Authority

Introduction

There are certain events in life that are best understood from eyewitnesses. An eyewitness can capture not just the event but can explain the impact the event had on senses as well as emotions. World War II veterans are becoming more difficult to find. Estimates suggest that 600 WWII vets die each day. There are about 1.2 million vets still living of the 16 million who served during that war. Much has been written about that war; actual footage of battles exists and Hollywood has added its own imprint about that war. Tom Brokaw described the entire generation of those who fought, lived, and brought economic recovery to our country as “the greatest generation.” Many of the stories of that war will die with the passing of the last soldiers. Men who fought and experienced great traumas who speak infrequently about such.

I have known several WWII vets. My experience has been that they gloss over their experience even minimizing its effects. But talk to a man who spent time in a concentration camp and suddenly the experience is not just history it is real. He speaks with authority. He has been there. He experienced starvation; he experienced isolation and brutality. History books can describe the camps but the one who has experienced such knows more than any history book.

Mark writes about Jesus who is the Son of God. Every story is to demonstrate what God is like. And with every story, Mark leads us closer to making a decision about Jesus. Along the way, Mark shows us that there were those who struggled to understand this Jesus and there were those who accepted him and his way of life as quickly as they could. Most of us are somewhere on that spectrum. Some struggle to understand and others are quick to accept him and his way of life. Today’s text allows us to see the responses of two to Jesus. Both express truth about Jesus — one seems to be intrigued by Jesus; the other wants nothing to do with Jesus. Both recognize that Jesus is special.

Jesus teaching in the synagogue is not unusual. But Mark allows to understand the hearers response — amazed. Some translations read “astonished.” They were captivated by Jesus’ words because he spoke with such authority. Jesus speaks with one who has not only knowledge but passion about truth. Unlike the scribes who speak out of knowledge alone, Jesus speaks with an awareness that what he says is truthful. And with his teaching comes a call to follow him. This is what brings about the amazement. Inherent within the word that Mark uses is the idea of shock. Jesus’ words about the kingdom so penetrate the hearers that their response isn’t merely appreciation for a good speaker but a call to commitment to listen and obey. Not everyone will. But that does not take away from the authority of Jesus when he teaches.

And to demonstrate that Jesus is not merely a good speaker, Mark allows us to see the authority of Jesus in action. A man in the synagogue had an evil spirit. And the evil spirit speaks. He speaks out of fear. He speaks out of evil. And he speaks out of reality. “What do you want with us?” is to be understood as a request to be left alone. We do not want you here. We know you have the power to destroy us and if that is your mission then leave us. You are the Holy One of God and we have no power against you and do not want to be with you.

Jesus heals the man and again the people respond with shock and awe recognizing that even the spirit world obeys the voice of Jesus. Then Mark reveals that Jesus continued to heal in and around Capernaum. Peter’s mother-in-law is healed. The sick and demon possessed are brought to Jesus to be healed and he heals them. But the demonstration of power and authority results in something which ultimately opposes the kingdom of God.

Response

Jesus announces that the kingdom of God is here. He calls on those who will follow to repent. Mark reveals that the kingdom is more than words. Actions speak loudly. Simon, Andrew, James, and John give their lives to follow the one who announces the kingdom. And the people hear his teaching and are filled with amazement. Shock, awe, astonished at what they hear. The demons know who he is. Both recognize that Jesus is beyond description. They cannot capture the fullness of who he is.

I want us to notice what Mark does in these verses. In verse 24 we have the confession of the demons. Even they recognize that Jesus is the Holy One of God. Even they recognize that Jesus is exactly who he claims to be — The Son of God. But they want nothing to do with Jesus. Some folks are like this. Say they believe that God is real but then want nothing to do with God. They know what God wants with them and they want to debate the hypothetical and the uncertain. Some understand who Jesus is but want to live life in their own way and defiantly say to him “leave me alone. I want to live my own life.”

Then on the other hand you have the people’s response. They are amazed at what they hear but Mark does not tell us that they want to follow Jesus. Instead they are intrigued by him and with him. He is the great teacher. He is the miracle worker. They stay close for what they can get from him. And so Mark tells us something intriguing. Jesus goes off to pray. Jesus prays only three times in the gospel of Mark. Here, after the feeding of the 5000 in chapter 6 and in Gethsemane in chapter 15. All three times he prays when there are decisions to make. In 1:35, Mark uses the word “desert” again just as he did in the first verses of chapter 1. Jesus is in Capernaum. There isn’t a desert in the area so the NIV translates solitary place to capture the idea but Mark wants us to understand the point — Jesus has a decision to make.

Simon Peter emphasizes the point for us in verse 37 — Everyone is looking for you meaning the people want something from you; the sick have returned. People need help. There is a slight rebuke. What are you doing out here? You are needed back at the house. Folks are lining up. Give them what they want. And Jesus answers — it’s time to move on. I came to preach about the kingdom.

There are those who do not want anything to do with Jesus. There are those who want Jesus to fix things. There are those who are amazed and astonished and they want him to change things. Make life better. And Jesus’ response is that he has come to bring change but the change in the life of the person is so much more than healing. Jesus prays in order to remain committed to his mission and his mission is to change lives. Not to temporarily make them better but to change their lives so that they can be part of God’s domain. The kingdom is not about what God can do for it is about choosing to allow God to rule our lives. He is the Holy One of God! Which will you choose?

Leave me alone. I have my own life to live. What can you do for me? I give my life, my heart, and my soul to you no matter what. Invitation.

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