The Authority That Astonishes

Mark 1:21-28

BIG IDEA

Jesus does not merely speak about God’s authority—He embodies it, and even the forces of darkness must submit.

Introduction

There is something unmistakable about real authority.

You don’t have to announce it. You don’t have to defend it. And you certainly don’t have to raise your voice to prove it.

True authority reveals itself the moment it speaks.

Most of us have experienced the difference. You’ve listened to people who knew about something—and you’ve listened to someone who knew what they were talking about. One informed you. The other changed you.

Furthermore, we all encounter all types of authority. Appointed authority or temporal authority as in the President of the United States, the Mayor, or the Chief of Police or even my role, I might be an authority here in the church but only for a season. My authority is an appointed authority or a temporal authority for a season.

This morning we will be confronted with absolute authority, authority that is never changing, you can count on it and I’m speaking of the authority of Jesus.

That is exactly what happens when Jesus walks into the synagogue in Mark chapter 1.

This passage is not primarily about demons. It is not about fear. It is not about spiritual spectacle.

It is about authority—the kind that astonishes, confronts, and transforms.

Mark wants us to see that when Jesus speaks, everything and everyone else in the room must respond.

Let’s look at three ways His authority is revealed this morning in this text.

Turn in your Bibles this morning to Mark 1:21-28.

Mark 1:21-28

Mark 1:21–28 NKJV

21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

Prayer

Message

A few years ago, a school administrator was asked why discipline had become so difficult in the schools these days. His response was telling:

“We no longer have a discipline problem. We have an authority problem. Students aren’t afraid of consequences because they don’t believe anyone really has the right to tell them what to do.”

This isn’t just a school issue. It’s a cultural one.

We live in a world that says:

“You do you.”

“No one gets to tell you who you are.”

“Follow your truth.”

We know this to be true because listen to what the Scriptures say on the subject. When a country and a people have turned their face away from God listen to what happens:

Judges 21:25 “25 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes.”

When authority is rejected, chaos follows.

We don’t struggle because authority exists—we struggle because we don’t want it.

Let’s go to the other end of the spectrum-abused authority:

Abraham Lincoln

“Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.”

Oh listen-Authority doesn’t create character—it reveals it. We will read today that Jesus’ authority reveals holiness and compassion, not corruption.

Theodore Roosevelt

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

Authority must be relational to be effective. The crowd was astonished—not just at Jesus’ power, but His presence.

Oh dearly beloved, Jesus is the needed authority-He is not the enemy. We need Him in our schools, we need Him in our courts, we need Him in our country. We need Him more than ever in our world.

In this text this morning Mark begins foundationally building His case for Jesus as the Son of God. Jesus is our ultimate authority.

Mark 1:1 “1 The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.”

1. An Authority That Teaches With Clarity VV. 21-22

Mark 1:21–22 “21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

Here in verse 21, Jesus and four of His disciples, Peter, Andrew, James and John go into Capernaum and you learn that from verse 29. It is speculated that these four fishermen/disciples lived in Capernaum. We know that Jesus was from Nazareth but Capernaum was at the northwest corner of the Sea of Galilee. Jesus set up His base of ministry from Capernaum. Matthew 4:13 “13 And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,”

Capernaum-means village of Nahum.

I think that interesting because as we continue through this text this town may have been the village of Nahum, but everyone in the synagogue on this day will know that Jesus is in the house.

Another important aspect to Mark’s gospel is we realize He uses the word “immediately.” Mark uses the word immediately 108 times in his gospel account. Two times in this one short story.

Immediately-Eutheos which means directly, as soon as, at once, straightway

Jesus prioritized His work of teaching others about Himself and His mission while here on earth. Let’s remember what was His message? Mark doesn’t say here. Mark emphasizes the authority in which He spoke.

Mark 1:14–15 “14 Now after John was put in prison, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel.””

Jesus worked with an urgency. He knew the seriousness of His calling, God incarnate, Jesus, came to save sinners like you and me. In Luke, we know the verses spelled out that revealed Jesus’ priority:

Luke 19:10 “10 for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.””

Luke 2:49 “49 And He said to them, “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business?””

In Mark we see that Mark wants us to know that Jesus is the “Son of God” as spelled out in Mark 1:1, we know His message from Mark 1:14-15, but furthermore, He wants us to know His ultimate and absolute authority, that He is the Christ, the Son of God.

