There’s a difference between complaining about something and having the authority to do something about it. We see that in the news media as opinions fly about what should be done, yet only the elected leaders have the authority to do something. Kids whine to get something their heart desires at that moment, but the parents have the authority to choose if they should eat ice cream or their veggies. We see that difference played out in our next section of Mark.
“They went into Capernaum, and right away he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. They were astonished at his teaching because he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not like the scribes. Just then a man with an unclean spirit was in their synagogue. He cried out, “What do you have to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus rebuked him saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” And the unclean spirit threw him into convulsions, shouted with a loud voice, and came out of him. They were all amazed, and so they began to ask each other, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” At once the news about him spread throughout the entire vicinity of Galilee.” (Mark 1:21–28, CSB)
The key word is authority. Jesus taught with authority and demonstrated authority over demonic spirits. How was Jesus’ teaching different than the scribes? I think that it boils down to this. The scribes could and would read the words of scripture and link them to what other learned scholars had written. Jesus could speak to the underlying principles and their application to real life. We see that in chapters 5-7 of Matthew.
Jesus said in His sermon, “You’ve heard it said,” and then quoted a portion of the Law several times. For instance, “Again, you have heard that it was said to our ancestors, You must not break your oath, but you must keep your oaths to the Lord. But I tell you, don’t take an oath at all: either by heaven, because it is God’s throne; or by the earth, because it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, because it is the city of the great King. Do not swear by your head, because you cannot make a single hair white or black. But let your ‘yes’ mean ‘yes,’ and your ‘no’ mean ‘no.’ Anything more than this is from the evil one.” (Matthew 5:33–37, CSB) The first part would have been the teaching of the scribes. The second part, the “But I tell you” part, is spoken with authority.
That authority is demonstrated practically when Jesus rebuked and removed the unclean spirit. Oh, so many questions about why that man was there and whether the religious leaders knew of his condition. We know that the demon recognized Jesus and declared him to be “the Holy One of God.” Jesus silenced the spirit and commanded it to leave. The scribes were flabbergasted, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”
This again underscores Mark’s goal of declaring Jesus to be the Son of God. But it also creates a question for us. Have we given Jesus authority in our lives? That is what “Lord” means. Many accept Jesus as their savior, fantastic! Yet, Jesus calls us to follow Him, for Him to be our Lord. For Jesus to exercise authority in our hearts, minds, and lives. If He convicts us to put something down like a sin, behavior, habit, or thought, we do it. If He commands us to pick something up like a task, service, ministry, thought, or habit, we do it. If He commands us to lay down going out with the boys to spend time with our family, we do it. Or to put way dead scrolling on social media and pick up the Bible, we do it. But this obedience is not from the threat of punishment but because we love Jesus, and He loves us.
- Mark: With Authority - April 14, 2025
- Mark: Say Yes - April 9, 2025
- Mark: Baptism, Temptation, and Ministry - April 7, 2025
