26-0125a Transcript

(0:04) The lesson for today is respecting Christ’s authority. (0:11) One day I was reading an article about a brother in Christ having a talk with a man as they were aboard an airplane. (0:24) The brother was reading to him what Jesus said on a particular topic.

(0:31) The man responded with, that is his opinion, that is, it’s Christ’s opinion. (0:42) Once, before I read the article, years back in my hometown in West Virginia, (0:52) I had a conversation how denominations came about. (0:58) He said, it is like a tree, and along the way, some of what Jesus said was not liked.

(1:08) So men started changing some things. (1:25) (1:33) He pointed out to him the branches on this tree were different from Jesus, (1:44) because they’re changing what Jesus said, and physically bearing different types of fruit, (1:55) which naturally is not possible.

(1:58) You don’t come up to a tree and see it loaded with different types of fruit. (2:06) Every tree brings forth after its own kind, and it bears seed that will bear after itself. (2:22) But we find that Jesus spoke with authority when he was teaching, (2:33) especially in the Sermon on the Mount.

(2:36) In Matthew 7, 28, and 29, we find that after he ended what he was talking about (2:47) on the Sermon on the Mount, that they were astonished at his teaching, (2:54) because he didn’t teach as the scribes. (2:59) He taught with authority. (3:03) And the same thing is said in Mark 1, 21 and 22, that his teaching astonished the people, (3:14) because they were, that his teaching was with authority and not as the scribes.

(3:25) We find that in Matthew 5, six times it is said that he said, (3:38) You have heard it said, but I say to you. (3:45) And I listed the verses. (3:48) I counted, and I counted that he said this six times.

(3:57) And so if you want to do that, do some counting later on, you can do so. (4:05) But Jesus said, but I say to you. (4:10) So, but even within his sermon, without those verses saying that I say to you, (4:20) he still spoke with authority.

(4:25) We find that he has authority or power over nature, as it was read in our hearing. (4:38) In Matthew 8, that when Jesus was teaching and performing miracles, (4:55) he then in verse 23 tells the, he got into a boat and his disciples followed him. (5:10) And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves, (5:19) but he was asleep.

(5:23) Then his disciples came to him and awoke him saying, Lord, save us, we are perishing. (5:32) But he said to them, why are you fearful, O you of little faith? (5:40) Then he arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was calm. (5:50) So the men marveled, saying, who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey him? (6:00) They are surprised that he could command the winds and the sea to be still, to be quiet.

(6:14) And they become calm. (6:19) And he has power over nature. (6:24) And we see that he does, because we must realize he’s the creator of this universe.

(6:38) And we find that he has power or authority. (6:45) Power and authority is used sometimes interchangeably. (6:52) But we’re going to go to Mark, the 5th chapter, and we’re going to begin with verse 1. (7:06) We’re going to talk about his power or authority over demons.

(7:16) We begin in verse 1 when he says, (7:20) Then they came to the other side of the sea, to the country of the Gerasenes. (7:27) And when he had come out of the boat, immediately there met him out of the tombs, (7:37) a man with an unclean spirit, who had his dwelling among the tombs. (7:45) And no one could bind him, not even with chains, (7:51) because he had often been bound with shackles and chains.

(7:58) And the chains had been pulled apart by him, and the shackles broke in pieces. (8:08) Neither could anyone tame him. (8:20) And always, night and day, he was in the mountains and in the tombs, (8:26) crying out and cutting himself with stones.

(8:31) When he saw Jesus from afar, he ran and worshipped him. (8:37) And he cried out with a loud voice and said, (8:41) What have I to do with you, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? (8:49) I implore you by God that you do not torment me. (8:55) For he said to him, Come out of the man, unclean spirit.

(9:03) And he asked him, What is your name? (9:09) And he answered, saying, My name is Legion, for we are many. (9:18) Also he begged him earnestly that he would not send them out of the country. (9:26) Now a large herd of swine, or pigs as they are, (9:34) was feeding there near the mountains.

(9:38) So all the demons begged him, saying, (9:41) Send us to the swine that we may enter them. (9:48) And at once Jesus gave them permission. (9:53) Then the unclean spirits went out and entered the swine.

(9:59) There were about two thousand. (10:02) And the herd ran violently down the steep place into the sea (10:09) and drowned in the sea. (10:13) So those who fed the swine fled, (10:17) and they toiled in the sea and in the country.

(10:22) And they went out to see what it was that had happened. (10:30) Then they came to Jesus and saw the one who had been demon-possessed (10:38) and had the Legion sitting and clothed and in his right mind. (10:46) And they were afraid.

(10:50) Those who saw it told them how it happened to him (10:56) who had been demon-possessed and about the swine. (11:03) Then they began to plead with him to depart from the region. (11:09) And when he got into the boat, (11:13) he who had been demon-possessed begged him that he might be with him.

