Well, good morning on this beautiful and snowy Lord's Day. Isn't it beautiful outside? Although for me, it was a little bit unexpected, but it is good to see. We know that the Lord brought this snow upon us for his good purposes, and we thank the Lord for that. We thank the Lord that we're here this morning. I know that, as you can see, many of our members of our church family are not here. This has been a, this past week and really even the last couple of weeks have been a challenge and difficult for many because of the sicknesses that are going around. I myself this past week experienced that a little bit. So let us pray for all of those who aren't able to make it. Pray that the Lord would heal them very quickly. But I want to thank you that you're here. And what a privilege it is and a blessing it is for us to be here this morning on the Lord's Day to worship the Lord. Before we begin our worship service, just a few announcements. I sent many of these out over our text this morning and the last couple of days, but just a reminder, we will not have our afternoon fellowship meal or our afternoon service today. We are just showing some extra caution due to the illnesses that are going around. We just want to make sure that we don't spread anything. So we are canceling our afternoon fellowship meal and afternoon service. So that means we will not have the Lord's Supper today in the afternoon service. We will reschedule that, of course. Also, we will not be having our Pats the Pirate program today, as was scheduled, due again to many not able to be here. And that will be rescheduled as well for a date to be determined. Also, I just want to mention to you again, and you see in your bulletin there, the announcement about the Ladies Bible Study coming up, the new study, 12-week study, beginning March 4th. So the information is there, and if you have any questions or need more information about that, you can see Kate. I believe those are all the announcements, so we want to Enter into our worship service this morning, and every time we meet together, we want to enter into the service in the right spirit. It is important for us to do that as we enter into worship. We are worshiping the Lord, and we want to worship the Lord rightly. So this morning I will read from Psalm 57, verses 7 through 11. As you listen to the word of the Lord, Prepare your heart today to enter into worship. Psalm 57, verse 7 through 11. My heart is steadfast, O God. My heart is steadfast. I will sing and make melody. Awake, my glory. Awake, O harp and lyre. I will awake the dawn. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples. I will sing praises to you among the nations. For your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your faithfulness to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens. Let your glory be over all the earth. Good morning, everyone. If you turn to hymn number seven and stand with me, we're few in numbers this morning, but apparently there are hearty souls here, so few in numbers means we're going to have to sing heartily then. We're going to have to sing out. Hymn number seven, let's sing for our call to worship. Come thou fount of every blessing. Let's stand together. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave Our scripture reading this morning is different than what is listed in your order of service. We will read this morning Psalm 2. Psalm 2. Why do the nations rage in the people's plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against his anointed, saying, let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. He who sits in the heavens laughs. The Lord holds them in derision. Then he will speak to them in his wrath and terrify them in his fury, saying, as for me, I have set my king on Zion, my holy hill. I will tell of the decree. The Lord said to me, you are my son. Today I have begotten you. Ask of me and I will make the nations your heritage and the ends of the earth your possession. You shall break them with a rod of iron and dash them in pieces like a potter's vessel. Now, therefore, O kings, be wise. Be warned, O rulers of the earth. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice with trembling. Kiss the son lest he be angry and you perish in the way, for his wrath is quickly kindled. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. And may the Lord bless the reading of his holy word. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, we thank you for this day. Father, we thank you that we are here this morning to worship you. Father, we thank you for your goodness to us, for your love and your mercy, for your grace, for your faithfulness. Father, for providing all that we need here in this world, that you do indeed give us our daily bread. We thank you for all things that we have in this life. But Father, we thank you especially for all the things that we have awaiting for us in the life to come. We thank you, Father, that we have that assurance of eternal life, of life in heaven and life in the new heavens and new earth where we will be with you forever and with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We thank you, Father, that we have that assurance and we know that it is only because of your eternal love for us. It is only, Father, because of your mercy in saving us from our sins by sending your Son as