Mark #8 - Jesus Shares Authority

Mark 3:7-19 (NIV)

The world we live in clearly has an unhealthy relationship with power and authority. Sometimes we watch as leaders around the world and throughout our communities consolidate power and authority for themselves. They will do just about anything, or call others to do just about anything to maintain or secure, or advance that power. And we watch either thinking that we should have that power, or thinking that someone else should have that power. Other times, because of the chaos that this can create we begin to view power itself as bad, and fantasize about a world without power, a world where no one submits to any power outside themselves because there is no way that it can be good.

But neither of these extremes follow the way of Jesus. If there was anyone who could have withheld authority, who did not have to share power with others, and have it be a good thing, it was Jesus. Yet… the one who Mark clearly says has authority, the one who can heal and cast out demons…. He gives authority away. He shares power… because, against all that we might be prone to think, more power is better… more authority is better…. As long as it’s submitted to Jesus… the king.

As you listen today, image yourself in the midst of this crowd. Consider what it would have been like to be moved along as people pressed towards Jesus, and to see the reactions when he names the 12 disciples.

----------REFLECT----------

1. How would you have felt if you were caught up in this scene. Would you have been nervous, a little claustrophobic, energized?

2. What would have been your reaction if you were a disciple, and you heard Jesus giving you authority to cast out demons? How would you respond?

3. How does Jesus' relationship to power and authority correct your relationship to it? Do you need to share authority and power, or do you need to assume more authority and power?

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