Jesus silenced the demons in our story this week. Mark 1: 24 “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him (the evil spirit), saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”[1] Why would Jesus muzzle …
Jesus is recorded to have authoritative teaching in the Capernaum synagogue. The synagogues were local places of worship and did not have their own priest. The synagogue elders allowed any competent Jewish man to teach. As a traveling preacher, Jesus was often invited to speak in village synagogues. Mark 1: 21 Jesus and his companions went …
How will you use your authority? This decision can have lasting effects. In different stages of our lives, all of us can have authority over someone else. A young person could be a babysitter for a sibling or a child in the neighborhood. A parent has authority in a family where decisions are instrumental in …
God’s timing is something that affects all of us. We are often impatient and want God to move quickly or answer our prayers as we desire. Like a sailor in the crow’s nest, the Lord sees the big picture and makes the best decisions even if we don’t understand. Several years ago, we prayed for …
The Jews had a problem with engraved coins. We don’t think anything of the image of George Washington on our quarters or Lincoln on our pennies. As a result, we may miss some of the depth of Jesus’ teaching on taxes. Luke 20: 22 Now tell us—is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar …
Nothing can be more tragic in life than missing the Savior. I remember the Lord gave me a vision during a Saturday evening worship service while serving communion. As I looked at the congregation, each believer appeared to have a light inside them, while those who did not were dark. As I looked out, about …
As we reflect on our choices in life, we often ask ourselves: “What could have been?” Sometimes, we are thankful that we did not make a particular decision; other times, we wish we would have heeded the Lord’s nudging. I am grateful that when the Lord called me to be a pastor, I responded to …
When the Jewish leadership confronted Jesus about stopping the Temple marketplace, why did Jesus ask about John? Luke 20: 3 “Let me ask you a question first,” he replied. 4 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human?”[1] Herod had beheaded John the Baptist over two years before this confrontation. Why would John be …
The Jewish leadership confronted Jesus by asking Him, “Who gave you the right to stop the Temple marketplace?” This was a legitimate question. Without a chain of authority, there will be chaos. The success of any organization, whether social, governmental, or religious, depends on the authority of leadership. Jewish Leadership Knew Their Source of Authority …
Jesus’ power to heal our bodies is evidence of His authority. Seven years ago, I was getting arthritis in my index fingers. One day four church members laid hands on my hands and prayed that Jesus would heal my fingers of arthritis. After they prayed, ninety percent of the discomfort went away. The remaining ten …