the Lamb of God to take upon himself our sins and wash them away. And Father, because of your grace, because of the Holy Spirit who indwells us and keeps us and preserves us for our day of glory, and who works within us day by day, to make us more and more like Christ, to make us more and more prepared for that day of glory. So Father, we do indeed owe everything to you. And our response to that, our rightful response to that, is worship, is praise and adoration, and serving you. We were redeemed to worship you in every area of our life, in every aspect of our life, in our thoughts. We are your people so that we can lift up and praise your Holy name so that you would be glorified on this earth. We are here today, Father, as your people to worship you corporately, So we ask for your blessing upon this service. We pray, Father, that it would be pleasing to you. We are not here. We did not come here, Father, for ourselves, to please ourselves, to be entertained, or whatever other selfish reason people go to church. Father, we are here because of you and for you. This is for your glory. It is for the exaltation of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. So Father, I pray that you would enable us to worship you in spirit and in truth and in the beauty of holiness. Work within us, Father, a true spirit of worship. We also pray, Father, for many in our church family who are dealing with various illness. It has been this past week and even the weeks before been very difficult for many dealing with physical infirmities and sicknesses. So Father, I pray that you would heal all of those who are sick very, very soon. that they would begin feeling better and get over what they have. Father, I pray that you would bless them this day, that they would have a good day in the Lord. So Father, we ask for your blessing upon our church family. There are others as well that have been dealing with other problems for quite some time, physical problems. I continue to pray for Jim and Joyce Johnson. I pray for Jennifer Kelly and her ongoing recovery from surgery, for Monty and his health concerns. Father, I pray for our shut-ins as well, Marian Green and Evelyn Wright. Pray for Karen Horton. Father, would you bless them and meet all of their needs? Father, I pray for our missionaries. We thank you for them. We pray for their protection. Pray, Father, that you would grant them liberty to preach the gospel. Father, that you would give them boldness and courage in the face of very difficult situations and even persecutions. But Father, use them where you have placed them for your glory. I pray for our nation. Father, pray that for your continued mercy. And Father, we pray for a revival. We know that revival is of the Lord, that we cannot command the Holy Spirit to bring us a revival. But yet, Father, we know that because of your mercy and grace that you do indeed bring revival. And oh, how we need a revival, a great awakening in this land. Father, I pray that many would be born again, would be convicted of their sin, and would repent of their sins and believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and as their Savior. Oh, what a difference that would make in this country. And Father, that is the difference that we need. So Father, we ask for that and continue to pray. And know, Father, that you will do according to your good purpose. Father, I also think and pray of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world who are persecuted on a daily basis because of their faith in Christ. They are being persecuted for righteousness sake, and you say they are blessed. But Father, I pray that you would continue to strengthen them and encourage them increase their faith, give them unusual boldness and courage in the face of their persecution. And Father, continue to use them as a witness to others. We thank you and we rejoice in knowing that your gospel will never be extinguished, that your church will never be put on hold or will never be taken out of the way. But Father, that the head of the church, the one who died for the church, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is building his church and will continue to do so. So Father, we just ask that you would use us as kingdom builders here in this community, that we would be witnesses for Jesus Christ, that we would walk in the fear of the Lord that we would be the light of this world and we would be as the salt of the earth. You, as Father, give us a burden for those about us who are lost, those who are wandering aimlessly and hopelessly without Christ, who are in the kingdom of darkness and on the way to hell. Father, may we be burdened in our heart for their souls and use us, Father, direct our steps. And when you give us opportunity, Father, give us courage to open our mouths and to speak, to tell them the good news of the kingdom of God. So Father, again, we thank you for this day. We ask for your blessing upon this service, and we pray that it would indeed be pleasing to you. May your word go forth with power, and may our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ be exalted. And we pray this in Jesus' name, amen. All right, let's take out our hymnals again, and we'll stand together and turn to hymn number 251. and sing Near the Cross, 251, Near the Cross. ♪ Jesus meet me near the cross ♪ There's a precious