How does Jesus use His Authority over Evil Today?

The Authoritative Word

(Mark 1:21-28, Preaching: Pastor Stephen Magee, July 8, 2018)

[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.

He taught as one who had authority

When Jesus taught in the synagogue in Capernaum, everyone knew that they had never heard anything like it before. Over and over again people were shocked about one thing: “He taught them as one who had authority.”

They were used to the scribes, who were experts in the rabbinic traditions that informed their interpretations of religious law. If a scribe had a point to make, he based it on a point that someone else had made before him. When Jesus said something, it was as if God was speaking in person, and that made a difference to those who were listening to Him. A powerful light from heaven was shining in an unexpected place (Isaiah 9:1-2).

Be silent, and come out of him

The same conclusion came inescapably from the actions of Jesus. He had authority over unseen realms. Imagine being there in the synagogue, and in walks someone who has an “unclean spirit.” Such a man might be very frightening to be around, and he just walked into your church. You would be looking at a human being under the oppressive power of one or more malignant demons.

The drama gets even more intense as the possessed man shouts out (lit. screams up) at Jesus in fear, “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.”

There would be only one person in that synagogue who would be unafraid. That would be Jesus, who is able to calmly take charge over fallen angels, which is what demons are. The Lord spoke out with complete confidence. “Be silent, and come out of him!” At this point the demon has absolutely no choice. It's over. One last loud cry, and out he goes!

He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him

The people were stunned. Interestingly, they connected this spiritual power with Jesus' teaching authority. They said to one another, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” They knew about unclean spirits, they just had never seen anyone who could win a battle against them with such calm dignity.

Of course, this was an experience that could not possibly remain a secret. We read what happened: “At once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.”

The content of Jesus' ministry was not only His authoritative doctrine but His definitive power over demonic realms. That which people saw with their eyes was a witness to them that they should be paying attention with their ears. Jesus was not like the religious teachers of their day. He could distinguish between spirit and man, and save.

Is it possible that we are too accustomed to what we think we know about the Messiah? Perhaps we need a fresh look at the ministry of our Savior as we read through Mark's gospel. Then we might say along with the Galilean crowds, “What is this?” Do we believe that Jesus overturns unseen evil authorities, or was that just something for 1^st century Galilee? Should we be that confident when we fight evil? Or do we hate the people?

By the way, what a strange place to start a Jewish religious movement. Why not Jerusalem, or at least Bethlehem, King David's village that was not far from the center of Jewish life? Or perhaps Rome? That was the capital of the empire. Why not make a name for Himself there?

Why these insignificant lives in an unimportant synagogue in a backwater town that was a one week journey from the center of religious power in the Holy Land? God came to visit the earth, and He deliberately began to confront the true evil empire in a place not that different than Epping, Somersworth, Rowley, or Kittery.

And why make everyone uncomfortable with obvious evil in the midst of a nice synagogue service? The Lord God is turning a broken world upside down. I don't know why He does what He does in any particular place, but I do know that His plan is for everyplace everywhere to be touched by His love, even through you. But how?

A question that every agent of the Almighty needs to be asking: How do I confront evil? I don't want to go around accusing everyone of being demonic just because I think they are wrong. Would I recognize true evil if I saw it, and then what would I do about it if I encountered it? Perhaps we need to start with love (1 Corinthians 13).

Here's a radical thought for Calvinists: We're the ones who make the biblical point that we love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19). We also know that we are supposed to be imitators of God as His beloved children (Ephesians 5:1). We have been explicitly instructed by the Lord who died on a cross for sinners to love our enemies (Matthew 5:44). I put it all together in a world that seems to be heading toward civil war, and I ask myself if I am OK with waiting for people to love me and love what I love before I will love them in very practical ways. I think I need to be the first to love others, and that you need to be there with me. That's our way to avoid the quagmire of the hate all around us.

In the words of Peter, remember that the “Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you.” He who is in you is still the authoritative Word in the battle against evil. So “let those who suffer according to God's will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”

Old Testament Reading—Psalm 65 – When God visits the earth

New Testament Reading—1 Peter 4:12-19 – The Spirit of Glory and of God