Truth and Authority, Verified

In this question-based study of Mark 1:14-45, let’s ask the next question: How did Jesus confirm the truth of His message? I hope that you’ve taken some time to study this passage from the Gospel of Mark in the Bible, and have combined those verses with other insight that you’ve gained from reading the Bible, to think of your own answer to this question.

To lead up to an answer to this question, Mark 1:21-22 (discussed in an earlier article) mentioned people recognizing Jesus’ teaching as being from one with authority. Verses 23-26 provide another example of Jesus’ authority, where He spoke and His words came to be.

Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure 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!”

“Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.

Mark 1:23-26 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.1.23-26.NIV

Jesus had the power to command things to be, and they were. (And, by the way, verses 27-28 confirm that the people noticed this.) When Jesus showed that His words were fulfilled, He was showing that He was a prophet. Said another way, I think that His miracles confirmed His message.

Although there is a lot of healing by Jesus recorded in this chapter (see also verses 32-34 and verses 40-42), let’s consider another example in verses 29-31:

As soon as they left the synagogue, they went with James and John to the home of Simon and Andrew. Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they immediately told Jesus about her. So he went to her, took her hand and helped her up. The fever left her and she began to wait on them.

Mark 1:29-31 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.1.29-31.NIV

Jesus was more than just a prophet. I think that these miracles, when combined with His message, also confirmed Jesus’ authority. Miracles of bodily healing confirmed Jesus’ authority over whatever caused the sickness in the first place, whether germs, evil forces, sin, or the curse on this world resulting from human beings’ sin. Similarly, miracles of driving out demons confirm Jesus’ authority over them. Jesus wasn’t just sovereign over other people (like a governor, king, or emperor might be in the first-century Middle East). Jesus was – and is – sovereign over creation itself (His creation), and He was about to crush the power of sin and death.

Since this study is based on asking questions, here’s another one: Where Jesus confirmed the truth of His message through His authority and through miracles, how does God confirm the truth of Jesus’ message today? Feel free to post your answers in the comments below, but I would include examples like the following:

Past examples from Jesus (signs, miracles, teaching)
Testimony of His followers (changed lives, answers to prayer, the power to live righteously)
Current signs of God’s authority (His intervention in His creation, fulfilment of prophecy)

So, since Jesus had the authority of God, let’s ask a few rhetorical questions to draw some conclusions from what we learn here:

If Jesus relied on His Father to perform miracles, even if we have the faith to move mountains, who is that faith in? (Even the “power” that Christians today have through faith is from God, and we would do well to remember that.)
Since Jesus has authority over the physical and spiritual worlds, how should we respond to what He told us to do? (We should obey His commandments, including loving God and loving our neighbor.)
What does it say about us when we don’t obey Him? (When we sin, we aren’t accepting His authority.)

May we all live today according to the logical implications from Jesus having authority over us and over the world around us. It’s not easy, but it is the right thing to do.

From Sunday School lesson prepared for September 7, 2025

References:

Share this:

Related

Leave a comment Cancel reply