21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, 24 "What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are--the Holy One of God!"
25 "Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" 26 The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
27 The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, "What is this? A new teaching--and with authority! He even gives orders to evil spirits and they obey him." 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Jesus spoke and taught with powerful authority - just as His living Word continues to teach believers with like authority through the illumination of the Holy Spirit. He spoke as a Spokesman from God. This Truth should take no one by surprise. The Word made flesh and dwelt among His creation merely spoke forth His Word and quite frankly, blew His hearers right out of the water. Those who heard Him stood astounded - overwhelmed at the manner and content of His teaching - particularly in contrast to their teachers of the Law of Moses who were merely rote robots – sans heart. The contrast between Jesus and the religious leaders of His day was most pronounced. The leaders were simply a reflection - at best - of the authority of the Law rather than Authority Personified. At the closing of the Sermon on the Mount we see the crowds reacting in much the same manner to our Lord’s message:
28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matt 7:28-29 (NIV)
It is extremely interesting to me as well that the demonic forces knew exactly Who Jesus was. Indeed, they shriek out quite plainly in our verses for today that He is the Holy One of God and that He has power over them to decimate them. This was continual throughout His ministry – we again discover in Matthew:
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 "What do you want with us, Son of God?" they shouted. "Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?" Matt 8:28-29 (NIV)
Jesus not only possessed authority over the demonic world but over nature as well. His wide eyed befuddled disciples stood in awe at His actions when our Lord rebuked the wind and the waves in their presence. We discover their reaction in Matthew:
26 He replied, "You of little faith, why are you so afraid?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the waves, and it was completely calm. 27 The men were amazed and asked, "What kind of man is this? Even the winds and the waves obey him!" Matt 8:26-27 (NIV)
I am also reminded of our Lord’s Words in the Great Commission stating all authority in heaven and on earth are His and His followers are to go forth as His ambassadors on the basis of that authority making disciples of all nations:
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." Matt 28:18-20 (NIV)
“It costs much to obtain the power of the Spirit: It costs self-surrender and humiliation and a yielding up of our most precious things to God; it costs the perseverance of long waiting, and the faith of strong trust. But when we are really in that power, we shall find this difference, that whereas before, it was hard for us to do the easiest things, now it is easy for us to do the hard things.” A J. Gordon
As disciples of Jesus Christ we are to have a limitless confidence in our Lord – His Authority, His Ability, and His Affection. We are not to lean upon our own limited resources, abilities and understandings – flesh will ultimately fail us. Our Lord continually confronts us with this question in every individual circumstance we encounter – “Do you believe that I Am able to do this?” Our challenge comes from our belief and just as the father with the demoniac child exclaimed to Jesus we too should also exclaim: "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”
21 Jesus asked the boy's father, "How long has he been like this?" "From childhood," he answered. 22 "It has often thrown him into fire or water to kill him. But if you can do anything, take pity on us and help us." 23 "'If you can'?" said Jesus. "Everything is possible for him who believes." 24 Immediately the boy's father exclaimed, "I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!" Mark 9:21-24 (NIV)
“Only two things have ever changed the human soul: the fall and grace, the power of Satan and the power of God. And God is infinitely more powerful. Nothing is stronger than grace. Satan doesn’t have any. God is defined by it.” Larry Crabb