NOTES: Thorns to Throne, Part 5

Sermon: Thorns to Throne 5- Who’s In Charge?

Text: Mark 1:21-34

Date: Sunday May 22, 2022

Mark 1:21–34 (ESV)

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.

If we want to better understand our life in Christ, we must understand and embrace the authority of Christ.

Because, without a clear understanding of HIS authority in and over our life, someone else will take charge!

Two other authorities we do well to take note of: demonic and human-ic

Mark 8:31–33 (previously Peter had acknowledged Christ as the Son of God/Messiah)

31 And he began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32 And he said this plainly. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him. 33 But turning and seeing his disciples, he rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind me, Satan! For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.”

Setting your mind with Kingdom Authority/Authority of Christ:

Acts 3:6 (ESV)

6 But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”

Notice, by what authority was this man healed; by the same person that the demons responded to in our text:

(Mark 1:23-24) 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.”

Jesus speaks with authority because he has all authority.

Jesus was teaching in the synagogue (what was he teaching?):

Mark 1:14–15 (ESV) Mark tells us…

14 Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, 15 and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

What is authority (ancient Greek understanding)?

a state of control over something, freedom of choice, right

potential or resource to command, control, or govern, capability, might, power

the right to control or command, authority, absolute power, warrant

power exercised by rulers or others in high position by virtue of their office

bearer of ruling authority (human, government, of transcendent rulers and functionaries: powers of the spirit world)

the sphere in which power is exercised, domain

Kingdom Authority:

Jesus speaks with authority because he has all authority.

He has all authority because He is King of His Kingdom

His Kingdom rules and reigns over all other kingdoms.

Ephesians 1:19–23 (ESV)

19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20 that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come. 22 And he put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.

We share in the authority of Jesus because we join Him at His Throne

Ephesians 2:4–6 (ESV)

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,

Consider who’s doing most of the driving: