The Authority of Jesus

THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS

An Exposition of Mark 1:21-28

By Pastor Brian Wilbur

Date:   October 20, 2019

Series: Mark: Knowing and Following God’s Son

Note:   Scripture quotations are from The ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard   Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

THE SCRIPTURAL TEXT

Here is the Word of God as it is written in Mark 1:21-28 –

²¹ And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²² And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. 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. ²⁷ And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee. (Mark 1:21-28)

INTRODUCTION

In Mark 1:16-20 Jesus summoned four fishermen – Simon, Andrew, James, and John – to follow Him. They heeded Jesus’ call, left their business on the sea, and began to follow Him. These four freshman disciples are now part of the “they” of verse 21: “And they” – Jesus and His four recruits – “went into Capernaum.” Capernaum was a seaside town near the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.

Galilee itself was a region in northern Palestine. That region included Jesus’ hometown of Nazareth, as you can see in verse 9: “In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee” (Mark 1:9). Subsequently Jesus left Galilee for a time, but “after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God” (Mark 1:14).

Much of Jesus’ ministry took place in Galilee. He called His first disciples as He was “[passing] alongside the Sea of Galilee” (Mark 1:16). At its farthest points, the Sea of Galilee measured 13 miles long and 7 miles across.[1] Fishing was big business on this body of water, and it featured a number of seaside towns, including Tiberias, Magdala, Gennesaret, Capernaum, Bethsaida, and Gergesa. In reference to Gennesaret, the Sea of Galilee is elsewhere called “the lake of Gennesaret” (Luke 5:1). It was beautiful country around the Sea of Galilee. 

As Jesus began His public ministry, He actually moved to Capernaum, as Matthew tells us: “And leaving Nazareth he went and lived in Capernaum by the sea” (Matthew 4:13). Simon and Andrew also lived in Capernaum, as the next passage implies: “And immediately he left the synagogue [i.e., in Capernaum] and entered the house of Simon and Andrew” (Mark 1:29).

Your interest may or may not be drawn to matters of geography, but it is good to remind ourselves of the fact that God’s Son came to earth as a true Man and truly lived among us, interacting with real people and real places in the real world. Jesus shares in our humanity and in the earthiness of our human experience.

So the first followers accompany Jesus to Capernaum and presumably they also accompany Him into the synagogue. But Mark chooses to the put the spotlight squarely on Jesus: “and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching.” (v. 21)

Jesus was a faithful Israelite: He honored His heavenly Father and highly esteemed His Word. Where would a faithful Israelite be found on the Sabbath? In the same place that a faithful Christian is found on the Lord’s Day – in the congregation of God’s people who have gathered together around the Word of God. That was the function of synagogues – to be a meeting place for God’s people to give attention to God’s Word. It was impossible for Israelites to make the trek to the temple of Jerusalem every single week. Thus the significance of the local synagogue: come and hear the Word of the Lord!

It was Jesus’ custom to attend the synagogue, not only as a well-pleasing Son devoted to His Father’s Word, but also as a preacher and teacher who had come to proclaim His Father’s Word to the people. As Mark tells us in verse 39: “And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.” (Mark 1:39) So here in Mark 1:21-28.

JESUS HAS AUTHORITY IN TEACHING

As we move through The Gospel of Mark, we want to continually ask ourselves: ‘What is this passage telling us about Jesus?’ Remember: Jesus is the theme of the book – “The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (Mark 1:1) Mark’s great burden is to show us Jesus, and our great privilege is to see Him, so that in seeing Him we might trust Him and love Him.

There is no doubt that the authority of Jesus is the particular emphasis of Mark 1:21-28. His unique authority is manifest first of all in His teaching: “And they [i.e., the people in the synagogue] were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” (v. 22)

Poor scribes, mere men, second- and third-handers, suggesting one interpretation or another, representing one tradition or another, doing their best to spin the wheels of their intellect in order to say something clever or impressive and possibly even useful to their hearers. Poor scribes, sinful men, beclouded vision, putting on the airs of confidence, but unable to hide their own lack of command, and all the while unable to live up to their own best ideals.

Then Jesus comes onto the scene, and He is not like them. He is clothed in the power of God’s Spirit; He knows the Old Testament like the back of His hand and expounds it clearly; He is the beloved and well-pleasing Son who stands in the authority of His Father and speaks His Word with clarity and conviction; His words go forth like a double-edged sword; and what He says lands on your heart as nothing less than the voice of God. The question is: what are you going to do about it? There is no wiggle room here: you are either going to yield to His authority, or your true colors of rebellion are going to show. And if there is a demon in the room, then a showdown is inescapable.

The people have hardly had time to catch their breath, but they intuitively recognize that this Man is different, His teaching is different, His command not only of the subject matter but of their hearts is different, disconcerting, unsettling. Simply put: “they were astonished at his teaching.” (v. 22) This was astonishment with an element of fear and panic.[2] They didn’t really know what had hit them, but they had felt divine authority in His words. They didn’t yet know who Jesus was, but they knew that He wasn’t like the other teachers who had passed through.

