In Jesus Holy Name February 1, 2009
Epiphany IV Redeemer
Mark 1:21-28
“The Cosmic Battle for Authority”
There is an ongoing cosmic battle happening in the world around us as Satan seeks to possess and destroy the lives and souls of men, women and children. We just sang Martin Luther’s famous hymn:
“The old satanic foe has sworn to work us woe
with craft and dreadful might
He arms himself to fight.
Though hordes of devils fill the land
All threatening to devour us
We tremble not, unmoved we stand
They can not overpower us
Let this world’s tyrant rage
His might is doomed to fail
They can not win the day!
Satan and his demonic angels can not win the day unless we give in to his temptations. When we were baptized, we wrapped ourselves within the protection of the Holy Spirit. But we must realize that the words recorded in I Peter explains the present reality.
“Be self controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him.” (I Peter 5:8-9) God has done his part and we must do ours.
After Jesus was baptized he spent 40 days in the wilderness. There, we are told that he was tempted by Satan three times. The temptations of Satan were designed to tempt Jesus to deny his deity… “If you are the Son of God…”
2nd. Temptation. Jesus was tempted to break one of the commandments and worship Satan in order to avoid the cross. Jesus resisted.
The Bible tells us that on the cross Jesus disarmed and defeated the devil and all the principalities and powers at his command. Every sin committed by every believer was nailed to the cross and left there. God the Creator, the eternal Judge, promised that all who stand under the blood soaked cross of Jesus, will have their sins erased, totally wiped away.
Rev. John Stott, in his book “The Cross of Christ” writes: “…the devil has been defeated, he has not yet conceded defeat. Although he has been overthrown, he has not yet been eliminated.” (p.239)
The name Satan means ‘adversary’. Jesus called Satan the “father of lies” and a “murderer”. (John 8:44) Still today in many countries people live in dread of evil spirits. But here in our quote: “sophisticated” Western world, many people ridicule the belief that there is a personal devil who works his evil ways through people.
Rudolf Bultman made the following statement which summarizes the view of many: “it is impossible to use electric lights & wireless (communications) and avail ourselves of modern medical and surgical discoveries, and at the same time believe in the N.T. world of demons and spirits.”
As Christians we know that the defeat of Satan happened at the cross. The resurrection of Jesus from death and the grave endorsed, proclaimed and demonstrated his victory over Satan. If Jesus had not been raised from death our faith and preaching would be futile. Because of the resurrection of Jesus Satan has been deprived of his power to hold people in the fear of death. I John 3:8 states that the “Son of God appeared in order to “undo” or “do away” with the works of the devil.” (I John 3:8) Jesus came to confront and defeat Satan’s power and authority. That is what we see happening in our text. (Mark 1:21-28)
Even though “Jesus has dethroned Satan, Satan still wields great power and influence in our world. This is the reason for the tension we feel in both our theology and our experience. On the one hand we are alive, seated and reigning with Christ, empowered to live by His Holy Spirit; on the other hand we are warned that the spiritual forces of Satan have set themselves in opposition to us and we have no hope of defeating his temptations unless we put on the whole armor of God.”# )Eph. 5:13-15) “… the belt of truth, breast plat of righteousness, and feet fitted with readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.”
On the one hand we know that believers in Jesus, in whom the Holy Spirit dwells, insures our safety. On the other hand we know that Satan can tempt us, just as he tempted Jesus. “For the devil prowls around looking for someone to devour.“ But thanks to God we have the ability to resist by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When Jesus walked roads and villages of this earth God was openly challenging Satan’s power and authority. Jesus dismissed demons, healed people from illnesses and raised some who had died back to life.
