Understanding Authority: Mark 3:10-15
“10) for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. 11) Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12) And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was. 13) And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14) And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15) and to have authority to cast out the demons.” Mark 3:10-15
The two most common miracles Jesus performed related to healing people and casting out demons. They seemed to go hand in hand. From this text, it can be ascertained that these miracles were based on His authority.
Look at the text. Whenever an unclean spirit saw Him, it would fall down and declare, “You are the Son of God!” Jesus warned them to be quite because He did not want to entrust His marketing department to demons.
But the question must be asked; “Why were unclean spirits responding this way?” Answer: It was because of His identity and office as the Son of God. They recognized Him. He was the highest authority. They had to obey His command.
When you take a broader look at the four Gospels, you discover that sickness, disease, demons and the natural realm all recognized and obeyed His authority. He was a higher authority than all of them. If sickness or diseases could speak, they would have said the same thing about Jesus Christ; “You are the Son of God!” The conclusion would have been the same; “We have to obey you!”
Now look at the second part of this text, when Jesus sent out the twelve, He granted them His authority to cast out demons. (Vs 15) When this is compared to Matthew 10:1, it is slightly expanded; “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”
This may sound trivial, but both texts say “authority” and not “power.” He certainly had power, but it was the extension of His authority. Prior to Pentecost, the emphasis was on authority and not power.
The emphasis of the Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:18-20 was also based on His authority. I maintain that this did not change with Pentecost. The Holy Spirit adds power to our witness, but we are still called to operate in the authority of Jesus Christ.
Inner power can grow and increase, but authority remains constant. This is where your faith can waver and you can be fooled into thinking you do not have enough power for healing or casting out unclean spirits. But, the authority of Jesus Christ never wavers. He is always the Son of God.
This is why the early church stressed the name and authority of Jesus Christ. (See Acts 3:6, 4:8-12) I encourage you to study this subject and shift your focus to the authority of Jesus Christ. I in no way minimize the power of the Holy Spirit, I merely anchor it in the authority of Jesus Christ.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
“10) for He had healed many, with the result that all those who had afflictions pressed around Him in order to touch Him. 11) Whenever the unclean spirits saw Him, they would fall down before Him and shout, “You are the Son of God!” 12) And He earnestly warned them not to tell who He was. 13) And He went up on the mountain and summoned those whom He Himself wanted, and they came to Him. 14) And He appointed twelve, so that they would be with Him and that He could send them out to preach, 15) and to have authority to cast out the demons.” Mark 3:10-15
The two most common miracles Jesus performed related to healing people and casting out demons. They seemed to go hand in hand. From this text, it can be ascertained that these miracles were based on His authority.
Look at the text. Whenever an unclean spirit saw Him, it would fall down and declare, “You are the Son of God!” Jesus warned them to be quite because He did not want to entrust His marketing department to demons.
But the question must be asked; “Why were unclean spirits responding this way?” Answer: It was because of His identity and office as the Son of God. They recognized Him. He was the highest authority. They had to obey His command.
When you take a broader look at the four Gospels, you discover that sickness, disease, demons and the natural realm all recognized and obeyed His authority. He was a higher authority than all of them. If sickness or diseases could speak, they would have said the same thing about Jesus Christ; “You are the Son of God!” The conclusion would have been the same; “We have to obey you!”
Now look at the second part of this text, when Jesus sent out the twelve, He granted them His authority to cast out demons. (Vs 15) When this is compared to Matthew 10:1, it is slightly expanded; “Jesus summoned His twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every kind of disease and every kind of sickness.”
This may sound trivial, but both texts say “authority” and not “power.” He certainly had power, but it was the extension of His authority. Prior to Pentecost, the emphasis was on authority and not power.
The emphasis of the Great Commission as given in Matthew 28:18-20 was also based on His authority. I maintain that this did not change with Pentecost. The Holy Spirit adds power to our witness, but we are still called to operate in the authority of Jesus Christ.
Inner power can grow and increase, but authority remains constant. This is where your faith can waver and you can be fooled into thinking you do not have enough power for healing or casting out unclean spirits. But, the authority of Jesus Christ never wavers. He is always the Son of God.
This is why the early church stressed the name and authority of Jesus Christ. (See Acts 3:6, 4:8-12) I encourage you to study this subject and shift your focus to the authority of Jesus Christ. I in no way minimize the power of the Holy Spirit, I merely anchor it in the authority of Jesus Christ.
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
