The Authority from Heaven
Pastor CJ Translated by Allan Liang
Mark 1:21 -28
Jesus spoke of the heavenly proclamation at Galilee: “The kingdom of God is near, repent and believe the good news.” After calling his disciples, he went to Capernaum, a city near the Galilee river. The miracle of exorcism was recorded many times in scripture; here not only was there a casting out of demons, there was also a display of Jesus’ heavenly authority. On the Sabbath day a large group of people gathered in Capernaum, where Jesus preached and taught, causing many to become amazed, for he spoke with an authority unlike the scribes. Here, in comparing Jesus to the scribes, it is not difficult to see what the scribes spoke of differed greatly from the teachings of Jesus, the former being spoken out of human knowledge, greatly superficial and lacking in heavenly authority. What Jesus spoke came from God, was greatly filled with heavenly power and possessed a sort of authority that was seldom seen. After preaching, Jesus went on to cast out demons in a demon possessed man. He spoke saying: “come out from his man” and the demon, who recognized Jesus as the Holy one of God and knew of his own destruction, was immediately dispelled. The people witnessed such a display of God’s authority and were amazed, seeing this “new teaching” and the name of Jesus spread across the earth. Jesus on that Sabbath, in using the authority of his word to release the man from the bondages of demon possession, had a greater purpose of accomplishing the work of redemption on the cross, which was the greatest manifestation of his authority, saving all who believed so that they would not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:15). He came to release men from the power of darkness and sin, for sin clung to man as a demon, but through his death and resurrection, his power in defeating death was made fully known. We believe him because he came, died for you and me, resurrected from the dead and one day will come again! He will judge the earth with heavenly authority and will completely destroy the darkness of sin, granting the light of everlasting life. What sin and death man cannot prevail over has been dispelled by the power of God. Brothers and sisters, what we face today, the LORD has already won; he will lead us through the valley of the shadow of evil as he led his people out of Egypt through the red sea, free from harm. What do we truly fear? If we truly trust in his powerful word, we will not be afraid of the authority of this world and not be terrified of the disasters of this time. If we have believed his might imbued teachings, we will be amazed at this truth and fall prostrate before his presence, for he has the authority to cast out unclean spirits, has redeemed us from our sins through the cross, and will by his resurrected power, enable us to prevail over death and suffering. Please meditate and pray about this: do we believe in the authority of Jesus to cleanse us of our sins, and his resurrected power to help us prevail over death? Are our homes often guarded and strengthened by the word of God (bible reading, prayer and times of devotion), such that, in all things God would show his great might and strength?