Jesus' Authority

Speaker: Emma King
Series: No Nonsense - The Gospel of Mark
Scripture: Mark 3:1-12

Psalm 93; Mark 3:1–12

Emma draws our attention to the nature of God’s authority as revealed in Psalm 93 and embodied in Jesus’ actions in Mark 3. Psalm 93 proclaims the Lord as eternal king, whose reign is unshaken. God’s authority is secure, enduring, and not dependent on defence or control.

In Mark 3, Jesus expresses this authority in practice. He enters an ordinary synagogue and encounters a man known only by his withered hand. Before teaching or healing, Jesus brings the man into the centre, refusing to let him remain unseen. Jesus' authority is exercised through attention and recognition.

There's a clash between two forms of authority: one rooted in compassion and life, the other in control. Jesus’ question about the Sabbath exposes how our hearts can be more concerned with maintaining the status quo at the expense of restoring people.

The command to stretch out the withered hand shows how Jesus’ authority invites trust rather than forcing change. The Sabbath, intended for restoration, is fulfilled.

The God who reigns eternally is the same God who notices individuals. To be seen by Jesus is not to be judged or exposed, but to be restored. We can trust Jesus with the most vulnerable parts of our lives.