Introduction to Mark’s Gospel - JESUS THE MESSIAH, THE SERVANT, Ron Ward
THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS' WORD
Passage: Mark 1:21~28  
Key verse: 27
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.
Cross references
- Mark 1:21 : 1:21-28pp — Lk 4:31-37
- Mark 1:21 : ver 39; S Mt 4:23; S Mk 10:1
- Mark 1:22 : S Mt 7:28, 29
- Mark 1:24 : S Mt 8:29
- Mark 1:24 : Mt 2:23; Lk 24:19; Jn 1:45, 46; Ac 4:10; 24:5
- Mark 1:24 : Ps 16:10; Isa 41:14, 16, 20; Lk 1:35; Jn 6:69; Ac 3:14; 1Jn 2:20
- Mark 1:25 : ver 34
- Mark 1:26 : Mk 9:20
- Mark 1:27 : Mk 10:24, 32
- Mark 1:28 : S Mt 9:26
Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
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