My God and My Country

The Gospel According to Mark

Chapter 1:21-28

21 So they entered into Capernaum: and straightway on the Sabbath day he entered into the Synagogue, and taught.

22 And they were astonied at his doctrine, for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the Scribes.

23 And there was in their Synagogue a man in whom was an unclean spirit, and he cried out,

24 Saying, Ah, what have we to do with thee, O Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I know thee what thou art, even thou holy one of God.

25 And Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him.

26 And the unclean spirit tare him, and cried with a loud voice, and came out of him.

27 And they were all amazed, so that they demanded [g]one of another, saying, What thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for he commandeth even the foul spirits with authority, and they obey him.

28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the region bordering on Galilee.

Related Scripture:

Verse 21 - Matthew 4:13; Luke 4:32

Verse 22 - Matthew 7:28

Verse 24 - Exodus 28:36

Brethren:

Note how the word authority is used twice by Mark in the above verses. Who else but God, could speak with such?

“For 'their Scribes', as the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read. He did not go about to establish what he said by the authority of the Rabbins, as the Scribes did; saying, Hillell says so, or Shammai says thus, or such a doctor says thus and thus; but he spoke as from himself, as one sent of God, that had an authority from him, and was independent of man; and this was what they had not observed in others, and wonder at it.” – John Gill - Theologian