fountain ♪ Free to all my need Yeah, cool. I love that song. One of my favorites, Rest Beyond the River. Scripture I want to draw attention to is Isaiah 28 16 Therefore sayeth the Lord behold I lay in Zion a foundation a stone a tried stone a precious cornerstone a sure foundation He that believeth shall not make haste again appropriate verse talking about our Savior and again the word behold is to get our attention and The Lord lays on us a foundation, and that foundation is Christ. Christ is the one we build our lives on. It's not us, but Jesus Christ. Not only that is the foundation, but he's a tried stone. You ever think something that's tried or tested? And again, we're familiar with the testings of Christ and the devil. went out and tested Christ for 40 days. And again, I tried, that means passed the test. He did not fail, as he won't fail us. And a precious cornerstone. And we think about buildings that have a cornerstone, that is where a structure is built upon. And again, we build our lives on the cornerstone of Christ. And not only that, it's a sure foundation. Again, we think of a sure foundation, we think it's something that's stable and firm. And again, Christ is referred to as the rock in many portions of scripture. A sure foundation is something that's not going to give away. Yesterday in our men's group we talked about building our lives on a foundation again if we don't have the foundation of Christ we think about the example of the parable of the Firm foundation of the house was built on a rock and the one that was built on the sand Which which house stood again picture of our lives we stand upon the rock of Christ. Let's pray gracious father we think Thank you this day. We thank you this day of the safety you give us as we come and worship you this day. Thank you those that came out. Again, Lord, these situations, it just draws us to you that we need to depend on you, just even in the weather and getting to and fro. And again, Lord, what a blessing to know Christ as our foundation, a rock, a true and tried one. Again, Lord, we can be blessed with knowing that Christ is our rock, our security, and again, our promise, promises of life eternal. Again, Lord. Help us reflect on that. And again, the blessings that you've given each one of us. You provide our needs, our very needs, our daily needs, Lord. We just thank you for that. Thank you for providing the funds. And again, it's your money, Lord. We're just the stewards. Help us to give back what you so wonderfully gave us. Bless this offering. Help us to use it not only around here, but for your work that would honor you. In Jesus' name, amen. you Let us stand, please, if you are able. And on the back of your bulletin is our responsive reading for this morning. We will be reading together Matthew 28, verses 16 through 20. When we are done with the responsive reading, please remain standing for our final hymn. Matthew 28, verses 16 through 20. Now the 11 disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had directed them. And when they saw him, they worshiped him, but some doubted. And Jesus came and said to them, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always to the end of the age. Amen, and may the Lord bless the reading of his word. If you take your hymnals one more time and turn to hymn number 147, Amazing Grace. An old song that so many love. 147, Amazing Grace. I once was lost, but now I'm found. Was blind, but now I see. ♪ The strength and grace of Him ♪ ♪ Without thy mercy be ♪ ♪ Many dangers, toils, and snares ♪ ♪ I have already come ♪ The Lord has promised good to me, His Word my hope secures. He held my shield when war shook me, ♪ To be with her till thousand years ♪ ♪ Shining as the sun ♪ ♪ In all the space to see her face ♪ We want to continue this morning in our sermon series through the gospel of Mark. So please turn to Mark chapter one. We are ready this morning to consider verses 21 through 28 of Mark chapter one. When they, they referring to Jesus and his newly called disciples that we considered last week in verses 16 through 20, Simon and Andrew and James and John, when they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath, he, Jesus, entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority and not as the scribes. And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, what have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God. But Jesus rebuked him, saying, be silent and come out of him. and the unclean spirit convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice came out of him. And they were all amazed so that they questioned among themselves saying, what is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits and they obey him. And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. When we read the record of the Gospel of Mark, we discover that there is something about Jesus of significant importance that we must know if we are to be his disciples. We will not enter the kingdom of God and follow him and serve him if we do not know and embrace this essential truth about him. When he calls to the crowd to him in chapter eight, we'll see that when we come to that, but when he calls to the crowd to come to him, he says, if anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it. Now here is the question, and this is the question that our text