Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught. 22 And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 23 Now there was a man in their synagogue with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 saying, “Let [us] alone! What have we to do with You, Jesus of Nazareth? Did You come to destroy us? I know who You are–the Holy One of God!” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be quiet, and come out of him!” 26 And when the unclean spirit had convulsed him and cried out with a loud voice, he came out of him. 27 Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine [is] this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.” 28 And immediately His fame spread throughout all the region around Galilee.

– Mark 1:21-28 (NKJV)

The other day I was discussing why I hold to the Christian faith. My response could be summarized in two points. I believe first on an intellectual level. The literature of the bible compared to everything else I’ve read makes the most sense to me about why the world is the way that it is and so I choose to place my confidence in the bible and what it teaches. While there may have been a time where I held to the Christian faith for merely intellectual reasons, I also have another reason for my faith… my experience. As I have placed my faith in the Lord through what the scripture teaches I have experienced many of the things I have studied and know them to be true by my experience.

In today’s reading, Mark wants us to know that when Jesus enters the scene, he does so with a recognized authority. His authority stretches to these two realms. On the one hand, Jesus’ teaching and doctrine are noted by the crowd as coming from one who has authority. He is able to reason according to the scriptures better than the scribes. The other place of authority comes on an experiential level. It is here that the doctrines that Jesus is teaching are put to the test. He is able to cast out evil spirits.

Those observing Jesus then as well as those of us reading these accounts now have opportunity and reason to trust Jesus. We can trust Jesus because it is reasonable to trust him, but as we trust him and see his work unfold in our lives we can trust Jesus also because we experience his truth as we put his word into practice. Most of us will never be called on to cast out demons, but we will experience His word when we love our enemies and pray for those who persecute us and obey other such similar commands.

Father, We love you and want to grow in knowledge of you and your word. I thank you for the authority that Jesus demonstrated in Mark. Help me to study your word that through it I might know you better. We ask you to guide us in your will. In Jesus Name, Amen.