-law was lying in bed with a fever, and they told Him about her at once. ³¹ So He went to her, took her by the hand, and raised her up.  The fever left her,  and she began to serve  them.

The mission of the Church is a mission of compassion.  God has authorized us to travel hither and yon, as they say, relieving the suffering of mankind – even if it is only someone suffering from a fever.

There is no indication in this passage that Peter’s mother-in-law was in danger of dying, she was just in discomfort.  The passage says that the disciples “told Jesus about her,” but we should not infer that this means they asked Jesus to heal her.  The choice of the word used for fever, and the word translated “told” do not suggest any urgency.  It merely suggests the passing of information.  As the woman of the house, Simon (Peter’s) mother-in-law would have a duty of hospitality.  Her condition made her unable to fulfill that duty so an explanation was in order.

The compassion of our Lord shines through in this passage.  Regardless of the severity of her condition, Jesus wanted to relieve her suffering.  Notice the actions Jesus takes.  He “went to her.”  He “took her by the hand,” and He “helped her up.” 

The Church should be exercising our COMPASSIONATE authority to follow Our Lord’s example.  We should be “going, touching, and helping up” those in our world who are suffering.  Our authority is a COMPASSIONATE authority.

5.  It is CONTROLLED authority. (32-34) 

We read: 

³² When  evening came, after the sun had set, they began bringing to Him all those who were sick  and those who were demon-possessed.  ³³ The whole town was assembled at the door, ³⁴ and He healed  many who were sick with various diseases  and drove out  many demons.  But He would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew Him.

Do not mistake the fact that every Christian has a right to act on God’s behalf means that every act of a Christian is right.  We never have the authority to “do as we please,” but only the authority to “do what pleases God.”  Our authority is a CONTROLLED authority, not an authority to control others.  If we cannot convince the world of our message because of Christ’s compelling Person, we certainly should not compel anyone to believe by any external power.

I’m afraid that too many churches are more interested in making a show than making a difference.  I think of all the Benny Hinn types and the Trinity Broadcasting Types, and the Elmer Gantries of the world, who have made a business out of the business of the church. 

Notice that Jesus had become immensely popular.  Any regular human being would have succumbed to the “cult of celebrity,” as many have throughout history.  The lust for power, fame, and fortune would have sent a regular man of God spinning into a life of shame and misfortune.  Most of us would have a very difficult time controlling our authority in the bright light of such popularity.

But, this is not how it was with Jesus.  And it should not be with us.
Our power and authority should always be under control.  Instead of using His power to spread His fame far and wide, Jesus commanded the demons, “Do not speak.”  He was not there to make a show, but to make a difference.  Our authority is a COMPASSIONATE authority.

6.  It is a COMMUNING authority (35-37)

Let’s read vv. 35-37) 35 Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed. 36 Simon and his companions went to look for him, 37 and when they found him, they exclaimed: “Everyone is looking for you!”

As Jesus winds down a busy day He slips away from the crowd and finds a quiet place to commune—or fellowship—with the Father.  Mark makes it clear that the source of Jesus’ authority and power while He walked this earth came from the Heavenly Father.

We can do much after we pray, but we can do nothing of merit until we pray.  We get our authoritative power from the same source as our Lord—that is, the Heavenly Father.  We must stay connected to Our Heavenly Father through prayer and meditation communing regularly with the Father in quiet moments.  If we do not regularly slip away to be commune with the Father, the Father’s authority and power will quickly slip from us.

Someone has said, “The Father is at work in the Son, and the Son is at work in us.”  Our authority is a COMMUNING authority.

As we look into a “summary of  the ministry of Jesus” we will be immediately struck by His authority, an authority He transfers to us as we become God’s representatives on earth.

It is a compelling, comprehensive, contrasting, compassionate, controlled, and communing authority. But, the most important aspect to grasp is the final one:

7.  It is a CONTINUING authority (38-39)

Let’s read our final passage together:  

³⁸ And He said to them, “Let’s go on to the neighboring villages so that I may preach  there too. This is why I have come.” ³⁹ So He went into all of Galilee,  preaching in their synagogues  and driving out demons. 

I love those three words in the CSB for v. 38:  “Let’s go on . . .!”  We find here in the beginning of Mark what we find also at the end of Matthew. (28) 

¹⁹ Go, therefore, and make disciples  of  all nations,  baptizing  them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe everything I have commanded you. And remember,  I am with you always,  to the end of the age.” 

“Go . . . to the end of the age!”  The gospel is all about “going.”  We should not stop, not rest, not pause, or not take any detour.  We should “go.”  Jesus gave us His authority so we could continue to take the gospel to the ends of the earth and to the end of the age.

I hear the Lord’s words ringing in my ears:  “¹² “I assure you: The one who believes in Me  will also do the works that I do. And he will do even greater works than these,  because I am going to the Father.  ¹³ Whatever you ask in My name, I will do it so that the Father may be glorified  in the Son.”  (Jn. 14:12-13).

The true test of a teacher or a mentor is not what how great they may perform, but how great their understudies, or students perform. Jesus did not qualify the works that we could do.  Jesus healed the sick, set free the oppressed, made the lame walk, caused the blind to see, and raised the dead!  He expects us to do even more!  In fact, He promised to empower us to do even more.  We can never stop “going.”  Our authority is a CONTINUING authority.

And so, this concludes a normative summary of the Ministry of Jesus.  Mark highlights the Master’s authority.  Now, are you ready to pick up where the Lord left off?  Are you ready to accept the responsibility for “going into all the world” carrying the good news of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  The same authority that marveled the crowds in Jesus’ day, has been transferred to you and I—His church.

Let’s go forth with boldness, courage and confidence as “world-changing ambassadors for the Lord Jesus Christ!”