Bible Study: Gospel of Mark

Teaching and Divine Authority: Mark 1:21-28

We discussed the notes from Pastor Phil Steiger’s sermon notes on this passage (see http://hccbiblestudy.blogspot.com/2007/12/teaching-and-divine-authority-mark-121.html). 

He emphasizes how almost every time we read about Jesus performing miracles or even calling His disciples, these actions are clearly preceded by Jesus teaching the people from the Scripture. And in this first chapter of Mark, Mark sets up the divine authority of Jesus as first being evident from His authoritative teaching of the Word of God—then, His teaching is followed by healings and deliverance. To these actions of healing and deliverance, the people respond by marveling, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him.” (vs. 27) In the words of Pastor Steiger, “Jesus received exactly the reaction he intended. The people heard the teaching of the Kingdom of God and beheld a miracle and their response was shock at the power in the teaching. Instead of creating a group of people who see only the wild and follow only a miracle worker, Jesus properly prepared their hearts and minds by teaching them first.”

We read the story of Simon the sorcerer (Acts 8:9-14), which highlights that miracles and spiritual power can come from something(s) other than God. We also read Paul’s warning in II Cor. 11:13-15 about how Satan will sometimes present himself as an “angel of light”—that evil spirits can and do deceive. Therefore, as I John 4:1-3 instructs, we must be wise about spiritual experiences, and test every spirit to see whether it is, indeed God’s Spirit. If any spirit/teaching/experience denies the divinity and humanity and salvivic work and Lordship of Jesus Christ, it is obviously not God’s Spirit. ;-)  Spiritual experiences are meant to intertwine with our study of Scripture and be part of knowing and understanding God (e.g., “taste and see that the Lord is good” Psalm 34:8). We are experiential beings, and experiential knowing is extremely powerful. The “standard” of Truth, however, is God’s Word, not an individual spiritual experience (i.e., experiences are subject to errors in interpretation, and to deception; see also Gal. 1:8). We must invest in proper teaching, studying, reading, and understanding of Scripture, even in order to properly interpret and understand spiritual experiences and the realm of the miraculous. (Admittedly, much error and deception occurs in the realm of teaching and understanding Scripture, as well, which is why we must be careful and thorough and rigorous, etc.)

As Pastor Steiger says in his closing: “Where does divine authority—the power of God—begin in my life? It begins with the Scriptures and the life transforming truths of the Kingdom of God. Then, when God reaches down and the miraculous happens, we know exactly where to give the glory.”  Amen