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Posts Tagged ‘authority’
Lord even of the Sabbath
Sunday, March 9th, 2008In our passage for today, Jesus’ authority is again being questioned, this time with regards to the Sabbath. Our passage for today has two different scenes in it, both with opposition against Jesus, and both dealing with the question of his authority concerning the Sabbath. The question that is being raised is, “Who has authority to interpret God’s law on what is permissible to do on the Sabbath?” Who has authority to declare God’s purpose and intentions of the Sabbath? Is it the Pharisees with all their man-made laws which they had erected around the Sabbath? No! Mark shows us that Jesus is the authority even on the Sabbath.
Passage: Mark 2:23-3:6
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 03/09/2008 in Novato, CA.
Other Scripture Readings: 1 Sam 21:1-9; Revelation 7:9-17
Power on Earth to Forgive Sins
Sunday, February 24th, 2008Passage: Mark 2:1-12
Author: Rev. W. Reid Hankins, M.Div.
Sermon originally preached during the Morning Service at Trinity Presbyterian Church (OPC) on 02/24/2008 in Novato, CA.
Other Scripture Readings: Psalm 103; Isaiah 53; Romans 3:9-26
In our passage for today, Jesus makes a rather bold claim. He claims that he has the power on earth to forgive sins. When Jesus declared that the paralytic’s sins were forgiven, he caught everyone’s attention. Some responded with faith to Jesus’ claim, but many with doubt and skepticism. Such a bold claim, dare I even say, an outrageous claim, demanded some sort of proof. If true, it would suggest that Jesus came with the very authority and power of God himself. And our passage beautifully shows how Christ’s claim was vindicated, verified through his miraculous healing of the paralytic.