At this point, I need to pause and call attention to the fact that Mark doesn’t yet report to us the content of Jesus’ teaching. Mark makes it very clear that Jesus’ preaching and teaching was the priority of His ministry at this point. He had come “proclaiming the gospel of God” (Mark 1:14). He had “entered the synagogue and was teaching.” (v. 21) So Mark wants us to understand that Jesus is preaching and teaching, and that He is doing so with great authority, and yet he holds back on telling us the actual content of Jesus’ teaching. But as we go along, little by little Mark will unfold the actual content of Jesus’ teaching – and we need to be paying close attention. But at this stage, all we know is that the general subject matter of Jesus’ teaching was “the gospel of God” (Mark 1:14) and “the kingdom of God” (Mark 1:15), and that as a result of God’s kingdom breaking into our broken world with profound grace, people should turn from their sin, believe in the good news, and follow Jesus (Mark 1:15, 17). But the details of Jesus’ ‘discipleship curriculum’ await us in future passages.

So what Mark is trying to show us in Mark 1:21-28 is not the content of Jesus’ teaching, but the authority behind it. Jesus “taught them as one who had authority.” (v. 22) It isn’t just that His teaching had authority, but that He had authority. Here is a teacher who has unique authority. Without batting an eyelash, He can say: “You have heard that it was said…. But I say to you” (e.g., Matthew 5:21, 27). He assumes the authority to speak on God’s behalf and interpret God’s will for humanity. He doesn’t say: ‘Thus says the Lord.’ Instead He says: ‘Truly, truly, I say unto you’ – because He is the Lord. The authority of Jesus was manifestly apparent as He taught in the synagogue, and so the people “were astonished at his teaching.” They were alarmed, overwhelmed, and on edge.[3]

JESUS HAS AUTHORITY OVER DEMONS

Because Jesus has divine authority, He wreaks havoc on an unruly world that is in rebellion against authority. He unsettles a wayward world that is upside-down on matters of authority. The presence and ministry of God’s Son destabilizes both the world of evil spirits and the world of evil men. Jesus’ conflict with the misguided religious authorities will soon come to the fore, but here in this passage we see Jesus’ conflict with an unclean spirit.

The conflict between Jesus and demons is inevitable. Jesus is God’s well-pleasing Son who ministers in the power of God’s Holy Spirit. Jesus Himself is “the Holy One of God” (v. 24) who is empowered by the Holy Spirit (see Mark 1:10, 12) and He came to baptize His people “with the Holy Spirit” (Mark 1:8). Jesus is God’s holy Son who came proclaiming the reality of God’s kingdom (Mark 1:15) – God’s reign, God’s authority – breaking into the world as good news for sinners who “repent and believe in the gospel” (Mark 1:15).

But there is a rival kingdom – a rival authority – that has captured men and fastened them in their sin. The apostle Paul calls it “the domain of darkness” (Colossians 1:13). Jesus came in order to fish for people (Mark 1:17), that is, to catch them out of this kingdom of darkness and bring them into His own kingdom of light and truth and grace. Now to only state the obvious: the powers-that-be in this kingdom of darkness and deceit are not happy about Jesus’ invasion and rescue operation. Do you understand?

These powers-that-be are called “unclean spirits” (v. 27) and “demons” (Mark 1:34, 39). An unclean spirit is totally at odds with the God’s holy Son who comes in the strength of God’s Holy Spirit. There can be no agreement between that which is holy and that which is unclean. There is no compatibility between divine authority and demonic authority: divine authority is the way things really are, and demonic authority is highhanded revolt against the God of heaven. This cosmic battle between the kingdom of God’s Son and the kingdom of darkness manifests itself on the battleground of every human being. Unclean spirits are predators who do not like to release their prey.

The initial conflict between Jesus and the powers of darkness took place in the wilderness, where Jesus was “tempted by Satan” (Mark 1:13). One commentator notes how this initial conflict sets the stage for Jesus’ ongoing conflict with Satan and Satan’s league of demons that takes place throughout The Gospel of Mark.[4] In the wilderness temptation, Jesus was tempted by the prince of darkness, and yet “the angels” – the holy angels, the angels of God – “were ministering to him.” (Mark 1:13) In that very scene we see how humanity is caught up in a cosmic battle that is far greater than what we can see with our physical eyes.[5] Will we be freed to follow Jesus out of the darkness and into the light? Or will we remain in captivity to the enemy of our souls?

