by Pastor Rich Carlson

Once again, one of Jesus’ miracles was performed during a worship service. On this particular Sabbath, Jesus was teaching in the synagogue when “a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an evil spirit cried out, ‘What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!’” (Mark 1:21-24)

Those last words were spoken like a true believer—except they were the words of an evil spirit, not an espoused saint! The same message, spoken in fear through the demon possessed man, was the concept of accusation spoken by the Jewish leaders as they sought to destroy Jesus (John 5:17,18), and the confession spoken by Jesus Himself that led to His condemnation before the Sanhedrin (Matt. 26:63-64). 

Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man, and it had no choice but to obey. The “saints” in the synagogue that Sabbath in Capernaum “were all so amazed that they asked each other, ‘What is this? A new teaching—and with authority!’” (verse 27) 

I like that phrase. Jesus not only preached with authority, He lived with authority. But what exactly is authority?

To me, authority is not power and control. It’s the confidence and assurance that we have the potential of speaking words and living lives that will cause God’s message to spread quickly. People are too used to observing Christianity that is convenient but not convincing, contemplative but not captivating. We need to spend less time just thinking about the concept of Christianity and more time speaking and living the authority of Christ. We need our words and actions today to demonstrate that we know Who has authority and that we know He is with us always. It wowed the people in Capernaum and throughout Galilee. I think it will do the same today.

Rich Carlson is campus chaplain at Union College in Lincoln, Nebraska. “God Is Faithful” is adapted from the email devotionals he writes regularly for the Union College family. Rich enjoys filling his life with God, his family, and especially his five grandchildren.