The Apostle Paul wrote: “He forgave us all our sins, having cancelled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.” (The Cross of Christ p. 233)
What we see happening in our text is the conquest of evil, the cosmic battle taking place in the ministry of Jesus. Satan knew who Jesus was and he knew why Jesus came. (read Mark 1:24)
Satan had already tried to use Herod the Great to destroy the infant Jesus. The wilderness temptations were an attempt to have Jesus break one of the commandments and avoid the road to crucifixion and the cross. Satan used public crowds to force Jesus to become a King. But you must remember that Satan is not all powerful, nor does he have foreknowledge…thus he did not know Jesus was going to rise from death…
The resurrection of Jesus from the borrowed tomb of Joseph of Arimathea tells the world that there is a new “authority” on earth. What did the people in the village of Capernaum say about Jesus… “He teaches as one with authority.” He then demonstrates his authority over Satan’s demonic minions.
Who is the authority in your life? Now understand, I’m not asking who has the power in your life. There’s a big difference between power and authority. Let me explain.
As a pastor, who travels Hwy 99 I want a safe car. We’ve had Volvo’s for almost 20 years. Our 1st Volvo was a station wagon. Nice, large, safe, dependable. A few years back a friend had a souped up Corvette. If you’ve ever been invited to ride in a souped up Corvette, it is an experience.
You ride a few inches off the ground. In first gear, you are thrown back into the seat. In second gear, the “g” force feels like your face is stretched. In third gear, you blow by an 18 wheeler like it was standing still. Then doing about 1 million miles an hour you see a parked police car. The Vette slows down. The 18 wheeler slows down. Everybody slows down. And that’s the point. The Vette had power. The 18 wheeler had power with a full load and a big diesel engine had power. But that parked police car had authority.
Who has the authority in your life? Who is the person, what is the thing… that makes you do what you do, say what you say, think what you7 think? Who is the authority in your life?
Almost 2000 years ago when Jesus was beginning his ministry in the village of Capernaum, the people hear this man Jesus preach and see him cast out a demon. They understood the difference between power and authority. The Jewish teachers of the law, had book learnin’, they knew the rules. They had the power of hundreds of years of tradition. They were missing something that Jesus had: authority.
They were only half right when they described Jesus as a “man” of authority. This was not just a man. No mere man could do the things Jesus did. That’s because Jesus was, and is the Son of God.
When Jesus confronted demons… he was not afraid, they were. When the disciples were on the Sea of Galilee a storm was about to sink their boat. They were afraid. It was then that Jesus came walking to them on the water. Once in the boat the disciples confess and worship Jesus as God. And believe me, these good Jewish boys knew the first commandment.
But the question today is not who was the authority in Capernaum 2000 years ago, or who had the authority on the Sea of Galilee when the storm arose. Who is the authority in your life? It’s an important question.
If you have looked at Jesus with any depth, accepted his death and resurrection to cleanse your soul and save you from eternal death, then you can say with millions of others in the halls of history: “Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.” (Acts 4:12)
But it is possible that there are other authorities in your life. Maybe, like Eve, the eye pleasing pleasures of this world might lure you away from God. Maybe, like king David, lust has lured you away from the Lord and become your authority that controls your thoughts and actions. Is it possible that you, like Ananias and Sapphira are looking to advance your life by making shady business deals?
It makes little difference what your authority is. If your authority is not Jesus Christ, it is a false authority. Having Jesus as the Authority in your life, knowing him as Savior, doesn’t mean you won’t ever have problems. Difficulties will come your way. Satan will continue to seek to tempt you and me to replace Jesus as the ultimate authority for our behavior, our actions. But when Jesus is the authority in your life you will be able to do more, be more, care more and forgive more than you ever thought possible.
A good many years ago, during a Massachusetts winter, a brother and sister were walking on the ice. He was nine and she was 11. They hit a thin patch and fell through. Kicking to the surface, they yelled for help. Summoned by their screams, a man came running, dived into the icy water and tried to help them both. Seeing his difficulty, the nine year old boy shouted: “Never mind me, save Annette.” That’s what happened. The man saved Annette.
The boy died. I’ve often wondered, why did the boy call, “Never mind me, save Annette.” Was it a rational decision? Did he debate the matter? There was no time. That 9 year old boy was a Christian. It was just who he was. From home, from church, from parents he had learned to have Jesus as his authority. He simply imitated Jesus. (illustration from The Lutheran Hour Mark 1 2003)