this morning answers. Does Jesus have the authority to make that kind of statement? Upon what authority does he make that statement? Does Jesus have the authority to speak to the crowds in his day and to the crowds of our day and throw down such a gauntlet? If you wanna save your life, you'll lose it, Jesus says. If you lose your life for me and for the gospel, then you'll save it. If you want to enter into my kingdom, Jesus says, you must repent and believe in the gospel and follow me. Upon whose authority does Jesus make these amazing statements? You see, this is the issue that people in Jesus' day and people throughout history to our present day are confronted with about Jesus Christ. It is the issue of His authority. When the people of Jesus' day questioned and challenged and rebelled against His authority, They highlighted the same issue that confronts everyone today who considers the claims of Christ. And the claims of Jesus Christ is He has all authority over our lives and we must submit to His authority and follow Him and serve Him. The authority of Jesus Christ is the essential truth that we must know and embrace if we are to be one of his disciples. And the authority of Jesus Christ is the theme of this text. It is the theme that is carried out throughout the Gospel of Mark and really throughout all the other Gospels, particularly the, well, all the other Gospels, Matthew, Mark, and Luke and John. It is the theme of the authority of Jesus Christ. We see here in our text, In Mark chapter one, verse 21 through 28, that this word authority is used twice. It is used in verse 22 and then again in verse 27. And anytime you're reading a passage and studying a passage of scripture, if there is a word or more than one word or a phrase that is repeated, it is repeated for emphasis. And it usually is an indicator of the theme and the lesson of that text. It is the lesson that the Lord wants you to learn. And here in this text, it is the lesson of Jesus, of his authority. This word authority, when we hear that word authority, There's a certain force about that word. It's a strong word and it's filled with meaning. When we talk about the authorities, we rightfully have a sense of respect and maybe even a sense of fear. The word authority denotes the permission Privilege, right, and power of rule, control, and influence. Privilege, permission, and right to rule and to reign. When someone has authority, that means that they sit above other people. They're able to determine things, to decide things, to render judgments, to wield certain rights and privileges. People in authority have the right and the power to set the rules, to enforce the rules, and to determine judgments and verdicts. And their will and their commands must be submitted to and obeyed by others. So in every dimension of life, we have authorities. We have authorities at work. We have authorities in the home. We have authorities in school. We have authorities in the church. In every dimension of life, we have authorities. But there is one who has the authority that surpasses all other authorities, and that one is Jesus Christ. And this is what he claimed, and this is what he demonstrated throughout his entire ministry. We see that here in our text at the very beginning of Jesus's public ministry as recorded by Mark. What we see in this text is that Jesus demonstrated and displayed his authority by both what he said and what he did. So let us study this text and let us see the authority of Jesus Christ. So first, Jesus demonstrated and displayed his authority by his teaching. In verse 21 and 22, they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching. And they were astonished at his teaching or his doctrine, as some translations have it. for he taught them as one who had authority and not as the scribes. You see, Jesus demonstrated and displayed his authority by what he taught and how he taught. Now, what was Jesus teaching here? Mark does not tell us specifically, But in the parallel account in Matthew's gospel, Matthew chapter four, verse 23, we read that Jesus went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom. And Luke says in Acts chapter one, verse three, that Jesus went everywhere speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God. So there is no doubt this is what he was teaching in the synagogue at Capernaum. He was doing what he always did. He was teaching about the kingdom of God and preaching the gospel of the kingdom. So he certainly talked about sin, about the wretchedness of it, and the folly of hypocritical religion. He certainly talked about judgment. the inevitability of hell for those who refuse God's truth and God's way of salvation. No doubt he talked about righteousness, the hopelessness of self-righteousness and trying to attain salvation by your own good works. And certainly he talked about humility. and the place of brokenness and self-emptying and self-crucifixion and bankruptcy of spirit. He most certainly talked about the love of God and the love that men should have for God. And he must have talked about the peace of God and the fact that he came to make peace between God and man. And no doubt he talked about the cost of following him and about persecution for righteousness sake. He spoke about the law of God, the word of God, perhaps about honesty and marriage or