Authority
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Mark 1:21-28 Jesus and his companions went to the town of Capernaum. When the Sabbath day came, he went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, for he taught with real authority—quite unlike the teachers of religious law.
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Jesus is the Messiah. He is God. He is the King that the Father enthroned on his holy hill (Ps 2:6). The Gospel of Mark presents convincing evidences of the power and authority of King Jesus. The power of Jesus' presence and the authority of his teaching demand a response. We bow in submission to his authority, or we rebel. There is no middle ground.

Jesus left the synagogue and went home with Simon and Andrew. In this quiet place he took the hand of a sick woman and lifted her up. The fever obeyed his touch by leaving her; she responded by serving them-- not just him but them. Here is a sweet picture of the power and the fruit of the gospel.

While man-made regulations, attitudes and lifestyles try to keep us from Jesus, God's Word and Spirit woo us to a relationship with Him. He is calling you to a loving, daily, personal relationship with him. Jesus healed the sick and cast out demons, validating His authority and displaying His merciful character. His mercy and healing are available to you, too.

If Jesus is God -- and he is -- it changes everything. Jesus' compelling call to discipleship leaves no place for indifference. There are only two options: trust and obey yourself, or trust and obey Him. Transferring authority from self to Jesus is not just radical-- it is impossible apart from God's sovereign initiative in our lives.

A relationship with Jesus is the essence of discipleship. Obedience to Him is the evidence of discipleship. The disciple of Jesus continually asks, "What will it mean to submit this situation or relationship to the authority of God's Word and to live for His glory?" I encourage you to take that posture in every situation.