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Read Mark 1:21-39
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21 And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 "What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God." 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, "Be silent, and come out of him!" 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, "What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." 28 And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. 29 And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. 30 Now Simon's mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. 31 And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them. 32 That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. 33 And the whole city was gathered together at the door. 34 And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. 35 And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. 36 And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, 37 and they found him and said to him, "Everyone is looking for you." 38 And he said to them, "Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out." 39 And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.
“He taught as one who had authority.” He rebuked demons as one who had authority. He healed as one who had authority. He did this because Jesus actually has authority. Jesus is the Alpha and Omega, the Lord of Life, the Word made flesh. In these opening sections Mark begins unveiling for us who this Jesus is.
Jesus is not merely a rabbi who talks about God. He is the Son of God. He proclaims his gospel of sins forgiven, and sinners reconciled to God. Jesus is not just a rabbi who only talks about how to avoid what is of the devil. He destroys Satan’s hold over mankind. Jesus is not a rabbi who merely talks about how life can be better. He heals what is sick.
Nothing has changed. All of this remains true of Jesus today. Your sins are forgiven, Satan’s hold over you has been destroyed, and Jesus has healed your sin-diseased heart. Jesus accomplished this through the cross and continues to declare this to you each day. Remember he does so as the one who has the authority to do just that.
Prayer
Father, thank you for the gift of your Son, Jesus. Help me to rest confident in Christ’s authority to forgive me, free me, and restore me. Amen.