The Authority of Christ Mark 4:21-5:22

“The Coming of the King” Previous Weeks God is setting up an everlasting kingdom. Two comings of the king It is introduced slowly This Week Jesus Christ has the authority of the King. He rules over the spheres that man fears most: –Nature (4:35-41) –The Spiritual Realm (5:1-20) –Chronic Disease (5:21-35) –Death Itself (5:36-43)

Authority over Nature The Text: Mark 4:35-41 (NLT) As evening came, Jesus said to his disciples, "Let's cross to the other side of the lake." [36] He was already in the boat, so they started out, leaving the crowds behind (although other boats followed). [37] But soon a fierce storm arose. High waves began to break into the boat until it was nearly full of water.

Authority over Nature [38] Jesus was sleeping at the back of the boat with his head on a cushion. Frantically they woke him up, shouting, "Teacher, don't you even care that we are going to drown?" [39] When he woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the water, "Quiet down!" Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. [40] And he asked them, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still not have faith in me?" [41] And they were filled with awe and said among themselves, “Who is this man, that even the wind and waves obey him?"

Authority over Nature The Storm: Man is not in control. –A sobering reminder. –We live in a disastrous and Fallen World. –Our authority is extremely limited!

Authority over Nature The Storm: Man is not in control. Believers are not exempt from danger! Jesus Christ is a Great Authority! –“Do you still have no faith?” –Rom. 8:28 (NLT) “And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.”

The Spiritual Realm Mark 5:1-2 (NLT) So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes. Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him. Demon Possession: Mere Superstition? The Bible is not superstitious. –News about him spread far beyond the borders of Galilee so that the sick were soon coming to be healed from as far away as Syria. And whatever their illness and pain, or if they were possessed by demons, or were epileptics, or were paralyzed—he healed them all. Matthew 4:24 (NLT)

The Spiritual Realm Mark 5:1-2 (NLT) So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes. Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him. Demon Possession: Mere Superstition? The Bible is not superstitious. Yet the Bible does teach that demons exist. –69 recorded instances of Christ dealing with or teaching about demons or Satan. –If God exists, so could evil supernatural beings! –Spiritual Evil is just as widespread as human evil.

The Spiritual Realm Mark 5:1-2 (NLT) So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes. Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him. Demon Possession: Mere Superstition? The Bible is not superstitious. Yet the Bible does teach that demons exist. For 1000s of years, humans have witnessed actual, spiritual manifestations. –Spiritism is the most widespread religion in Africa, Asia and South America. –The Shaman (witchdoctor) controls through fear.

The Spiritual Realm Mark 5:1-2 (NLT) So they arrived at the other side of the lake, in the land of the Gerasenes. Just as Jesus was climbing from the boat, a man possessed by an evil spirit ran out from a cemetery to meet him. Demon Possession: Mere Superstition? The Bible is not superstitious. Yet the Bible does teach that demons exist. For 1000s of years, humans have witnessed actual, spiritual manifestations. How to get possessed? –Deliberately seeking a spiritual entity. –Dabbling in the occult: Tarot, Séance, Astral Projection…

The Spiritual Realm Seven Classical Signs of Possession (not necessarily definitive): –v3-4 Unnatural Strength. –v5 Paroxysms. –v6 Self-Destructive/Suicidal. –v6-7 Resistance. –v7 Spiritual Hyperesthesia (Spiritual sensitivity). –v8-9 Multiple Voices. –V11-13 Transference. A pathetic man: dominated, and his life destroyed. –A picture of mankind without God: See 1 John 5:19.

Authority over the Spiritual Realm Jesus grants them permission (5:13). The Son of God has complete authority. We have the same authority (by delegation – see Matthew 28:18). –We should not fear the spiritual realm (1 Jn.4:4). –We have the power to liberate prisoners! Luke 4:18 (NLT) “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has appointed me to preach Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the downtrodden will be freed from their oppressors.”

Authority over the Spiritual Realm Jesus grants them permission (5:13). The Son of God has complete authority. We have the same authority (by delegation – see Matthew 28:18). Not everyone is impressed (Mk.5:13b-17) –Frightened: Jesus shook up their world! –They loved pigs more than people. So Jesus moved on…