Who's In Charge Here? Jesus Is!
Epiphany 2021 • Sermon • Submitted
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· 4 viewsGoal of the Message: To grow in our understanding of Jesus’ authority and in our trust in the saving consequences of his authority.
Notes
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Almost 40-years ago there was an assassination attempt of President Ronald Reagan. In the midst of the chaos and confusion, a blurted comment came from Secretary of State Alexander Haig, “I’m in charge here!” Haig’s claim of authority was ridiculed by some and welcomed by others.
When Jesus visited the Capernaum synagogue in today’s Gospel reading, there was little doubt that He taught and acted with authority, that He was in charge: His firm but quiet assertion of authority was not debated or ridiculed by his audience; rather, it was acknowledged, welcomed, and publicized. As we today consider the authority of Jesus, may we also gladly accept his authority and power to save us, and publicize his authority among those around us.
Who’s in Charge Here? Jesus Is!
The assertion of Jesus’ authority.
The assertion of Jesus’ authority.
Jesus did not assert his authority simply by talking about it.
Rather, he asserted his authority through teaching (Mark 1:21).
There was authority in the manner of his teaching (Study Help 4).
Twice in our text (vv 22, 27) the people recognize the authority of Jesus’ teaching. Just what is this “authority” that they recognize? It likely consisted of both the manner and the content of his teaching. It was more than the sternness and directness of Jesus described in v 25, although that probably was part of it. Many of the verbs in our text describing the reaction to or consequence of Jesus’ words give us some inkling of Jesus’ authority. It could only be the authority of God himself. He spoke and it was so (cf. Gen 1). His word even had the power to drive out the demons.
There was authority in the content of his teaching.
He avoided the academic irrelevancies and burdensome legalism of the teachers of the law, who usually quoted from rabbinic scholars (v 22).
He taught “a new teaching”: salvation by God’s grace through faith in himself, the promised Messiah (Mark 1:27).
“A new teaching!” (v 27) is the people’s response to Jesus’ words and deeds in the synagogue on that particular Sabbath. The religion he taught, salvation by God’s grace through God-given faith, was as old as the fallen world. But in the course of time this old teaching had been obscured by the encrustations of the teachers of the law. Jesus removed these encrustations and revealed this teaching more forcefully and clearly than any previous teacher had done because he himself embodied the grace and truth of God.
The challenge to Jesus’ authority.
The challenge to Jesus’ authority.
A man with an evil spirit interrupted Jesus’ teaching.
The evil spirit displayed knowledge of God (v 24; Study Helps 2, 3).
Yet the spirit displayed no trust in God (James 2:19; discuss the malady of knowledge without faith here).
But like the demons James refers to (James 2:19), this demon believes there is one God and shudders at the fact. Saving faith consists not only of knowledge about God but also of trust in him. The first verse of the Epistle warns of the danger of knowledge: “We know that we all possess knowledge. Knowledge puffs up . . . “ What ultimately matters in our relationship with God is not merely that we know him but that he knows us as his children through faith in the saving work of Jesus. “But the man who loves God is known by God” (1 Cor 8:3; emphasis added).
Does God know you as one who fears, loves, and trusts Him above all things, as the First Commandment requires?
The spirit knew Jesus, but he didn’t trust Him, nor follow Him.
Jesus rejected the evil spirit’s testimony (vv 25, 34).
Jesus exercised his power over the evil spirit and the entire kingdom of darkness by casting out the demon (Mark 1:25-26). Jesus also frees us today from bondage to sin and the devil and welcomes us into his kingdom.
The outcome of Jesus’ authority.
The outcome of Jesus’ authority.
Convinced by both Jesus’ miracle and Word, the people acknowledged his authority and immediately spoke to many others about it (Mark 1:27-28).
We today also gladly acknowledge the authority of Jesus over evil since it brings us salvation. We, too, respond by speaking to others about him.
Conclusion: In a world full people who reject any type of authority over them, and conflicting claims to authority, it is a relief to hear Jesus teach with true authority. He is the Son of God who has decisively defeated the power of Satan and given us “a new teaching”: salvation by God’s grace through faith in himself.