THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS' WORD

Passage: Mark 1:21-28

Key verse: 27

NIV

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit(A)

21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach.(B) 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.(C) 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us,(D) Jesus of Nazareth?(E) Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”(F)

25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!”(G) 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.(H)

27 The people were all so amazed(I) that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region(J) of Galilee.

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Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Source: BibleGateway

ESV

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit

21 (A)And they went into Capernaum, and immediately (B)on the Sabbath (C)he entered the synagogue and was teaching. 22 And (D)they were astonished at his teaching, (E)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 (F)“What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? (G)I know who you are—(H)the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus (I)rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, (J)convulsing him and (K)crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. 27 And they were all (L)amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? (M)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.

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The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Source: BibleGateway

1. Jesus teaches with authority (21-22)

Jesus taught with authority because he was the Son of God. He taught the Bible with authority because he himself believed and obeyed it. He was different from the scribes who only repeated what they heard, but never really believed it for themselves and never thought about obeying it.

2. Authority to cast out evil spirits (23-28)

Jesus' authority was not superficial. When he taught God's word, the demons in one man got so upset that the man shouted at Jesus. Even demons knew Jesus--and trembled. Jesus ordered the demon out, and it obeyed, reluctantly. Jesus came to challenge the devil and to set men free from his grip. Only Jesus can defeat the devil. When the demon obeyed Jesus, the people were amazed at the authority of Jesus' word.

Prayer: Lord, thank you for your word. Let your word come into my heart this morning. Help me to believe your word and obey it so that I may share Jesus with others.

One Word: God's word has authority