Mark 8:27–29 “27 Now Jesus and His disciples went out to the towns of Caesarea Philippi; and on the road He asked His disciples, saying to them, “Who do men say that I am?” 28 So they answered, “John the Baptist; but some say, Elijah; and others, one of the prophets.” 29 He said to them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.””

Where would Jesus go but where people are discussing God. Jesus would go to church dear brothers and sisters. There is every tool available for you to seek God wherever you are, but if you come looking for the Lord at the church you will find Him.

Matthew 16:18 “18 And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”

Jesus is Jewish by birth and He goes to the synagogue and the scripture states that He teaches.

The word synagogue means an “assembly of men.” You formed a synagogue with a minimum of 10 men to make up that gathering. And He went on the Sabbath. In Jewish you say, “Shabbat” which starts Friday at dusk and ends Saturday at dusk.

Synagogues came about during the Babylonian exile after Jerusalem's destruction that provided a place for the Jews to gather and listen to God’s Word and worship. Sounds like church doesn’t it.

Mark 1:22 “22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.”

“They were astonished at His teaching.”

Astonished means Explesso means they were expelled by a blow, to strike with panic or shock or struck with amazement. The key is the blow is no middle ground. The blow can be the calling, the conviction, the confirming, but there is no middle ground.

“for He taught them as one having authority.”

As Jesus was teaching they were blown away. They were arrested with His words. Mark does not tell us what Jesus said. Mark thought it important for us to know that Jesus spoke with authority. And....not like the Scribes.

A Concise Dictionary of the Words in the Greek Testament and The Hebrew Bible 1849. ἐξουσία

1849. ἐξουσία ĕxŏusia, force, capacity, competency, freedom, or (obj.) mastery (concr. magistrate, superhuman, potentate, token of control), delegated influence:—authority, jurisdiction, liberty, power, right, strength.

Who were the scribes?

Scribes were professional, vocationally called interpreters and teachers of the law. They were OT scripture scholars and the intellectual leaders of Jewish society. Scribes were not a religious sect or a political party, their role served in a professional capacity. Scribes could belong to the Pharisees or Sadducee's as well.

Any time these Scribes spoke in the synagogue all they did was quote another Rabbi as reference. When Jesus spoke He said, “thus says the Lord.”

Oh listen dearly beloved, Jesus did not talk about God, He is God.

Everything the scribes said would have been in third person, Jesus spoke in first person.

Would you rather hear about somebody indirectly or listen and discuss with them in person?

Oh listen:

Things today are no different for those attending that synagogue over 2,000 years ago. There were many authorities in place at that day. There was Tiberias emperor in control of Roman authority. There was Herod Antipas who was appointed by Roman rule to collect taxes in Israel. We know that in the religious structure, Annas and Caiphas held high priest roles overseeing temple affairs and religious law from Jerusalem. There were local synagogue rulers and scribes were the interpreters and teachers of Jewish law.

Listen dearly beloved, the people of that day are no different than than the climate we live in. All authority was temporal, appointed or specific to a given role or region. With all that appointed authority, all that temporal or limited authority and possibly only for a season, there was a yearning for real authority.

Listen-everyone here is lead by some form of authority in your life. Some of you are here under:

Self Authority-I decide what’s true for me. In that mindset-truth is internal. Feelings determine right and wrong. Personal preference outranks objective truth. What is the cultural language of this mindset?

“Follow your heart,” “be true to yourself,” “no one can tell you who you are.”

Proverbs 16:25 “25 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death.”

2. Cultural Authority-”this is just how the world works now.” Media, social norms, and popular opinion quietly define values, morality, and identity.

Social media outrage cycles, redefining morality by majority opinion, and the culture changes.

Ephesians 4:14 “14 that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting,”

James 1:6 “6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”

2 Timothy 4:3–4 “3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine, but according to their own desires, because they have itching ears, they will heap up for themselves teachers; 4 and they will turn their ears away from the truth, and be turned aside to fables.”

Romans 12:2 “2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

3. Institutional Authority – “Rules, systems, and structures.”

Authority without relationship often produces compliance without transformation. What am I talking about? Following Government, religion, education, tradition.

There is a strength in that-Provides order and stability. But there is also a danger: When authority is positional but not powerful—or enforced without compassion.

Connection to Mark 1: The scribes had credentials, but Jesus had command. “He taught as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (v. 22)

Pastoral Insight: Dead religion still teaches—but it doesn’t change lives.

Everyone lives under authority—whether they admit it or not. The question isn’t if something leads your life, but who.

