Mark – God is On Our Side!

Who has the ultimate, final word in our own lives? Think about it.
Religious leaders are angrily asking Jesus “By what authority are you doing all these things?” The key to their anger is steeped in fear of losing their own human power over God’s people whom they have abused and manipulated with overbearing, man-made rules and regulations. The leaders, like the fallen angel, Satan, want to BE God. God, through Jesus, shows them the foolishness of who they are and what they are doing.
By whose authority, indeed…
HOLY PAUSE
Wait, when I go my own way, am I, too, defying the authority of God?
Mark 11, NLT
The Authority of Jesus Challenged

29 “I’ll tell you by what authority I do these things if you answer one question,” Jesus replied. 30 “Did John’s authority to baptize come from heaven, or was it merely human? Answer me!”
31 They talked it over among themselves. “If we say it was from heaven, he will ask why we didn’t believe John. 32 But do we dare say it was merely human?” For they were afraid of what the people would do, because everyone believed that John was a prophet. 33 So they finally replied, “We don’t know.”
And Jesus responded, “Then I won’t tell you by what authority I do these things.”
GOING DEEPER…
The Servant-Prophet
In the days that followed, the representatives of the religious and political establishment descended on Jesus as He ministered in the temple, trying their best to trip Him up with their questions. He answered four questions, and then He asked them a question that silenced them for good.

Don’t think for a second that Jesus does not know our hearts!


PAUSE…

What do I fear I will lose?
What if I let go of the supposed power and control I think I have?
What if I just let go…
Dear Heavenly Father, Lord and Savior,
I repent of hanging onto what I think I can control. You are God and I am not. You have complete power and authority over all because You created all. So who am I to question? How foolish. May all I am and do today be as a result of complete trust and faith in You with a mind that is ready to obey quickly. Lead and I will follow. I’m listening, Lord, ready to serve.
In Jesus Name, Amen
Trust and obey
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus
But to trust and obey…
When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Not a shadow can rise, not a cloud in the skies,
But His smile quickly drives it away;
Not a doubt or a fear, not a sigh or a tear,
Can abide while we trust and obey.
Then in fellowship sweet we will sit at His feet.
Or we’ll walk by His side in the way.
What He says we will do, where He sends we will go;
Never fear, only trust and obey.