Authority gets challenged in every generation as we struggle to decide who or what should have authority. We see it happening today on almost every social, scientific, political, and economic front.
The wrestling continues in our faith and in the church. This quest has been happening since the Garden of Eden. It happens continually throughout scripture. But we learn quickly that the one who is challenging authority is God. What God challenges is worldly authority.
In Deuteronomy 18, the promise to raise up a prophet like Moses ends with a warning about heeding prophets of foreign gods and prophets who speak in God's name but fail to speak God's Word. Deuteronomy, a later writing, likely refers to palace or court prophets of the kings, abused by the royals to lead people to accept their decrees, schemes, and agendas.
The passage from Mark 1 tells of Jesus' first act of ministry following his teaching in the synagogue. After revealing God's word "with authority" to the surprise of the congregation, unlike the typical "teachers of the law," Jesus is challenged by a man with an evil spirit. With that 'authoritative' teaching, the evil spirit knows exactly who Jesus is - the Holy One from God. Once the evil spirit is cast out of the man, the people remark at the power of Jesus' teaching, and like it was a bonus, are also impressed with the obedience of the evil spirit to Jesus' command.
So, what did Jesus preach/teach? What about his message gave it "authority" that the teachers of the law had never displayed? Why was it so remarkable? Check out the sermon video below, and note the downloads available below the video panel.
The wrestling continues in our faith and in the church. This quest has been happening since the Garden of Eden. It happens continually throughout scripture. But we learn quickly that the one who is challenging authority is God. What God challenges is worldly authority.
In Deuteronomy 18, the promise to raise up a prophet like Moses ends with a warning about heeding prophets of foreign gods and prophets who speak in God's name but fail to speak God's Word. Deuteronomy, a later writing, likely refers to palace or court prophets of the kings, abused by the royals to lead people to accept their decrees, schemes, and agendas.
The passage from Mark 1 tells of Jesus' first act of ministry following his teaching in the synagogue. After revealing God's word "with authority" to the surprise of the congregation, unlike the typical "teachers of the law," Jesus is challenged by a man with an evil spirit. With that 'authoritative' teaching, the evil spirit knows exactly who Jesus is - the Holy One from God. Once the evil spirit is cast out of the man, the people remark at the power of Jesus' teaching, and like it was a bonus, are also impressed with the obedience of the evil spirit to Jesus' command.
So, what did Jesus preach/teach? What about his message gave it "authority" that the teachers of the law had never displayed? Why was it so remarkable? Check out the sermon video below, and note the downloads available below the video panel.
| 02-01-15-ff-answers.pdf |
| 02-01-15-authority.pdf |