Authority – The power or right to control, judge or prohibit the actions of others.
Authority – A person or group having power.
Authority – An expert in a particular field.
Authority – The ability to influence or control others.
These are just a few of the definitions one finds when they look up the word authority. Authority is a French word that literally means the power to enforce obedience.
All around us we see authority
Parental authority (pic of parents)
Military authority (pic of a general)
Religious authority (pic of pope)
Civil authority (pic of policeman)
We live in a culture that questions authority – for many of us we do not like to be told what to do or when to do something. In the 60’s people were encouraged to question authority. Civil disobedience was seen on college campus and at public gatherings. If you grew up in the 80’s your remember John Mellencamp’s Authority song “I fought authority and authority always wins” or maybe you are familiar with the group “they might be giants” – “You’re not the boss of me”
Today we see a rise in militias and a tolerance where people are asking who gave you the right to judge or who put you in charge – We seem to question authority.
We should not be surprised people question authority; for since the beginning of time people have been questioning God’s authority.
It began in the book of Genesis; 15The Lord God placed the man in the Garden of Eden to tend and watch over it. 16 But the Lord God warned him, “You may freely eat the fruit of every tree in the garden—17 except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. If you eat its fruit, you are sure to die.” Genesis 2:15-17
In verse 15, God transfers his authority of keeping the garden to Adam. Adam take care of this place, tend it care for it – this is your place. But one thing; do not eat from the tree of knowledge from Good and Evil – if you do; you die.
Next chapter
The serpent and Eve are having a conversation regarding the forbidden tree – she states she cannot eat from it.
Everything is fine up to this point; then the authority issue comes up. 4 “You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. 5 “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.”
6 The woman was convinced. She saw that the tree was beautiful and its fruit looked delicious, and she wanted the wisdom it would give her. So she took some of the fruit and ate it. Then she gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it, too. Genesis 3:4-6
Bottom Line; we do not like authority – we do not like to have someone having charge of our lives or our decisions and we will question and rebel against authority when that happens.
Yet authority was what people recognized in the life of Jesus.
It was authority that caused the Pharisees to question Jesus – By whose authority do you heal, by whose authority do you forgive sins, by whose authority do you violate the Sabbath.
It was authority that Jesus claimed after his resurrection when he told his disciples; All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Matthew 28:18
As we continue our series through Mark, I want us to see why it is important to allow Jesus to have authority over your decisions, your possessions and your life. For if we are going to be the “little Christ”; it will be because we recognize the authority Jesus has in our life.
In Mark 1, the gospel writer Mark gives us three signs that Jesus was a man of authority.
Note verses Mark 1:20-22
21They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.
22The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Verse 21, He taught in the synagogue
The people knew Jesus had authority from God as it was witnessed at his baptism. God confirmed his authority on him when the voice came from heaven announcing his pleasure in his son’s obedience of baptism. Now they hear his authority – Mark does not tell us the content of his message, just that it is an authoritative message – Verse 22, he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.
Why is that so important? Why does Mark make the comparison between Jesus and the religious leaders? If you are going to put your life in the hands of someone; you want to be sure they know what they are talking about. Think about it…
If you are told you have a brain tumor who are you going to trust? A doctor with 25 years of experience or a 2nd year medical student?
Who is going to handle your retirement a trusted advisor or someone who graduated from the Bernie Madoff School of Finance?
Who are you going to trust about matters of eternity; our culture which changes with popular opinion or Jesus who is the same yesterday, today and forever?
Because Jesus taught with authority we can place our trust in him. There is an assurance that comes from the authoritative nature of his teaching. Following his teaching gives us a sense of security because he has authority in his words.
When he says I am loved by Him – he means it
When he says I am forgiven – I am
When he says I am coming back for you - he will
You can trust him for he speaks with authority
We also see his authority in the way He was recognized by demons.
I have had a few interesting things happen when I have preached. I had a woman get up and leave every time I got up to preach. I have watched people doze off; I had people say amen, people applaud. But I have never had anything happen like what happened to Jesus. Note Marks words in verse 23 & 24, 23Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out,
24"What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!"
25"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
Imagine the scene Jesus is teaching – everyone is listening to Jesus – he is speaking with authority, everyone is spell bound and then suddenly and man with an evil spirit cries out. Not your typical day at the synagogue!
Now this brings up an interesting question; Do demons go to church? I heard the story about the day Satan went to church, he walked into the sanctuary and everyone scattered. Everyone was gone except for this little man sitting on the front row. Satan walked up to him and said do you know who I am? I am the prince of darkness, the Lord of the flies, evil incarnate, why aren’t you afraid of me. To which the man replied “I have been married to your sister for 40 years, why should I be scared of you?
To me the interesting item is not that there was a man with an evil spirit in the synagogue, but that the evil spirit recognized Jesus.
