The King's Authority
Isaiah 35:3-7
Mark 1:21-2:12

Authority = restriction or freedom?

1. Authority in His Words (1:21–28)

• Jesus teaches “as one who had authority”

• Even evil obeys!

• The man is freed

2. Authority that Serves (1:29–45)

• Healing before the Sabbath! → foreshadowing the later confrontation with the religious authority → Jesus has authority to restore life on the Sabbath

• Healing leads to service

• Jesus’s authority to touch the social outcast

• Jesus ends up “outside in lonely places” → authority that sacrifices

3. Authority Rooted in God’s Mission, Not Popularity (1:35–39)

• Jesus withdraws to pray → not continuing despite great success

• Moving onto another city to preach the good news despite being sought after for his miracles

4. Authority to Forgive (2:1–12)

• No one forgives but God alone! → Jesus’s divine authority

• Authority to heal AND to forgive

• Authority that reaches the root of the human problem, not just the symptoms

May we praise Jesus for his glorious power and authority!