forgiveness or true riches or faith or hope or grace or mercy or false teachers. Surely he talked about entering the kingdom of God. He spoke about that narrow gate in a narrow way and that broad gate in a broad way. No doubt he spoke about all of these things and even more because these are the things that pertain to the kingdom of God and the gospel of the kingdom. This is what Jesus was teaching that day. And when he taught about these things, about the kingdom of God, everyone in the synagogue was astonished. For he taught them as one who had authority and not as the scribes. That word astonished means exceedingly amazed. They were stunned. because he taught as one who had authority and not as their scribes or not as any other man that they had ever heard. In their particular culture, that meant that Jesus spoke of his own authority. That means that he quoted nobody He referenced nobody. He footnoted nothing. He didn't say that he had gotten these truths from some eminent rabbi. He didn't say that this was an exposition of some commentary written by a respected person. Jesus had authority to teach whatever he wanted as truth and make it binding on men's consciences and determinative of their eternal destiny. In other words, they were astonished because Jesus spoke with authority, with an inherent authority. The distinguishing feature that marked out his teaching was that he said things in such an authoritative way that they could not be dismissed. They could not be ignored. And these people had routinely listened to the teaching of their religious teachers, who considered themselves the authoritative purveyors of truth. They came from the right background, they had the proper training, and they were all very credentialed. They consider themselves the authority. But when Jesus began to teach, it struck them in a way that astonished them because he taught them as one who had the authority. Unlike their religious teachers, unlike Jesus, their religious teachers had no authority whatsoever when they spoke. So Jesus demonstrated and displayed his authority by his teaching and it astonished everyone there. And secondly, Jesus demonstrated and displayed his authority by his works. Notice verse 23 through 26. And immediately, there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, what have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are, the Holy One of God. But Jesus rebuked him, saying, be silent and come out of him. And the unclean spirit convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice came out of him. What authority, demonstrated and displayed by Jesus Christ. Authority over demons. Let us notice the details of this encounter with this demon and see Jesus' authority over him. This demon cried out, what have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? Have you come to destroy us? This unclean spirit asked Jesus. Now this text indicates that it was only one demon who possessed this poor man. Yet the demon used the plural, us. And in using the plural here, this unclean spirit spoke on behalf of the whole doomed fraternity of demons. Have you come to destroy all of us? Is what this demon asked. And I might interject here with an answer to this unclean spirits question. And it is the answer which this demon already knew. Have you come to destroy us? The answer is yes. Yes, he has. Jesus has come to destroy the works of evil. He has come to destroy the kingdom of darkness. And this unclean spirit knew that. The Holy One of God, as the demon calls Jesus, has come to destroy him and to destroy the works of the devil and to rid the world of sin and everything unholy. And in the synagogue at Capernaum that day, Jesus demonstrated this. He demonstrated that he is establishing the kingdom of God. So Jesus rebuked this unclean spirit with a short and simple command, yet an incredibly authoritative and powerful one, be silent and come out of him. or shut up actually captures the tone of Jesus. Shut your mouth and come out of him. And does this demon obey Jesus? Ultimately, yes. He could do no other thing. He could not do otherwise. Although this demon put up one last rebellious, short-lived fight. Verse 26, the unclean spirit convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice came out of him. This convulsing, this man, the picture is this man convulsing on the ground like he's having an epileptic seizure or something. but it wasn't an epileptic seizure. This was the demon inside of him wrestling for dominion over this poor man's body and soul. And the demon's crying out with a loud voice is its vain attempt to reach down into the deepest pits of hell for help. but it was all to no avail. The demon came out of him at the authoritative command of Jesus. When I read this account, I can't help but think of Martin Luther's great hymn, A Mighty Fortress is Our God. where he wrote, the prince of darkness grim, we tremble not for him. His rage we can endure, for lo, his doom is sure. One little word shall fell him. This is what Jesus demonstrated that day in that synagogue. One little word, one little authoritative command, from the one who has authority to this unclean spirit, tell him. This is the authority of Jesus Christ. And when those in the synagogue that day witnessed this encounter, they had the same response as they did when Jesus was teaching. In verse 