Mark 1: Authority in Christ, Prayer and Compassion

 

Mark 1

Authority in Christ, Prayer and Compassion

There is so much information and deep lessons in the first chapter of the Gospel according to Mark.

 What really captured my heart was how Jesus’ ministry started and the qualities He had shown from the start. Beginning from being baptised by his cousin, John the Baptist who came to prepare the way for Jesus (v3).

 1. The Wilderness – resisting temptation and being faithful to God the Father

From v9 – 11, Jesus went to John the Baptist and asked John to baptise him and after His baptism the heavens was opened and the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus like a dove. When Jesus came to be baptised, it was done before He started his ministry to teach people the message of salvation.

The next thing that happened after Jesus’ baptism, v12 tells us that he was compelled by the Holy Spirit to go into wilderness, where he was alone for 40 days. In my own life I have experienced the place of being alone in the wilderness, it is not easy or comforting, but it is the place where we are being stripped from our fleshly desires, our own selfish ambitions and learn to lean on and trust in Christ for our victory. The wilderness is not a place to fear, in my humble opinion it is a necessity… for every believer to have a close, intimate walk with our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. If you find yourself in a spiritual wilderness, be thankful to the Lord and praise Him for the opportunity to grow and be sanctified, for your own good.

 Characteristics of Jesus

 From verse 14 to verse 45, three more things capture my heart in the qualities that Jesus showed in character i.e., His authority, Prayer and Compassion.

 2. Authority

When Jesus taught in the synagogues, the people were amazed at the authority with which He preached (v22). His presence was even recognised by the demon inside a man who attended synagogue, the demon became restless, recognising Jesus’ authority. Jesus did not entertain or plead with or shouted at the demon, He simply commanded it to be silent upon which the demon left the man. After witnessing this, the people attending synagogue were even more amazed at the authority Jesus held. As Jesus followers and the presence of the Holy Spirit inside of us, we carry the same authority given to us. We need to make an effort and ask Jesus to help us walk in the fullness of the authority that is available to us through Him.

 3. Prayer

After Jesus cast out the demon, he also healed Peter’s mother-in-law (v31) and then many people who came to the Synagogue asking for healing and deliverance (v32-34). Following this intensive time of teaching, healing the sick and casting out demons, Jesus got up early in the morning before day-break to go out alone to pray.

 Prayer was a priority for Jesus – early in the morning, before the day begins to spend time alone with His Father (God), no interruption, no-one else but them.

 We too also need time alone with God in prayer, to pour out our hearts to Him. When we are alone, we can bring our raw emotions and honesty to God, without fearing what others will think or say. We should train ourselves to be quiet and still to listen until we hear His voice speaking into our silence, receiving the waters of life that we all need so desperately.

 4. Compassion

In v40 when the poor leper asked Jesus to heal him, Jesus felt pity for the man and responded that He wants to heal the man and (here we see the authority in Jesus’ action again) Jesus simply spoke to him and said: “Be healed” (v41) and the man was healed immediately.

But the miracle did not end here, Jesus had so much compassion with this man that He was also concerned with his reputation, the condition of his soul and emotions. Jesus ordered the man to go and show himself to the priest and take the offering as instructed in the law of Moses as proof that he is completely healed and clean. Jesus showed respect to the law, but this action was also to ensure that the now healed leper would not be treated as an outcast anymore, so that he could be acknowledged in society and allowed to go and worship with others in the synagogue again. Jesus also cares about our hearts and wants to bring complete healing to our emotions and souls, the parts that cannot be seen. Will we let Him do that for us?

 

Prayer

Lord we pray and ask that when we are in the wilderness, to help us keep on seeking you, trusting you, turning to you with every difficulty and affliction so that You can lead us into the place of Victory you prepared for us, so that we can also walk in the fullness of the authority of Christ, remain prayerful and abiding in Christ and have compassion with our fellowman like the examples you showed us. Amen.

--------------------------
PASTORA HESMA – JCRC CAPETOWN