His Authority

Prudent or Foolish?

/ David R Maas / Leave a comment

The Sermon on the Mount is NOT a program for reforming civil society, implementing economic justice, or a perfect society. Instead, it provides clear instructions for how his disciples must live in the present age as faithful citizens and envoys of HIS kingdom.

And for his followers, his teachings in the Sermon are NOT optional. To stress the point, Jesus ends his discourse with a stern warning. To modify, compromise, or ignore his words will result in everlasting destruction for the offender.

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DEMONIZED MAN DELIVERED

/ David R Maas / Leave a comment

Jesus delivered a demonized Gentile while traveling through hostile territory, demonstrating his authority over Satan – Mark 5:1-20.

The declaration that Jesus had come to the “other side of the sea” links this next story to the preceding incident when he calmed the storm. His plan to crossover the Sea of Galilee set in motion the series of events that followed. Having calmed the storm, he next encountered the demonized man who had a violent “storm” raging within – (Mark 5:1-20).

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AUTHORITY OVER SEA AND STORM

/ David R Maas / 2 Comments

Despite his tremendous miracle of calming a tempest on the Sea of Galilee, the disciples still did not recognize the Son of Man – Mark 4:35-41.

After teaching the multitude near Capernaum, Jesus set out to cross the Sea of Galilee. But a violent storm descended suddenly, frightening the disciples. Storms were common enough on that body of water, and several of the men were fishermen familiar with its moods. Thus, their great terror indicated that this was an especially severe storm.

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AUTHORITY OVER THE SABBATH

/ David R Maas / 2 Comments

In response to Jewish leaders, Jesus demonstrated that he is Lord even over the “Sabbath Day” – Mark 2:23-3:6.

On one occasion. a group of religious leaders objected to his looseness to their Sabbath traditions. But Jesus used the opportunity to demonstrate that the “Son of Man” is “Lord” even over that day. God did cease His creative activities on the seventh day, but its formal establishment as a regulated day did not occur until the Torah was given (“Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy”).

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AUTHORITY TO DISCHARGE SIN

/ David R Maas / 2 Comments

Jesus healed a paralytic, demonstrating the authority of the Son of Man to discharge sins – Mark 2:1-12.

The present literary unit consists of five stories that highlight Christ’s authority and the conflicts between him and the religious authorities from the Temple, primarily over issues of ritual purity and Sabbath regulations. And there are parallels between the present story and the preceding one about the cleansing of the leper.

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