The Authority of Jesus Christ: Mark 1:21-22
“21) They *went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22) They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:21-22
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the teaching and overall ministry of Jesus was His authority. Everything He said and did was based on His authority. Do not miss this point.
His office as Messiah carried the authority of being Deity. That’s why miracles happened, demons fled and diseases were healed. He even had authority on earth to forgive sins. His authority calmed raging seas, filled nets with fish, fed thousand by making food multiply and raised the dead. It was done based on His authority as the Son of God. But it gets even better!
His authority did not end with His death on the cross. In fact, His authority conquered death and the grave and fueled the resurrection. (See Romans 1:4) But it gets even better!
He gave His authority to His followers. Take a moment and read Matthew 10:1. He gave authority to the twelve over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Then in Luke 10 He gave His authority to the seventy. (See Luke 10:17) But it gets even better!
After His resurrection, He gave His authority and power to all of His followers to go out and minister in His name. It is recorded in each of the four Great Commissions given between His resurrection and ascension. (Study Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:46-49, Acts 1:4-8). But it gets even better!
Paul prayed earnestly that every believer would understand and walk in this authority and power. (Study Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-21 and Colossians 1:9-12) That means it is for you and me as well!
I was not taught this in Bible college. It took me years of struggling in ministry and doing my best to fix things for people through my own ability and fleshly efforts to come to the end of myself. That’s when I started crying out to God for help… and that’s when He started opening my eyes to His authority and the power of the Holy Spirit.
That marked a progressive change in my Christian life, prayers and ministry. I am increasingly learning what it means to live and do ministry based on the authority of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mark planted this seed of the authority of Jesus Christ way back in these two verses we are studying today. For years I was blind to the biblical teaching on authority and power, now I see it everywhere in the New Testament. I never want to go back to fleshy, carnal and powerless ministry again!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“21) They *went into Capernaum; and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and began to teach. 22) They were amazed at His teaching; for He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark 1:21-22
One of the distinguishing characteristics of the teaching and overall ministry of Jesus was His authority. Everything He said and did was based on His authority. Do not miss this point.
His office as Messiah carried the authority of being Deity. That’s why miracles happened, demons fled and diseases were healed. He even had authority on earth to forgive sins. His authority calmed raging seas, filled nets with fish, fed thousand by making food multiply and raised the dead. It was done based on His authority as the Son of God. But it gets even better!
His authority did not end with His death on the cross. In fact, His authority conquered death and the grave and fueled the resurrection. (See Romans 1:4) But it gets even better!
He gave His authority to His followers. Take a moment and read Matthew 10:1. He gave authority to the twelve over unclean spirits to cast them out and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness. Then in Luke 10 He gave His authority to the seventy. (See Luke 10:17) But it gets even better!
After His resurrection, He gave His authority and power to all of His followers to go out and minister in His name. It is recorded in each of the four Great Commissions given between His resurrection and ascension. (Study Matthew 28:18-20, Mark 16:15-18, Luke 24:46-49, Acts 1:4-8). But it gets even better!
Paul prayed earnestly that every believer would understand and walk in this authority and power. (Study Ephesians 1:15-23; 3:14-21 and Colossians 1:9-12) That means it is for you and me as well!
I was not taught this in Bible college. It took me years of struggling in ministry and doing my best to fix things for people through my own ability and fleshly efforts to come to the end of myself. That’s when I started crying out to God for help… and that’s when He started opening my eyes to His authority and the power of the Holy Spirit.
That marked a progressive change in my Christian life, prayers and ministry. I am increasingly learning what it means to live and do ministry based on the authority of Jesus Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit.
Mark planted this seed of the authority of Jesus Christ way back in these two verses we are studying today. For years I was blind to the biblical teaching on authority and power, now I see it everywhere in the New Testament. I never want to go back to fleshy, carnal and powerless ministry again!
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
