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The 60 | Authority Unexpected | Mark 4:35-5:20


Life Unexpected:  Authority Unexpected | Mark 4:35-5:20

Debrief
Debrief offers an abridged outline of the Sunday sermon for individuals or Community Groups alike, to re-engage the content of the Sunday sermon.  This outline is far from complete, but serves to give a track or road map to walk through the content of Sunday in another context during the week


And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.  Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.  And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” – Matthew 28:18-20
 
We might expect someone to have authority over some things, but Jesus claims to have authority over all things – Authority Unexpected.
 
au·thor·i·ty:  jurisdiction; the right to control, command; an accepted source of information and advice


Do You See The Authority of Jesus   (1:!-4:41)

  • Have you seen the authority of Jesus thus far in the book of Mark?  (1:1-4:41)
  • John claimed authority to baptize with water, but said that Jesus would come with the Divine Authority to baptize with the Holy Spirit  (1:1-8)
  • The Father spoke from heaven and confirmed this Divine Authority of Jesus as His one and only Son (1:9-11)
  • Jesus came preaching with a Moral Authority that no one else before him had had (1:14-15; 22, 27)
  • Jesus called His first disciples with Missional Authority and they responded by following Him  (1:16-20)
  • Jesus dealt with a man with an unclean spirit with Spiritual Authority in Capernam  (1:27)
  • Jesus demonstrated His Physical Authority by healing many, including the Leper and the Paralytic  (1:29-34, 40-45; 2:1-12)
  • Jesus responds to the Scribes questioning of his authority by demonstrating His Divine Authority to forgive sin, evidenced by his authority to also make the Paralytic walk  (2:6-10)
  • Jesus called Levi with Missional Authority and he responded  (2:13-17)
  • When people questioned his authority, Jesus claimed Divine Authority as the Bridegroom of the people of God and the Lord of the Sabbath  (2:18-28)
  • Jesus had demonstrated so much Overwhelming Authority that the religious leaders of the day were jealous and wanted to kill him to protect their own pseudo-authority (3:1-6)
  • Great crowds recognized the Complete Authority of Jesus by following him everywhere, from everywhere, asking him about everything  (3:7-12)
  • Jesus not only demonstrated his own Divine Authority, but also imparted His authority to his disciples as well  (3:13-19)
  • Jesus is claiming to have so much Complete Authority that his own family is questioning where he is coming up with this  (3:20-21)
  • Jesus is demonstrating so much authority that the religious leaders of the day saw it as Supernatural Authority, only they said it was from Satan and not from God   (3:22-30)
  • Jesus also claims the Paternal Authority to re-define family  (3:31-35)
  • Jesus claims the Spiritual Authority to reveal spiritual things to some and hide them from others  (4:1-20)
  • Jesus tells three parables to demonstrate his Missional Authority and how he wants his Kingdom to grow  (4:21-34)

 
Jesus’ authority over all things is meant to lead us to ONE THINGMISSION and His Missional Authority
 
Jesus demonstrates Missional Authority by sending the disciples across the lake to Gentile country.
 
Satan comes against them with a Pseudo-Authority to make them question the authority of Jesus.
 
The language used to describe Jesus’ dealing with the storm is a technical Jewish term for exorcisms.


Epitiman: rebuke, censure; had been used twice already in 1:25, 3:12.


Pephimoso: muzzled; 2nd person singular, as though Jesus were addressing a personal being
 
Demonic powers are intent on stopping Jesus from entering their region…….First through the storm, then through Legion…….First through nature, then through human nature


The calming of the wind and the waves has nothing to do with Jesus calming the “storms” of our lives, but everything to do with Jesus demonstrating His authority over the pseudo-authority of Satan, who wants to keep Jesus out of an area of his influence.


Jesus can not be kept out of any area where people don’t yet know Him and aren’t  yet submitted to His authority.  He has the authority to go anywhere, send His disciples anywhere, and make disciples out of anyone.


Are You Submitted To The Authority of Jesus?  (5:1-13)

The Disciples were submitted to the authority of Jesus to some degree.  They knew that Gentile country was on the other side, and they were willing to go.
 
