Mark 1:14-28 The Authority and Power of His Voice
Indiana Jones movie The Last Crusade:
It’s the story of Indiana Jones and his father’s quest for the Holy Grail, the legendary chalice that Jesus used in his Last Supper with his disciples.
In one of the final scenes, the ancient temple they’ve found the chalice in is collapsing and people are running for their lives as the walls are falling and the ground opens. The grail falls into a deep crevice created by the earthquake, and Indiana Jones is hanging in the crevice by one hand, reaching with the other hand to grab the grail. He can almost reach it, as he becomes entranced by allure of the grail. All around him rocks are falling, the ground is shaking, the temple is collapsing, but he’s fixated on the grail.
Finally a voice breaks through the spell, the voice of his father, who says, "Indiana, let it go." Indiana climbs out of the crevice, and together he and his father escape just as the temple completely collapses.
The power of a voice – that break the spell of temptation.
We experience that in life – the power of a voice to bring us back to reality.
• It may be the voice of your parents – spoken in a certain tone. Or your teacher, coach, pastor…
• Or perhaps the voice of our spouse or a friend you respect.
Mark introduces Jesus in Chapter 1 as the One who comes with authority
• He proclaims the good news of God
• He calls the fishermen to follow Him - with a voice of authority
• He preached in the synagogue in Capernaum - "taught as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law." (v.22)
• He cast the evil spirit from the demon-possessed man - "What is this? A new teaching and with authority!"(v.27)
• He healed many who are sick and drove out many demons - He has authority over diseases
He has authority over all things…
It makes me wonder – what about my life? When He enters my life, isn’t He my LORD?
Does He have authority over your life today? Is He the Lord of your life?
HAVE WE experienced His authority over our lives???
When He speaks, He speaks with such an authority and influence. People felt it. They responded to His Words in very different ways. And even demons have to submit to Him.
Have you been hearing His voice? Don’t you think we should pay more attention to what He has to say?
Jesus’ voice has the ability to break through our lives. We see that here in this chapter.
There is an authority in His words, His commands, and His invitation to you... it pays to LISTEN to Him.
A SS teacher was having a hard time with a naughty student Brandon. He looked him in the eye and asked a question, which he felt, would surely bring him in line: “Brandon, who is in charge here?”
That kid replied, “Jesus is.”
That’s the sense here is Jesus’ proclamation – The time has come. The kingdom of God is near. Repent and believe the good news!
The scribes can only speak from authority but that Jesus spoke with authority.
• It originates from Him.
• In fact, He is announcing His authority – He has finally come, to extend His Lordship in the lives of every person.
• He may be the Lord of the universe, but He is going to usher in His Kingdom on earth, break the stronghold of the devil, and be the Saviour and Lord of our lives.
Not a physical kingdom on earth - His kingdom has to do with His reign in the lives of His people.
And He is still doing that today – to you and me.
The first thing Mark shows us is the authority and the power of His call to us.
As Jesus walks by one of the many fishing ports along the shore, he sees two brothers fishing.
Jesus’ words are short and stunning: "Come, follow me, and I will make you fishers of men."
His words have the force of a summons, an invitation that comes with authority.
• With a recruiting program like that it’s really amazing that anybody followed Jesus at all.
But verse 18 tells us, “Immediately Simon and Andrew left their nets and followed Him.”
• A few verses down we read that James and John jumped right out of dad’s boat and came straight away after Jesus.
When Jesus speaks with authority, people are moved to respond.
The calling of these initial 4 followers of Jesus is remarkable, because it happens so abruptly.
• There’s no interview or probation period, no testing of their Bible knowledge or entrance exam.
• We know from the rest of Mark’s story that these 4 men aren’t even sure who Jesus is yet; they just know that they want to be with him.
They were in their own turf when Jesus calls them –
• They weren’t in church or attending synagogue, it wasn’t the Sabbath or a special time religious holiday.
• They were simply just providing for their families, plying their trade, when suddenly the call of Jesus invaded their lives and changed everything.
I believe we have similar experiences - when the Word of God comes to you - you felt you’ve really HEARD Him - and you’re so moved, so touched, so encouraged... you wanted to do what He says.
William Lane points out that “the stress in Mark’s brief report falls upon the sovereign authority in Jesus’ call, and the radical obedience of Simon, Peter, James, and John. So compelling is the claim of Jesus upon them that all prior claims lose their validity. Their father, the hired servants, [the family business with] the boat and the nets are left behind as they commit themselves in an exclusive sense to follow Jesus.”
Jesus still calls people to follow him in the same way - whether in big task or small deeds.
• The great commission He gave was to make disciples, not just Christians…
• To be a Christian is to be a disciple of Jesus and He is still calling people the same way.