The people were blown off their feet as they recognized real authority in Jesus. Why? Jesus was the Son of God. He spoke about the Kingdom in the first person. When Jesus came into the synagogue, the kingdom of God was present.

Oh listen dearly beloved, we get so many mixed signals today from authorities and we wonder what is right and what is wrong.

If you came today to hear a word of authority from God you came to the right place because I will say to you today and what Jesus said many years ago on the day of that assembly is “thus says the Lord.”

Oh listen, Jesus’ authority is eternally constant and absolute.

Hebrews 13:8 “8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.”

His nature is unchanging across time. You can bank on Jesus. All authority is given to Jesus.

Matthew 28:18 “18 And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.”

Jesus’ authority extends to the very foundations of creation and existence.

Colossians 1:16–17 “16 For by Him all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him. 17 And He is before all things, and in Him all things consist.”

Jesus authority extends beyond time and space.

Revelation 1:8 “8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End,” says the Lord, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.””

His authority is never changing for all eternity.

Hebrews 7:24 “24 But He, because He continues forever, has an unchangeable priesthood.”

Oh my goodness that is more than the mind can comprehend and it was the same struggle the people on that day attempted to fathom as they heard with astonishment Jesus speak.

But all these realities about Jesus are not so deep that Jesus is without the authority to intervene in your life and bring the change that is needed. Are you here today because you know what you have sought to this point hasn’t brought real change? Jesus has the power and the authority to set your life on a new course.

Ill.

I want you think for just a moment. You have been diagnosed with a serious sickness. What provides you more confidence in your future? Reading a medical textbook, watching some YouTubes on the subject or doing some Google searches OR sitting across from a surgeon who has performed the procedure you need hundreds of times.

The textbook explains. The surgeon speaks with confidence.

The scribes explained Scripture. Jesus embodied Scripture.

Jesus knows your sin condition and He is able to erase and heal your sin problem and offer you new life.

The scribes constantly referenced others:

“Rabbi so-and-so says…”

“Tradition teaches…”

Jesus simply speaks—I am the way, the truth and the life.

His authority did not come from position. It came from identity.

We live in an age of endless information but little transformation.

Churches can be full of:

Good explanations

Accurate theology

Correct terminology

And still lack authority that reaches the heart. “Jesus didn’t just explain God—He revealed God.”

And churches can have Satan filled individuals in the pews. Let’s continue on:

2. An Authority That Confronts the Corrupted VV. 23-26

Mark 1:23–26 “23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him.”

“There was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit…”

Several interesting thoughts about this story.

The people did not understand who Jesus was at this point. In fact the disciples served Jesus three years and never fully grasped the fullness of Jesus until after the cross.

2. The demon knew exactly who Jesus was and they knew His mission. Eschatologically speaking, they knew Jesus’ role and they knew He would save the world from their sins and stamp out those that are opposed to Him and go to the lake of fire for eternity.

Let’s not confuse an unclean spirit with an unclean heart. This man was embodied by a demonic spirit. Everyone of us are born of the adamic nature and have unclean hearts until we know Christ and accept Him as Lord and Savior.

Are Satan and demonic forces still active today?

The New Testament never suggests that Satan or demons ceased activity after Jesus’ earthly ministry or Pentecost. What did change is their authority, access, and ultimate power because of the cross, resurrection, and indwelling Spirit.

1 Peter 5:8 “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.”

Ephesians 6:11–12 “11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.”

Revelation 12:12 “12 Therefore rejoice, O heavens, and you who dwell in them! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth and the sea! For the devil has come down to you, having great wrath, because he knows that he has a short time.””

What has changed since the time of Jesus?

During Jesus’ earthly ministry

There is an unusual concentration of visible demonic manifestations.

Why?

The Kingdom of God was breaking in visibly (Mark 1:15)

Satan’s dominion was being directly confronted

Demons recognized Jesus immediately (Mark 1:24)

Think of it as open warfare during an invasion, not normal daily operations.

After the Cross and Resurrection

Demonic forces:

Are defeated but not destroyed

Are limited but not eliminated

Are active but not sovereign

Colossians 2:15 “15 Having disarmed principalities and powers, He made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them in it.”

Hebrews 2:14 “14 Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,”

Can a Christian be demon-possessed?

A believer cannot be possessed, but may be oppressed, tempted, or influenced.

Why is possession impossible?

1 Corinthians 6:19 “19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?”

2 Corinthians 6:15–16 “15 And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? 16 And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.””