Although they experienced opposition on the shores of Galilee, thousands listened to Jesus, followed Jesus, and submitted to the authority of Jesus.  Now Jesus takes them into a place where no one is submitted to his authority yet.
 
Decapolis: showcase cities for Pagan, or Gentile culture; “Flagship” cities for licentious and carnal living.
 
Jesus goes to Decapolis to make it a showcase for Himself instead of Satan
 
Jesus is confronted by a man that is the most extreme example we have in Scripture of someone who is submitted to everything and everyone else other than Jesus.


Two Responses To The Authority of Jesus  (5:14-20)

  1. Some people are Submitted to the Authority of Jesus and Accept the Authority of Jesus
  2. Some people are Scared of the Authority of Jesus and Reject the Authority of Jesus

Are You Seeing The Significance of A Life Submitted to Jesus?  (5:20)


Legion was Submitted to the authority of Jesus, and saw the significance of his submitted life as he was Planted as a permanent apostle to Decapolis.
 
Many people in Decapolis came to See the Authority of Jesus through the transformed life of Legion.
 
The place that Christians want to be is not always the place that is best for them to be.  Although the man wanted to go with Jesus, Jesus wanted him to stay.  In the staying he found that the best place, the most fruitful place, is right where Jesus wants you to be.


Diving In
Diving In offers a few questions to help you re-engage the concepts from Sunday. Feel the freedom to use
all of the questions, or to simply camp out on just one. These questions aren’t intended to answer all the
issues that surface through the thrust of this weeks’ message, but to simply raise them and allow you time
and space to process them, ideally in the context of your Community Group.

  • Have you recognized, received and responded to the authority of Jesus?  In what area of your life have you not recognized and responded to the authority of Jesus?  Where are you still trying to walk and live in your own authority?  What would it look like for you to recognize and respond to the authority of Jesus in this area of your life?
  • Do you see Satan trying to use any circumstances in your life to bring fear and convince you of his pseudo-authority?  How is he doing?  How are you doing recognizing his attacks for what they are?
  • What circumstance or people have you been so caught up with and focused on that you haven’t been truly caught up in and focused on the mission of Jesus?  How has Satan used these circumstances or people to bring fear and move you from the fear of the Lord and the joy of being on mission with Him?
  • Like Legion, have you opened yourself up to or submitted yourself to any authority other than the authority of Jesus?  If so, who?  What?  What kind of control has that authority had over you?
  • Have you seen the fruits of your life when you’re fully submitted to the authority of Jesus?  What is life like here?  How have you seen the lives of others affected by your life fully submitted to Jesus?

Deep End
The Deep End is a short and simple formation exercise you can use to dive deep into your heart before God. Feel the freedom to divert from the directions if that makes it easier for you to connect with Jesus in this exercise.

  • First, quiet your heart before the Lord. If you find yourself distracted by various thoughts (things on your “To Do” list, etc.), don’t “fight” the distractions, but rather spend some time praying over those things. Hopefully soon your heart will quieted down and you will be able to hear the Lord speaking to you.
  • After this, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal to you any area of your life where you have not yet fully recognized, received and responded to the authority of Jesus.  This could be any area of your life (spiritual, relational, mental, financial, missional, etc).  The Holy Spirit may reveal multiple areas of your life where this is true.  Don’t be discouraged.  Don’t run away from this.  Take some time to write down in a journal the areas that the Holy Spirit is making known to you.  You may find yourself wanting to move from this posture.  Don’t.  Take the time necessary to allow the Holy Spirit to open up these areas of submission to you.
  • Next, consider from your list the ONE area of your life where you sense you are least submitted to Jesus.  Ask the Holy Spirit to show you what it would look like for you to be submitted to the authority of Jesus in this area of your life.
  • Last, make a commitment to the Lord that you’ll share what the Holy Spirit has revealed to you with someone in your Community Group or a trusted friend for accountability and encouragement.

Digest
Our digest section is all about helping you to memorize and meditate on God’s Word so you’ll be able to better digest it.  Take some time to commit these short verses to memory this week:

And he did not permit him but said to him, “Go home to your friends and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and how he has had mercy on you.” – Mark 5:19


My hope is that these simple exercises in The 60 will help what we discovered during this week be distilled, and deepened in your heart and life with Jesus.


Matt
For The Elders