Absolute Authority

Introduction

Young children can mix things up pretty easily. I saw a story this week and wanted to share it with you...

A little boy found a dead squirrel in front of his house, and for hours he cried over it. His father, seeing that the squirrel had been hit by a car, seized this moment to teach his son a gentle lesson.

He talked to his son about the mysteries of life and death. Then he mentioned that the same thing could happen to him if he was not careful when he crossed the street.

That evening, his mother came to check on him. She wanted to remind the boy of the lesson he had learned about not playing in the street, so she remarked, "Honey, what did you learn from your talk with Daddy today?"

The boy answered, "I learned that when you die, you turn into a squirrel."

I’m not so sure that was the point of Dad’s message...

Teaching something is not easy…you can easily be misunderstood…and come to believe you turn into a squirrel when you die...

Today

Today we conclude the month of January…and our focus on preparing for change...

Change as individuals

Change as the church at BPC

Change as citizens of our nation and world.

We’ve talked about how many see the year 2024 to be a year of surprises and even catastrophes…all because of power grabs by the powers that be...

We’ve discussed how Jesus called his disciples…and how when God prepares us for change…he does so through disruption of our everyday lives...

Last week we talked about what we need to leave behind…When Jesus called his disciples in Mark’s gospel…they IMMEDIATELY…left behind their fishing nets…their livelihoods…to follow Jesus...

The question was asked....what do you need to leave behind in order to follow Jesus with all your heart?

Today we turn our attention to what Jesus did…in Mark’s gospel…after he called his disciples…in a word…he taught.

Scholar Hans Bayer notes “According to Mark, the central activity of Jesus is “teaching” his disciples and others, not primarily to perform miracles or cast out demons. This is also highlighted by the fact that twelve times Mark refers to Jesus as a “teacher” and not once as a miracle worker or exorcist.”

Hans F. Bayer, “Mark,” in Matthew–Luke, ed. Iain M. Duguid, James M. Hamilton Jr., and Jay Sklar, vol. VIII, ESV Expository Commentary (Wheaton, IL: Crossway, 2021), 498.

When you and I read the story or hear it read of Jesus teaching in the synagogue and then is confronted by a many with an unclean spirit…and Jesus casts out the demon...

We…for good reason…think that is the most important part of the story. And it is important…but primarily Mark wants he readers to understand Jesus as a teacher.

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Now…being a congregation filled with teachers of all sorts…we know that teaching is only half the battle…the student plays a role as well...

A Sunday school teacher was having a hard time with a difficult student named John. He looked him in the eye and asked a question, which he felt, would surely bring him in line: “John..., who is in charge here?”

The child replied, “Jesus is.”

Hard to argue with that logic.

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But in Mark’s gospel…Jesus’ students not only paid attention…they were “astonished” at his teaching.

R.T. France writes that words like “astonished”...

...are used frequently by Mark to record the reaction of onlookers, and sometimes the disciples, to both the words and deeds of Jesus (cf. the frequent use of (fear) φοβέομαι in similar contexts). They indicate the recognition of something out of the ordinary, and keep the reader aware of the unprecedented (authority) ἐξουσία of Jesus, and of the surprising and even shocking nature of some of the things he said.

Just like the little boy said to the Sunday school teachers “Jesus is in charge”

The astonishment of the people in the synagogue was due to Jesus teaching...

Mark 1:22 ESV

And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Robert Stein writes ... “some have suggested the difference between Jesus and the scribes…lay in the fact that instead of basing his arguments on the authority of what others had said (like quoting rabbis)…Jesus’ authority was seen in that he introduced his teaching with either “Amen” or “but I say to you”. For Mark…however…the authority o Jesus’ teaching was intimately associated with the coming of the kingdom of God and his authority to exorcise demons.”

I said last week that the gospel…the good news…is Jesus himself...

The kingdom of God is at hand…is Jesus himself...

Jesus is the personified good news…the personified kingdom of God…and with that…comes power and authority...

Closing

When Jesus comes on to the scene and begins his teaching ministry…he does so with authority. The crowds are astonished…and all the more so when a man with an unclean spirit says to Jesus...

Mark 1:24–28 (ESV)

“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.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Does Jesus have that kind of authority in your life? In my life?

Do his words…on the pages of the Holy Bible…have power in your life? In my life?

Friends…our text makes clear that Jesus has “absolute authority”

when he calls disciples to leave their jobs and follow him…they do...

When he teaches…people are astonished by his authority

When demons approach him…they fear…and are easily cast out...

So what say you? The crowds were astonished and amazed…

“What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”

These reactions were written down for you and I to ponder as well.

What is this? Who is this man Jesus? Why do demons obey him?

Will you believe in and follow this Jesus? If this is the begining of his ministry…what else is to come?

Let’s stay and find out…as we follow Jesus Christ…the one with absolute authority and power.

Thanks be to God…amen.