As Jesus passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax booth, and he said to him, ‘Follow me.’ And he rose and followed him” (Mark 2:14, ESV).

In these words, the Gospel of Mark shows us Jesus Christ speaking with authority. Mark often demonstrates to us the impact of Jesus’ words by using the words “straight away” and “immediately” in connection with his words, or, as is the case in our text above, recording the immediate action that followed Jesus’ words. This response to the words of Jesus is so different from the response to our own words that we may fail to recognize the significance unless God inspires someone like Mark to point it out to us in his Gospel. Why are the words of Jesus so different from our words?

The answer is given to us in the account of the baptism of Jesus recorded in Mark 1:9-11. Mark tells us that the Spirit of God descended upon Jesus and the Father’s voice spoke from heaven declaring him to be the well-pleasing Son of God. Also, in Mark 9:7, we read that at the Transfiguration “a voice came from the cloud: ‘This is my Son, whom I love. Listen to him!’” Jesus, the Son of God, speaks with the authority of the Almighty Triune God.

Have you ever thought of the fact that the word “authority” has contained within it the word “author”? Both words have the same root in Latin which means “to create or grow.” Isn’t it interesting that when we say that Jesus speaks with authority, we are also saying that he speaks as the creator? In Colossians 1:16, Paul makes it clear that Jesus is the creator of everything when he writes that “all things were created by him [Jesus] and for him.” And in Psalm 33:6, we see that “by the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” By his words, Jesus breathed the stars into existence!  Now that’s AUTHORITY!

When Jesus speaks, creation happens. When he called Levi, his words created the capacity in Levi to respond to the call. Should it be a surprise to us that when he calls us, he also creates faith and new life in us so that we are able to follow him? After all, his words create!

Just as Jesus called Levi with the word of authority to follow him, today he is calling us to follow him by trusting him, living in the freedom of the gospel, loving each other as he loves us, and giving ourselves and our resources to serve our neighbor. Just as he gave himself for us, he is calling us to be like him in every way and, by his Spirit through his Word, he creates in us the desire and ability to follow him.

May he re-create himself in us by his Word every moment of every day so that he would be glorified as the ultimate authority by whom and for whom all things are created!

(Contributions received as of November 30th, 2011 - Fiscal year ends April 30th, 2012)

CLB Mission Statement: In response to God’s person and grace, we worship him with everything we are in Christ, serve one another in Christian love and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ will all people. 

CLB Vision Statement: We see God stirring in our church a fresh passion to reach beyond our own comfort to all people among whom God places us. We embrace God’s mission to bring the life changing Gospel to unreached people in Asia and Africa, and we sense God convicting us to more intentionally reach out to people who live in our midst in North America as well. 

Family Matters: We ask that you prayerfully consider partnering with us as we seek, with God’s help, to proclaim the good news we have been given to the ends of the earth.

By Roy Heggland

Roy Heggland serves the CLB as Associate for Biblical Stewardship.

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