27, we read, they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, what is this? A new teaching with authority. He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. This is the authority of Jesus Christ, as demonstrated and displayed that day. His words have authority above any man's word. His words are authoritative truth. And he has authority over demons and over the realm of darkness. But this is not the extent of Jesus's authority. This is just a portion of it. This is made clear, not only here in Mark's gospel as we read through it, but all the other gospels as well. All the gospel writers make it a point to show the authority of Jesus Christ. They show that Jesus has authority over sickness and disease. We will read that in verses 29 and 34 here in the gospel of Mark next week. And we will read it throughout this gospel, that Jesus has authority over sickness and disease. People were bringing those who were lame, those who were sick, those who were dying, they would bring them to Jesus and he would heal them. And by doing that, he demonstrated his authority. And Jesus also has authority over this natural world. He demonstrated and displayed this by his first miracle at a wedding in Cana when he turned water into wine. We read about that in John 2. He demonstrated and displayed this, his authority over the natural world to Simon and Andrew and James and John when he called them to be his disciples. Mark doesn't record it here, but Luke does in his account of his calling his first disciples in Luke chapter five, verse one through 11. We know and recall the account when Simon and Andrew and James and John had been on their boats, had been out onto the water in their boats all day and all night fishing and had caught nothing. Jesus gets into one of the boats and begins to teach. And after he was done teaching, he turned to Simon and said, throw your net over there. And Simon said, we've been fishing all day and night and have caught nothing. But upon your command, I will do that. And we know that they brought in so many fish that it began to sink their boats. And it was upon that that Jesus said, follow me. He demonstrated and displayed his authority even over the fish of the sea. He also demonstrated and displayed his authority over the natural world in Mark 4 when he rebuked the wind and said to the sea, peace be still. and the wind ceased and there was a great calm. And also Jesus has authority to forgive sins. In Mark chapter two, Jesus said to a paralyzed man, son, your sins are forgiven. And the scribes who were there that day were questioning in their hearts and accusing Jesus of blaspheming God. They were saying within themselves, who can forgive sins but God alone? And Jesus knew what they were thinking. They knew what they were accusing Him of. So He said to them, why do you question these things in your hearts? Which is easier to say to the paralytic, your sins are forgiven or to say, rise, take up your bed and walk. But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. He said to the paralytic, rise, take up your bed and go home. And he arose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all. You see, Jesus demonstrated and displayed his authority to forgive sins. And only God can forgive sin. Now just let us pause here for just a moment on this amazing authority of Jesus. Are there any sinners here this morning? Let me be the first to raise my hand. If you are a sinner, even the worst of sinners, this is your great hope, that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, has the authority to forgive you of your sins. And when Jesus tells you that your sins are forgiven, they are forgiven. And how sweet this is. It's the central point, it's the center of the gospel promise, the forgiveness of your sins. And only Jesus has that authority. Jesus also has authority over life and death. In John 5, verse 21, Jesus says, for as the father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the son gives life to whom he will. In John 17, verses one through three, in what is called his high priestly prayer, Jesus lifted up his eyes to heaven and said, father, the hour has come. Glorify your son that the son may glorify you since you have given him authority over all flesh to give eternal life to all whom you have given him. Jesus has authority over life and death. Only Jesus had the authority to stand in front of the tomb of Lazarus after four days and command him to come out and life came into him and he came out. Jesus had authority even over his own life and death as we read about last week in John chapter 10. Jesus says, no one takes my life from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, he says, and I have authority to take it up again. Jesus has the authority over life and death. Jesus also has authority to execute judgment. Again, in John chapter five, Verses 22 and then again, 25 through 29. Jesus says, the father judges no one, but has given all judgment to the son. He has given him authority to execute judgment because he is the son of man. Do not marvel at this, Jesus says, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear the voice and come out. those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment. This is the kind of authority that Jesus has. And so what is the extent of his authority? Well, at the end of