Emphasis Preaching Journal

When people listened to Jesus speak, they recognized an inherent authority in his words: "He speaks with authority" (Mark 1:27). This authority of Christ rested on three factors. First, Christ was a man under authority. He was submissive to the authority of God. For instance, Christ said to the Jewish authorities in the temple treasury: "I do nothing on my own authority, but in all that I say, I have been taught by my Father ... for I always do what is acceptable to him" (John 8:28-29). Second, Christ saw that real authority came from serving people.