(11:21) However, Jesus did not permit him but said to him, (11:27) Go home to your friends and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you (11:35) and how he has had compassion on you. (11:41) And he departed and began to proclaim in Decapolis (11:46) all that Jesus had done for him and all marveled. (11:54) So Jesus not only had power over nature, (12:00) but he had power over the demons.

(12:08) Now the demons recognized Jesus, (12:13) but Jesus did not allow the demons to confess him. (12:19) But they begged him not to send them into an abyss as one translation puts it, (12:34) but into the swine that was nearby. (12:42) And so Jesus gave them permission to do that and they entered the swine (12:48) and then the swine then went into the sea and drowned in the sea.

(12:58) And you know this is one of those things that as I read it I see (13:09) the people heard this, they came and they begged Jesus to depart. (13:18) They seemed to be so afraid. (13:22) I guess it’s because the swine went into the sea that that made them afraid.

(13:30) And here this man that they realized was at first one that couldn’t be shackled, (13:41) he couldn’t be chained. (13:43) He would be shouting and yelling and breaking that which bound him (13:50) because he had all that strength from these demons to break apart. (13:58) But here he’s sitting with Jesus and he’s in his right mind.

(14:04) But these people were afraid. (14:07) Then the man wanted to go and travel with Jesus, (14:13) but Jesus wouldn’t permit him. (14:16) Wanted him to go home and tell his friends what the Lord has done for you (14:24) and how he has had compassion on you.

(14:29) So he does. (14:32) He goes and he tells these people. (14:36) There in Decapolis, that area, he tells them what Jesus had done to him (14:45) and all marveled.

(14:48) And so they were amazed at what Jesus did. (14:53) So Jesus has power over these demons. (15:00) And then in the first chapter of Mark, we see his power in his touch.

(15:12) In Mark 1 verse 40, (15:18) Now a leper came to him, (15:22) imploring him, kneeling down to him, and saying to him, (15:28) If you are willing, you can make me clean. (15:34) Then Jesus moved with compassion, (15:39) stretched out his hand, and touched him. (15:44) Now, we need to understand that under the law of Moses, (15:51) in which they’re living under now, (15:56) that the law forbids anyone to get near one that has leprosy.

(16:03) The one that has leprosy is to be separated from those around him. (16:13) He is to be separated from them, (16:16) and if anyone was to come near him, (16:19) he was to cover his mouth, (16:21) and he was to say, unclean, unclean. (16:25) So nobody was to touch him.

(16:30) But Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, (16:37) I am willing, be cleansed. (16:42) As soon as he had spoken, (16:45) immediately the leprosy left him, (16:49) and he was cleansed. (16:52) And he strictly warned him, (16:56) and sent him away at once, (16:59) and said to him, (17:01) See that you say nothing to anyone, (17:08) but go your way.

(17:11) Show yourself to the priest, (17:13) and offer for your cleansing (17:16) those things which Moses commanded as a testimony to them. (17:26) You know, Jesus touched him and cleansed him with his touch. (17:33) He had power in his touch to do what was necessary.

(17:42) There was a 12-year-old girl that was sick unto death, (17:51) and he was summoned to go to heal her. (17:59) And then on the way, (18:02) before he got there, (18:07) they came and told that the girl was dead. (18:14) But he taught them to be trustful, to believe.

(18:21) And when he went there, (18:23) he took hold of the 12-year-old’s hand (18:27) and told her to arise. (18:32) And so she arose, (18:35) and her parents were there. (18:39) And he presented her to her parents and said, (18:45) Give her something to eat.

(18:48) So in his touch, he had power. (18:53) He had power to cleanse this leprosy. (18:57) He had power to raise those from the dead, (19:04) He had power to heal, (19:09) touching their hands and healing them.

(19:14) And Jesus, in his touch, had the power to do so. (19:24) But what we need to do is to respect Christ’s authority, (19:31) because he’s going to command us. (19:36) There are commandments that he gives.

(19:40) And we must not be haughty. (19:44) We must not dismiss him as if he’s just another human, (19:50) as some do. (19:51) They dismiss him.

(19:53) He’s just another human, (19:54) and he did good works, (19:57) but he has authority. (20:01) And we find that his authority reaches. (20:07) I’m going to end right here, (20:11) and I’m going to give an invitation to those (20:14) that need to come in any way that you can (20:23) to Christ, to respect his authority.

(20:29) There are commands that he’s given. (20:32) In order to receive salvation, (20:35) he’s given the commands to believe, to repent, (20:42) to confess his name before men, (20:46) and to be buried in baptism for the remission of sins, (20:52) to receive salvation. (20:55) To those that have obeyed those commands (21:02) and somehow been led astray, (21:08) you are urged to come back (21:11) and let the church pray for you.

(21:14) Let God accept you back (21:18) into his covenant relationship with you (21:24) and be faithful unto him unto death. (21:27) Everyone, we need to respect Christ’s authority. (21:33) Tonight, we hope and look for you back tonight (21:38) on the conference call (21:41) to do the part two of this lesson (21:47) of respecting Christ’s authority.

(21:51) Let us respect his authority. (21:56) Why not come while we sing the invitation song?