With Certain Authority

“They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.” (Mark 1:22)

What is the authority that Jesus offers in this situation? And not just in this situation—what is the authority that Mark is attributing to Jesus right at the beginning of his ministry? Because this passage is certainly about Jesus’ authority. The story of Jesus exorcising the unclean spirit is bracketed by observations about precisely that—Jesus’ authority.

They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22)

They were all amazed, and they kept on asking one another, "What is this? A new teaching--with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him." (Mark 1:27)

What was this authority?

My friend and I have a set of code words for the kind of authority that often engages contemporary Australian society. We call it the “brash young man syndrome”. It’s an authority that is often given to extrovert young men (and not so young men) who offer opinions with confidence. Sorry guys, it is predominantly males because most women who behave in the same way are treated quite differently. These certain men have very charismatic presences; and attract the loyalty of people who are seeking certainty, seeking reassurance, seeking the confidence that they need to face a difficult and messy world. We’re very prone to the syndrome in the church. We will often pick out “brash young men” over quiet ones or talented young women as potential leaders. We will see them as our great hope—the ones who will make everything different; the ones who will make us super-successful; the ones who will turn everything around and make everything right. The authority of the “brash young men” is a mesmerising authority—it is one that captures and captivates, dominates and manipulates. It is not one that frees and empowers. I do not believe that it was Jesus’ kind of authority.

Jesus’ authority is not a mesmerising authority that takes people in. It is not an authority that offers quick and easy solutions; or one that is content to deliver pronouncements without every putting anything of himself on the line. It is a recognisable authority; but is not a recognisable authority that ensures loyalty or commitment. It is just as likely to attract opposition and condemnation as it is to receive honours and accolades. It is a certain authority; and an authority of a certain kind.

This authority is a liberating authority, a freeing authority—a power that does dominate or seduce; one that opens up, empowers and sets free.

Liberation is the essence of the story of the exorcism of the unclean spirit by Jesus—liberation of a person; liberation of a spirit; and liberation of a synagogue; a personal liberation; a spiritual liberation; and a systemic liberation. This authority is an extensive one indeed—extensive and comprehensive; and it shows. This is a demonstration of certain authority and authority of a certain kind.

Theologian Walter Wink observes that the “language of power [and authority] pervades the whole New Testament” (Naming the Powers, p. 99). There is a cosmic struggle going on and Jesus is at the centre of it. Jesus’ certain authority and authority of a certain kind is an immense challenge to the authority of domination and manipulation. It is an authority that liberates, and liberates across the whole gamut of created life. Jesus’ authority liberates spiritually and personally, politically and systemically. It exposes the misuse and abuse in the powers and persons and systems of our world, and invites all of them, including us, to choose life.

For Wink,

despite its sober exposé of the Domination System, the New Testament is … free of gloom or quailing before the Powers! From beginning to end, there is only the note of victory [of a certain authority]—a victory in the unknown and open future, for the whole human race and the universe, and victory even now [the present moment], in the midst of struggle. There is an absolute and unshakeable confidence that the System of Domination has an end… (Engaging the Powers, p. 319)

Surely, this is the certain authority of Jesus’ teaching!

Jesus’ confidence that even socially conditioned and bewildered people can act freely to choose God’s reign is a consequence of God’s reign actually having drawn near in Jesus’ own acts and words. He brings a counterreality that makes choice possible, exorcises the old conditioning, and holds out to us a new world waiting to be claimed by us. And we can begin living that new reality now… (Engaging the Powers, p. 319)

Faith does not wait for God’s sovereignty to be established on earth; it behaves as if that sovereignty already holds sway… Like God in the creation, faith calls into being what does not yet exist, and races ahead to form something new that never was before. (pp. 323-324).

Jesus’ certain authority empowers us to act with authority of a certain kind as if the reign of God is fully present, as if all Creation is fully liberated, as if the dominating spiritual and personal and systemic powers do not and cannot hold any sway in our lives. It empowers us to act as the fully redeemed, fully free people of God.

… what we can become is much more wonderful than we ever imagined. The obstacle between us and god is not what is imperfect in us—the fragility, the truculence, the dithering lust and outbursts of rage [the seeming madness] (God can deal with all that)—but … [we believe] that we are unworthy of being loved, incapable of [real] greatness, people of little value, [little] power, [little authority] (Engaging the Powers, p. 319).

Jesus invites us to claim with confidence his authority—the authority that frees and liberates… everything—not just persons, but spiritual powers, not just spiritual powers, but systems and structures. And we can only do that by fully accepting and acting out of the liberating freedom that is offered to us.

"What is this? A new teaching--with authority!” Yes, and it is for us a people in need of liberation, a people hoping for reconciliation with God, a people wanting the power and authority that operates in our world to be freed itself—freed from domination and manipulation—freed for empowerment and liberation of everything and everyone for God’s purpose—relationship with God and with each other.