WordLive - Year OneSample

Prepare: What does the word ‘authority’ mean to you?

Exercising authority
Living among the dead (vs 2,5), he was as good as dead. Alone, wretched and in need of a Saviour, the demonised man who had overpowered all previous contenders knelt meekly at Jesus’ feet (v 6). Able to break apart chains and irons, the demons in this man begged Jesus not to torture them (v 7).

All Jesus had done to cause such submission was show up – there had been no televangelist grandstanding, no overt display of force. Jesus’ authority was unchallengeable. Jesus’ authority hasn’t lessened one bit from then until now. In what situations in your life do you need to exercise the authority that he has given you as a Christian (Matthew 28:18,19)?

Supernatural
Jesus’ command is obeyed, with the visible demonstration that pigs can’t fly or swim (vs 11–13). What do you think made the townspeople plead with Jesus to leave (v 17)? The loss of income caused by the herd going to a watery grave?

Or was it the supernatural nature of the total authority Jesus demonstrated in transforming a man that ten cities’ full of people had been unable to overcome or help?

Respond: This passage gives us a glimpse of Jesus’ authority and power, yet many Christians today act as if their faith is simply a private or even an intellectual pursuit. How do Jesus’ actions challenge you in your life?

http://www.wordlive.org/Session/Classic/2012-06-18