“Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
Passing alongside the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew the brother of Simon casting a net into the sea, for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you become fishers of men.” And immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee and John his brother, who were in their boat mending the nets. And immediately he called them, and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired servants and followed him.
And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he 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.”
What does it mean to have authority?
When Jesus begins His public ministry, He doesn’t start with a long explanation. He makes an announcement:
“The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”
That sentence carries a sense of urgency. Something has changed. What God had promised is no longer distant or future. It has arrived.
When Jesus speaks about the kingdom of God, He is not talking about a place you can locate on a map. He is talking about God actively ruling—God stepping in to act, to restore, to reclaim what is broken. And in this moment, that kingdom is present because Jesus Himself has come.
So the call to repent and believe is not simply moral advice. It is a response to reality. If God is drawing near, then turning away from sin and trusting Him is the only thing that makes sense.
We see that same authority when Jesus calls His first disciples.
Simon and Andrew are at work when Jesus tells them to follow Him. Mark doesn’t slow down to explain their thought process. He simply tells us that they leave their nets and go. The same happens with James and John.
That may feel abrupt to us, but it highlights something important. Jesus does not present Himself as one option among many. He calls, and His call carries weight. Following Him is not an add-on to life as it already is. It reshapes everything.
That authority becomes even clearer in the synagogue.
As Jesus teaches, people notice immediately that something is different. He is not relying on the authority of other teachers. He speaks as if He Himself stands behind what He says.
Then a man with an unclean spirit interrupts, and suddenly the question of authority is no longer theoretical. The spirit recognizes Jesus before the crowd fully does. With a simple command, Jesus silences it and drives it out.
There is no struggle. No uncertainty. What He says happens.
The people are left asking,
“What is this? A new teaching with authority!”
That question sits at the center of this passage, and really at the center of the whole Gospel: Who is Jesus?
He is not only someone who teaches about God. He speaks and acts with God’s authority, because He is God. His words do not just inform—they accomplish something. They confront what is broken and begin to set it right.
That is still true today.
When Jesus speaks, He is not offering suggestions for improvement. He is announcing what God is doing and calling us into it. His Word still carries authority—to expose, to forgive, and to restore.
Let’s pray…
Lord Jesus,
You have brought Your kingdom near and called me to follow You. Help me to trust Your Word and to recognize Your authority in my life. Lead me to turn from what is broken and to believe the good news You have come to bring. May Your authority not only guide how I live, but assure me of my salvation because You have the authority to declare me right before God.
Amen.
As part of your devotion time, I encourage you to also pray for at least some of the following:
After praying for these people, you may want to finish your devotion time with the Lord’s Prayer…
Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. They will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread and forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass against us. Lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil. For Thine is the kingdom and the power, and the glory, forever and every. Amen.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Kurt
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