Note the evil spirit recognizes Jesus in the flesh – (Jesus of Nazareth) AND he recognizes Jesus godly nature (The Holy one of God).
The evil spirit confirms what we know about Jesus. Jesus is more than a good teacher; he is more than a leader of religious movement – as the evil spirit said He is the holy one of God.
The word holy means to be set apart. For what was Jesus set apart? Jesus was set apart to be the sacrifice for our sins. He was set apart to show us how to live with a kingdom mindset. He was set apart to show us how to overcome the grave; and in this context Jesus is set apart to show us how to overcome the powers of darkness.
In this world we are constantly pulled toward the allure of sin. We live in a sin saturated world and it is impossible to go through this life without being infected by the sin germ. The trouble is sin carries an incredible price tag, Roman 6:23; The wages of sin is death. Just as death separates us from the living, so sin separates us from God. We see in verse 25, Jesus has the authority to cast out the evil spirit; Thus He has the authority over sin. When we submit to his authority in our lives we are submitting to the one who is able to overcome evil with good.
There is a third way Jesus’ authority is displayed, The people responded to Him
Note verse27-28, 27The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Upon hearing his teaching and seeing his power over the evil spirit, Mark says the people were amazed. They had never seen anything like this before; authoritative teaching and authoritative power over evil – this indeed was a new day! Verse 28 tells us they were more than amazed, they told everyone about Jesus. I love how verse 28 puts it - 28News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee. The Message says, “News traveled fast”
I wonder have we lost the amazement of Jesus. Is Jesus amazing to you. If he is, then why are we not acting like the crowded in Mark 1, Is News traveling fast about Jesus?
The news I know that travels fast is usually bad news.
The news I know that travels fast is usually gossip.
The news I know that travels fast is usually the wrong news or a rumor.
Friends when we are under the authority of Jesus news will travel fast. People will notice others who live under the authority of Christ.
Over the last few weeks we have talked about a distinctive messiah, a distinctive message, and a distinctive call. We are asking ourselves who we are as a people and a church. The question for all of us today is; are we living a life of distinction?
Before you answer that question let me give you a qualifier to help us understand what it means to be distinctive. Being distinctive means I recognize the authority Jesus has over my life and I submit to his authority. To help us understand his authority note how Paul put it in Colossians 1:15-19
I like for us read this responsively – I will read the first verse and then you the second, I the third and you the fourth and so on…
Alan - He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation.
Congregation - For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible.
Alan - whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.
Congregation - He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church;
Alan - he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy.
Congregation - For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in him.
For God was please to have all of HIS dwell in him – In other words when I submit to Christ I am submitting to God himself.
How do I submit to the authority of Jesus?
The first act of submission is to be willing to come to Jesus on his terms.
Salvation is found in no one but Jesus. We submit to his authority when we submit to his plan regarding salvation.
Obedience to his teaching.
This is where the rubber meets the road, will we be obedient to what his word says. Mark Twain said it is not the things in the Bible I do not understand that give me trouble, but the things that I do understand that trouble me most. To become obedient to his teaching we must become a student of his teachings. John Maxwell says if you desire to master a subject you will need to dedicate five years to that subject. How much time do you spend in God’s word? How much time do you dedicate to living under the authority of the master?
Probably the most difficult part of submitting to his authority is to Live out the Biblical Paradoxes
A paradox is a statement or proposition that seems to self contradictory or absurd but in reality expresses a truth. Scripture is full of paradoxes that do not make sense to anyone, unless they are going live under the authority of Christ. For example;
If you want to save your life: you must lose your life, Luke 9:24-2
If you want to be lifted up; you must humble yourself before God, James 4:7
If you to be the greatest; you must be willing to serve, Matthew 20:20-22
If you want to be first, you must be last, Matthew 19:30
If you want to rule, you must serve, Luke 22:26-27
If you want to live, you must put to death the deeds of the flesh, Romans 8:3
If you want to be strong, you must become weak, 2 Corinthians 11:30, 12:9-10
If you want to inherit the kingdom, you must be poor in spirit, Matthew 5:3
Living under Christ’s authority has implications to every area of our life. When I live under the authority of Christ I no longer ask what is in it for me, or when do I get my turn, rather I faithfully submit to the one who was willing to go to the cross for me. Or as the old hymn says
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Thou art the Potter, I am the clay.
Mold me and make me after Thy will, while I am waiting, yielded and still.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Search me and try me, Master, today!
Whiter than snow, Lord, wash me just now, As in Thy presence humbly I bow.
Have Thine own way, Lord! Have Thine own way! Hold o’er my being absolute sway!
Fill with Thy Spirit ’till all shall see Christ only, always, living in me.
Will Jesus have his way with you today?