1 John 4:4 “4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

I will say whether you have an unclean spirit or an uncleanliness or sin in your life when it comes in contact with the Lord and His Word, the light will reveal our darkness.

Have you ever noticed how darkness reacts when light is turned on?

You don’t argue with the darkness. You don’t negotiate with the darkness. You simply flip the switch.

And darkness leaves.

That’s what happens here.

This man is in church, yet deeply bound. Religion had not changed him. Ritual had not freed him.

But when Jesus speaks, the unclean spirit recognizes:

Who He is

What He has authority to do

Jesus does not engage in conversation. He does not dramatize the moment. He commands—and it is done.

This passage does not invite obsession with demons. It reveals the effortless supremacy of Christ.

The demon knows His destiny unless He changes His ways.

Scripture is clear about the fate awaiting demons who persist in rebellion against God.

Matthew 25:41 “41 “Then He will also say to those on the left hand, ‘Depart from Me, you cursed, into the everlasting fire prepared for the devil and his angels:” “The demon shouts—but Jesus doesn’t have to.”

Mark 1:24 “24 saying, “Let us alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are—the Holy One of God!””

The demon is not asking a question, he is making a statement: And note...”let us alone”-there were several in the congregation, there were several in the person’s body or several in the region, but there was more than one. He’s really saying, “we do not have anything to do with you” meaning that they are in opposition to the things of God.

I do not want to overstate or give too much credit to the demonic in this story other than to say and offer hope:

1 John 4:4 “4 You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.”

Are demons real? They are. They were real then and they are real today....and guess what? They even attend houses of worship today where there is dead religion. They love to attack individuals that are dead in their religion.

Furthermore, again, He did not ask a question, He made a statement: “did you come to destroy us? I know who you are the Holy One of God.”

I want to get very serious with you at this point.

Let’s assume at times people have commented or questioned you-I believe you have a demon inside you. I believe at times you are demon possessed. Boy, girl, you are full of the devil. I have good news. Jesus saves the worst of the worst, He saves those that have unclean spirits.

Luke 8:26-40 The story of the Demoniac Among the Gadarenes

Luke 8:26–40 “26 Then they sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee. 27 And when He stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes, nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!” 29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness. 30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?” And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss. 32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned. 34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned. 38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him. 40 So it was, when Jesus returned, that the multitude welcomed Him, for they were all waiting for Him.”

Oh dearly beloved, whether you have an unclean spirit or an unclean heart

Jesus still confronts the unclean:

Sin

Bondage

Hidden rebellion

Spiritual deadness

But He does so with authority, not chaos.

3. An Authority That Spreads With Credibility VV. 27-28

Mark 1:27–28 “27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.”

“What is this? A new teaching—with authority!”

When this astonishment, this amazement, being mesmerized by the Lord’s words speaks to your hearts understand something vitally important, the Holy Spirit speaks, the Holy Spirit convicts, the Holy Spirit draws we should heed the authority of God and do what it is He is calling us to do.

Ill.

When a bridge is well-built, you don’t have to convince people to drive across it. They trust it because it holds weight.

Dearly beloved, the Lord holds weight. He held the weight of the world on the cross. He heaved and lifted, He heaved and lifted to gain breath and He was victorious over the sins of this world.

Truth that carries authority doesn’t need hype. It holds.

Notice that the people did not leave talking about the demons, they didn’t leave talking about the spectacle, They leave talking about Jesus.

His authority is confirmed in:

His teaching

His command

His results

And word spreads.

When Christ rules a life, it becomes a testimony.

Authority leaves evidence of the actions one received. “Where Jesus reigns, change follows.”

Closing

Mark wants us to leave this passage asking the same question the synagogue asked:

“What is this?”

And the answer is clear.

This is God in flesh. This is authority without rival. This is light that darkness cannot resist.

And here’s the most important truth of all:

The greatest miracle in this passage is not a demon leaving a man—It’s a Savior revealing who He is.

The same Jesus who commanded an unclean spirit Still speaks with authority today.

Invitation

“Some of you today don’t need deliverance from a demon—you need deliverance from sin. The Bible says we are not born possessed, but we are born separated. And the same authority that silenced darkness came to save sinners.”

Jesus did not just come to command spirits. He came to change hearts.

And when He speaks forgiveness… When He offers grace… When He calls you to repent and believe…

That authority is not meant to be admired. It is meant to be received.

“Today, if you hear His voice, don’t harden your heart.”

Jesus is not one authority among many. He is the authority before whom every knee will bow.