Matthew's gospel, the resurrected Christ tells us, As we read this morning in our responsive reading, Jesus says in Matthew 28, 18, all authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. There are no exceptions found in that word all. Everything, there is nothing that he does not have authority over. The Apostle Paul put it this way in Ephesians chapter one, verses 20 through 22. God raised Christ from the dead and seated him in his right hand in the heavenly places. far above all rule and authority and power and dominion and above every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in the one to come. And he has put all things under his feet and gave him as head over all things to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all. All authority belongs to Jesus Christ. He is infinitely above every other name that can be named, and He is infinitely above every other authority there is, or there ever has been, or there ever will be. This is the authority of Jesus Christ. Jesus's authority is God's authority because he is God, the Son of God and the Son of Man. God the Father gave him the authority to act in his behalf in this world. And Jesus said this over and over again. He said in John's gospel at least three or four times, I do what the father shows me to do. My father is working and I am working. The son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the father doing. For whatever the father does, the son does likewise. So by the father's permission and the father's will, Jesus sought no earthly approval, He sought no earthly accreditation, he sought no earthly credentials, and he needed no earthly authority. He did what he wanted, he said what he wanted, and he acted as he wanted because he has the authority to do so. This is what he claimed. And this is what he demonstrated and displayed throughout his entire ministry. And because of that, he pitted himself against the authority of men. All through his ministry, he was in conflict with the existing authorities because his kingdom is not of this world. And the religious authorities of his day could not allow him to do this. They constantly confronted him and they were constantly trying to stop him, hoping even to coerce him to bow to their authority. They were constantly asking him, by what authority do you do these things? And who gave you this authority? By these things, they meant his teaching and his preaching, but more than that, they meant everything he did, his miracles, his casting out of demons, his healing the sick and the diseased, his forgiving of sins, his raising people from the dead, everything he did, they said, Who gave you this authority? This was the question they asked Jesus in John 2, 18, the first time he cleansed the temple. And in Mark 11, verse 27, as also recorded in Matthew 21, 23, this was the question they asked him when he cleansed the temple again the day after his triumphal entry. They said, who gave you the right to do this? Where did you get the authority to do this? In other words, who do you think you are? But Jesus was his own authority because all authority had been given to him And he never needed authorization from men to do anything he did or to say anything he said. He never consulted the Sanhedrin. He never asked their approval for anything he said or did. And because of this, they were seeking a way to destroy him. So Jesus pitted himself against the authority system of this world in a very dramatic way. And as we know, it came to a head, to a very severe conflict that ultimately led to his death on the cross. The ultimate reason why Jesus was crucified is because of his claim and his demonstration of the authority of God. You see, this was the issue that religious leaders had with Jesus Christ. It was the issue of his authority. And this is the same issue that people throughout history to this very day have with Jesus. It is the issue of his authority. From the very beginning of his ministry, as Mark records it, to this very day, the issue and the problem that many people have with Jesus is his authority over them. When the people of Jesus' day questioned and challenged and rebelled against His authority and killed Him because of it, they highlighted the same issue that confronts all who consider the claims of Christ. The reach and the extent of Jesus' authority is worldwide and includes every aspect of every person's life. There is a global antagonism towards and a rebellion against the authority of Jesus Christ. We read Psalm 2 this morning, and do you remember how that Psalm begins? It begins with a question. Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and his anointed saying, let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us. In other words, they say, I will not have this man rule over me. So the psalmist here speaks of this global antagonism towards and rebelling against the Lord's anointed. And the Lord's anointed is the Lord Jesus Christ. In Acts chapter four, verse 25 and 26, when the church in Jerusalem, just after Pentecost, was praying for Peter and John after they were threatened by the Sanhedrin, they quoted Psalm 2, verses one through three. And they said, this city, along with Herod and Pontius Pilate and the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, they are all gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed. You cannot explain or understand world history apart from this global antagonism towards and rebellion against the authority of Jesus Christ. All of the conflicts and all of the problems internationally are directly related to this. The nations rage. in the people's plot against the authority of Jesus Christ. This is the explanation of world history. And the same is true here in America. In the pantheon of contemporary gods, in the syncristic culture in which we live, in the pluralism which has swept over us in the last 50 years or so. It is okay for us to give Jesus a place, but not the place. The inherent notion is that if there is any authority spiritually and morally, it must be a shared authority. The inherent notion is this. There is no one person who can stand up and say, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes unto the Father but by me. There is no one person who can stand up and say, All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. But when we read the New Testament, we discover that this is exactly what Jesus said. You see, the problem in this world and the problem in America today is rebellion against Christ's authority. Internationally, it is so. And nationally, it is so. And personally, with each one of us, it is so. You see, the issue for each of us in relationship to Jesus is ultimately an authority issue. And until we bow to the authority of Jesus Christ, acknowledging His Lordship over our lives, our time, our talents, our treasures, our everything, then we will never know Him as our Lord and Savior. We will never enter into His kingdom and be His disciple. Here then is the question. that our text presents to us. Is Jesus's authority a problem with you? Do you rebel against his rightful authority over your life? If you say in your heart, I will not have Jesus rule over me, then you will never enter into his kingdom and you will never be his disciple. You see, this is the essential truth about Jesus, that all who are his disciples know and embrace his lordship. All authority on heaven and earth has been given to Jesus. And this includes his authority over your life. He doesn't abrogate his authority, nor does he share his authority with anyone. So in closing, the question and the challenge today is very simple. Have you bowed to the rightful authority of Jesus Christ? We have been sold a lie in our culture that we can somehow live our lives free from any authority except our own, especially that we can live completely free from the authority of Jesus Christ. We have been told that we don't need to serve anyone except ourselves. Please do not be deceived into thinking this way. Because you will and you are serving someone. You're serving yourself or you're serving Satan. There are no options. So can I commend Jesus to you as a king? Can I say, submit to His authority and serve Him because His yoke is easy, His burden is light, and His laws are righteous and everything He commands is good and upright and holy. Can I commend to the authority of Jesus, the Son of God. The Bible says that someday He will sit on His throne and will reign over all things. And He will judge on judgment day. And all nations will be gathered before Him. And everyone who gladly by faith submitted to His authority on earth, He will say to them, come into the kingdom prepared for you for the rest of your happy existence for eternity. But for those that thought to throw off his authority, that thought they would rule their own lives, their lot is eternal condemnation in hell. Jesus has the authority to judge and Jesus has the authority over life and death. So therefore this morning, I urge you, Come under the authority of the king of the kingdom. Come into the kingdom. Enter that kingdom through the narrow gate. Repent of your sins and believe in the gospel. And you will receive the forgiveness of your sins because only Jesus has the authority to forgive you of your sins. And follow him and submit humbly to his rule and give your life to Him. If you've already done that, then I praise God for you. I thank God for you. I praise God that you've already come under the authority of the kingdom of Jesus Christ. But I still want to challenge you this morning on this very issue of His authority. I think we know enough in this church to know that we cannot separate Jesus as Savior and Jesus as Lord. He is both Lord and Savior. One commentator said, did you know that Jesus isn't schizophrenic or bipolar? Were you aware of that? He actually is both Savior and Lord all the time. So all of us need to live every moment of every day in submission to Jesus Christ. If you are one of his disciples, you know this and you embrace this. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, again, we thank you for your word. Thank you, Father, for this text that you gave to us today for our consideration, for our study, even more than our consideration. for our submission to and our obedience to. And Father, by nature, we do rebel against the authority of Jesus Christ. But Father, we need grace to humble us. We need grace to break our prideful spirit We need grace to turn from ourselves and our self-rule and turn humbly and repentantly to Christ and submit to his rule. Father, we ask for your grace to enable us all to do that today and tomorrow and every day. We pray this in Jesus' name, amen.