Do you know what it means to have authority?

Authority means the power or right to give orders, make decisions, and enforce obedience. The person who has authority has the power or right to tell you what to do. For example, your teachers and school principals have the authority to tell you to do your homework, to wear your school uniform properly, to be in school punctually, and to behave in school. Your parents have the authority to tell you what to do. The police has the authority to make sure we obey the laws in the country.

We learnt last week that Jesus is the best teacher of all time. And Jesus taught with authority.

Whenever Jesus teaches, the people would always pay attention and listen. They would be amazed with how He taught.

He did not say fancy words, nor tried to impress others, like what the other teachers of the law did. Jesus taught with lots of heart, and He knew what He was talking about. This impressed the people. And they became even more impressed when Jesus put action behind His words.

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Jesus and the unclean spirit

There was a man that had an unclean spirit inside him. The unclean spirit recognized Jesus, and cried out "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!"

Jesus told the spirit to be quiet, and made it come out of the man, restoring him back to health and sanity. The people who saw the event take place were also amazed. They realized that Jesus did have true authority, and even authority over unclean spirits!

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Jesus has authority over everything

Jesus taught with great authority. He knew what he was saying. He has authority and control even over the powers of evil and darkness. Those who recognized His authority also recognized His love, and saw that He had authority from God. (But despite this authority and power, not everyone who saw Jesus believed this.)

Do you know that even till today, Jesus still has strength and authority over everything? His word has strength, power and authority, which come from God.

The Bible is His word. Reading the word of God allows us to know God more, and love God more. And by walking in close fellowship with God, we are able to hear God. God loves us and hears us when we pray. When we rely upon Him, we can have confidence and peace that He is in control and He will provide. We can have confidence that He will give us the power, strength and authority to overcome all the challenges that we face.

Read more about how the authority of Jesus in Mark 1:21-28, and how He displayed His authority.

Let's read the Bible and find out. Mark 1:21-28

Jesus Drives Out an Impure Spirit

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 impure 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 impure 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 impure spirits and they obey him.” ²⁸ News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.