Authority over Death Itself

Mark 5:35–42
35 While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” 36 But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” 37 And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. 38 They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. 39 And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” 40 And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. 41 Taking her by the hand, he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” 42 And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.

Death is the great equalizer. No one escapes it.

As a child, death terrified me. To this day, it still does. I don’t want to die (is that too honest to admit?). I wish I were like Paul, who penned, “For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” I still have growth needed in my understanding of how great heaven will be (especially compared to this broken world I love).

Death scares most of us.

In Jesus, we trust in the One who has authority over death. In Mark 5, we see Jesus give us a glimpse of this power as He raises a 12-year-old girl from the dead. I believe this was shown so that we already had a taste of the resurrection power that was to come on the third day.

Unless Christ returns first, death awaits us all.

Yet, death is not final. Just as Jesus was raised from the dead, just as Jesus raised this daughter and His friend Lazarus, Jesus will raise us—not to dwell again bodily on this broken earth, but to dwell with Him in the New Heavens and New Earth where all is made right.

What does this mean for us? It means that the final enemy that seemingly defeats all is actually defeated by the resurrection power of Jesus. As Paul writes to the Corinthians, “O Death, where is your sting?” The power of death has been swallowed up by the resurrection power of our God.

Death is scary. I want to live to see my son grow old. I want to experience things on this earth. I want to enjoy this life as much as possible. I want my life to be used to point others to this hope I have found. And yet, I know I will die. But I also have full confidence that death is not final. There is hope beyond the grave for those in Christ Jesus. So while death is scary, it is not ultimate.

May this morbid truth encourage you today!

Authority over Scarcity and Limitations

Mark 6:42–44
42 And they all ate and were satisfied. 43 And they took up twelve baskets full of broken pieces and of the fish. 44 And those who ate the loaves were five thousand men.

Our verses today come from Jesus’ miracle of feeding the 5,000 with 5 loaves and 2 fish. Today, I want you to focus on v. 43—twelve full baskets of leftovers. One for each disciple to grab, hold, and experience.

Just an hour before, the disciples were urging Jesus to dismiss the crowd because it was late and everyone was hungry. They were in a desolate place, so food was not readily available, and even if it was, they did not have the money to cover the catering costs of that many mouths to feed.

It was a moment of scarcity. How are we going to cover this need? There is no way that we have enough to fulfill all the obligations that exist.

Have you ever been there? With more month than money? More bills than reserves? More burdens than blessings to cover it? Not enough time to do all the tasks?

In this moment of scarcity, Jesus steps in with abundance. Not only are all fed, but leftovers exist.

Our God is the God of All. There is nothing that He cannot do, and yet how much time and energy have you spent fretting over what you lack? How much time have you spent fretting over what you lack instead of bringing it to God in prayer?

I do not write this with a promise that God will miraculously multiply your checking account each time it gets low. However, I am writing for you to look to God in times of scarcity and need, for as He cares for the birds of the air, He will care for you.

In the times I have lived in legitimate scarcity, what I have also learned is that I am living in legitimate dependence upon God.

When you feel that anxiety of absence coming upon you, I invite you to take a step of faith and pray for God to give you peace and answers to this real problem.

Authority over Nature and Fear

Mark 4:35–41
35 On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, “Let us go across to the other side.” 36 And leaving the crowd, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. And other boats were with him. 37 And a great windstorm arose, and the waves were breaking into the boat, so that the boat was already filling. 38 But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion. And they woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” 39 And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. 40 He said to them, “Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?” 41 And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”

Jesus actually fixes two problems in this story. Go back and try to spot them.

Jesus both calms the wind and calms the nerves of his friends. This is our God, the one who commands the world and has command over even our inner thoughts.

On the boat that night, the disciples were terrified—experienced fishermen scared for their lives. This was a major storm. Yet, it was not too big for Jesus.

Over the course of our lives, we will experience major storms that will challenge our trust and, I hope, push us to faith.

However, we will experience many minor storms each week. These fears creep in after a conversation we had at work, when guilt overtakes us, when worst-case scenarios repeat in our minds, and when we question our identity and worth. These storms arise out of nowhere, it seems, and yet can ruin our day and week.

Will you look to the One who has Ultimate Authority in these storms of life as well? Will you “cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7)? Or will you keep allowing those daily fears and worries to rule your heart? Will you keep trying to overcome these mental anguishes alone?

Jesus has displayed His authority over the major issues of life as well as the hidden issues of the heart. Will you trust Him to have authority in your life?

Authority over Physical Struggles

Mark 1:40–41
40 And a leper came to him, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

Jesus has authority to heal. Plain and simple. The leper knew it. The bleeding woman knew it. The blind, deaf, and paralyzed knew it.

Do you believe Jesus can?

The leper questions not Jesus’ ability but his willingness. In our world, where science, technology, and years of accumulated understanding exist, we are tempted to think only in the natural—what we have seen, heard, or experienced.

Can we really believe that Jesus can restore, remedy, and heal?
Not just in theory or in church, but that in real life with YOUR diagnosis, procedure, and pain!

Let’s be specific. We should pray about that chronic illness. We should pray about that procedure coming up. We should pray about a diagnosis that is discouraging. Pray and believe that God can. Pray and ask God that He will.

This is not guaranteed, as many still battle cancer, sickness, and chronic disease. This is not a result of lack of faith or failure to pray. All prayers, as Jesus instructed, ask that God’s will be done while still making our requests known!

As I consider the leper, I see faith. Faith in Jesus. Faith that can move mountains. Faith that makes all things possible.

Today, I invite you to ask the question I am asking myself: Do I believe that God can? Do I pray with faith or simply hopes and wishes? Am I confident in God’s abilities, or do I worship a limited deity?

Authority over Spiritual Battles

Mark 1:23–26
23 And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, 24 “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.” 25 But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” 26 And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.

Jesus is the Ultimate Authority. There is nothing outside His dominion.

In Mark 1, a man possessed by an unclean spirit cries out, and with a simple command, Jesus silences the demon and sets the man free. No struggle. Just authority.

We may not encounter visible demonic possession in our daily lives, but Scripture reminds us that spiritual opposition is real. There is an enemy who would love to pull our hearts away from worshiping the Creator toward lesser things.

That does not mean every hardship is demonic. Some battles are physical. Some are emotional. Some require counseling, medication, or rest. But we would be naïve to believe there is no spiritual resistance at all. The enemy will gladly use our weaknesses, wounds, and fears to isolate us from God.

So what do we do?

We do not fight alone.

We bring our doubts, our anxiety, our discouragement, and our temptations to the One who has already proven victorious.

Take a moment for honest inventory.
Where do you feel pressure?
Where do you feel condemnation?
Where do you feel pulled away from trust?

Fear and accusation are not the voice of your Shepherd.

Jesus has authority over every spiritual battle. And His authority is on your side.