• When you are just going through your normal routines, plying your trades, doing what you normally does everyday, and then He steps in and calls you.
• Maybe you’ve heard the call of Jesus while sitting at a bus stop or waiting at a junction for the light to change. Wherever you are, the call of Jesus can come to you.
Are you listening?
When Jesus speaks - with authority - we can expect two things:
(1) WHEN HE CALLS YOU, HE WILL ENABLE YOU!
(2) WHEN HE SAYS IT, YOU CAN COUNT ON IT HAPPENING!
"The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you."
1 Cor 10:13 “…God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.”
Jesus says, "I will make you..." You see the power of His call?
• We’re not called because we’ve arrived at some super level of spiritual maturity.
• You need not have to feel that you’ve arrived – all you need is to respond, to yield to His call.
The way Jesus calls these fishermen shows that His Kingdom is going to invade this world in small and subtle ways, not with fanfare and fireworks.
• He did not start at the Temple, or the King’s palace. But the beach of Galilee, among the unlearned.
• Yet when His call comes, it transforms these people into great disciples.
When we respond to His call to be disciple - to serve in small ways - God makes us into something different. He’s the one who says, "Ï will make you..."
• Just look, what has happened to these 4 fishermen? 4 key players - Peter, Andrew, John, James...
• Here in this small community of five - Jesus and 4 fishermen - we find the seeds that would eventually turn into the Christian Church today.
• The world was changed ever since these 4 (plus 8 others) decided to say YES to Jesus and follow Him.
WHEN HE CALLS YOU, HE WILL ENABLE YOU!
Jesus is still calling today – waiting for you and me to respond to His voice.
• Our King has every right to put us in chains and force us into submission. But even with all those rights, rather than lording it over us, He calls out to us, “Follow me!”
• And then He waits for us to obey with all our heart, freely, gratefully, cheerfully, as though we had no further desire to live life for ourselves.
Can you see the greatness of God’s grace? Although He is rightfully our Lord, He does not want to “lord it over us”. He gives us the freedom to show our love for Him.
• I don’t know about you, but that makes me want to follow Him all the more.
His grace to us is even more apparent when we look at the next part of the story where He gives this demon absolutely no options whatsoever.
• He COMMANDS demons. They were in subjection to Him!
Here we see the 2nd thing we can expect when Jesus speaks:
(2) WHEN HE SAYS IT, YOU CAN COUNT ON IT HAPPENING!
While Jesus was teaching, in the synagogue, a man possessed with evil spirit interrupted him.
• Look at vv. 23-28. Notice the irony here. Within a holy place of worship during a holy time of worship, an unholy presence makes itself known.
• Clearly evil spirits are present to destroy lives, to influence people, and given the opportunity, they can gain a foothold in their lives.
This evil spirit speaks on behalf of all evil spirits when it asks Jesus, "What do you want with us? Have you come to destroy us?"
• This spirit recognizes Jesus for who he is, even if no one else here recognizes him.
• Apparently they have more respect for Jesus than many so-called religious people in His time.
• Jesus silences the spirit and commands it to leave this man alone. With a shriek the spirit comes out, and the man is delivered from his bondage to evil.
Jesus speaks with authority. WHEN JESUS SAYS SOMETHING YOU CAN COUNT ON IT HAPPENING.
The demons had to submit and leave. The forces of evil have to obey Him.
That is how it has always been for Jesus throughout the Gospel.
It ought to challenge us to give His Words all our attention.
Because there is power in His words.
The story is told of the military legend Alexander the Great who had conquered almost the entire known world. One day on the warpath, Alexander and small company of soldiers approached a strongly fortified walled city and Alexander raised his voice and demanded to see the king. When the king arrived, Alexander ordered him to surrender the city and everyone inside to Alexander and his little band of fighting men.
The king laughed, “Why should I surrender to you? You can’t do us any harm!” But Alexander offered to give the king a demonstration. He ordered his men to line up single file and start marching. He marched them straight toward a sheer cliff.
The townspeople gathered on the wall and watched in shocked silence as, one by one, Alexander’s soldiers marched without hesitation right off the cliff to their deaths! After ten soldiers died, Alexander ordered the rest of the men to return to his side.
The townspeople and the king immediately surrendered to Alexander the Great. They realized that if a few men were actually willing to commit suicide at the command of this dynamic leader, then nothing could stop his eventual victory.
Conclusion
When Jesus speaks, people listen. Have you heard his voice?
His Kingdom has come. He wants to be Lord of our lives. We are called to follow Him as disciples.
He still speaks today. Although not physically present, He still speaks with clarity.
He speaks through the Bible and he speaks through His Church.
Have you heard his voice? Have you responded?