So, as Jesus is teaching in the synagogue – as He represents divine authority over against all fraudulent authorities, as He displays holiness over against all that is unclean, as He speaks forth truth over against all illusion and deceit – the unclean spirit grows profoundly uncomfortable and agitated, and yet the unclean spirit cannot hide. As the light exposes the darkness, so the presence of the Holy One exposes the unclean spirit. This unclean spirit, of course, is hiding in the soul of a troubled man, but Jesus’ presence forces the unclean spirit to come out of hiding: “And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, “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.”” (v. 23-24)

It is the unclean spirit, of course, who cries out, but the unclean spirit cries out under the guise of the man. Here is a demoniac – a man who is indwelt, possessed, and controlled by a demon, by an unclean spirit. This demoniac was found, not in a graveyard, but in a synagogue; not in the midst of an occult ritual, but in the midst of a worship service.

Now being in the same room as Jesus spelled defeat for the demon, but for the demoniac being in the same room as Jesus was the best possible situation, for he was in the presence of the One person in the universe who could set him free. But that is to anticipate what happens next. In the present situation of verses 23-24, we need to appreciate the sobering reality that the demoniac was possessed by an unclean spirit who was in high rebellion against God’s authority. Unclean spirits broker in uncleanness and wickedness; they come only to steal and destroy; and they breed chaos and torment in their human hosts. So long as the man was in the demon’s grip, the man was not free, the man was not in his right mind, the man did not have the capacity for fellowship with God.

As this poor man was caught between Jesus (the authoritative teacher outside of him) and a demon (the unruly master inside of him), he would have struggled to have any sustained clarity about what was going on. But the unclean spirit knew exactly who Jesus is. The unclean spirit knew that “Jesus of Nazareth” (v. 24) was not a mere man, but was in fact “the Holy One of God” (v. 24) who had the authority to destroy every demon. After all, the unclean spirit had insight into the unseen realm of heaven: the unclean spirit was originally a clean spirit who had been created by God’s Son and, as such, knew that God’s Son was still worshiped by the holy angels. But now that this once clean spirit had switched sides and gone into league with the devil, he was utilizing his powers to oppress mankind. And now Jesus, God’s Son, clothed in God’s Spirit, armed with God’s truth, shows up on earth, and He is ready to release mankind from the powers of darkness. So the unclean spirit is agitated and afraid, and makes a scene: “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.” (v. 24) With a lot of tension in the air, you immediately realize that the stakes are high. What would Jesus do?

What Jesus did was cast out the unclean spirit from the oppressed man. (v. 25-26) And it is very important to notice how He did it: He did it by speaking. There is no elaborate technique, no magic ritual. As Ben Witherington writes, “Notice that Jesus, unlike other exorcists, uses no chants, spells, incantations in performing his exorcisms. He simply speaks a word of power and the exorcism transpires.” [6]

Up to this point, Jesus had been “[teaching] them as one who had authority.” There was authority behind His instruction; there was weight behind His words. How much weight? Weight enough to order a demon to shut up, pack his bags, and get out! Mark 1:25 says, “But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!”” The unclean spirit had no choice but to obey the authority of God’s Son: “And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him.” (v. 26) The demon made his exit kicking and screaming, but he made his exit nonetheless. With a word, the Lord Jesus Christ had pushed back the kingdom of darkness and rehumanized the afflicted man.

THE POINT OF THE PASSAGE

It is important to understand that the emphasis of Mark 1:21-28 is not the salvation of the man who had been oppressed by the demon. In fact, we do not know if the man repented of his sin and believed in the good news; we do not know if this man became a truehearted follower of Jesus. We would like to think that he did, of course, but whether he did or didn’t isn’t Mark’s concern in this passage. Instead, Mark is shining the spotlight on Jesus’ authority: there is nothing less than divine authority behind His words. When He speaks to people gathered together in a synagogue, there is divine authority behind His teaching. And when He speaks to a demon who has demonized a human being, there is divine authority behind His command. Indeed, Mark tells us that the observers in the synagogue made this connection between Jesus’ teaching and His rebuking of the unclean spirit: “And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.”” (v. 27)

Of course, they had already been “astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority” (v. 22), but now the further demonstration of that authority in the successful rebuke of a demon confirmed and heightened their sense of disconcerting amazement and disturbing alarm. What kind of authority is this? This authority that Jesus has is not a theoretical authority, not an authority owing to force of personality or brilliance in public speaking, but a tangible authority that speaks and reorders the spiritual world, a conquering authority that puts demons in their place and restores order among men. They don’t yet really know who Jesus is, but they have started down the track of discovery. They are asking a good question: “What is this?” (v. 27) What is going on here? “A new teaching with authority!” (v. 27) He’s at least a prophet, but is He more than a prophet? “He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” (v. 27) He performs mighty deeds: could He be the Messiah come to set us free? “What is this?”

Not surprisingly, the news about Jesus spread rapidly through the region. When people are awestruck, they talk about it: “And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.” (v. 28)

TWO SIGNIFICANT LESSONS FROM THIS PASSAGE

There are at least two significant takeaway lessons from this passage.

We Are In The Midst of a Cosmic Spiritual Battle

First, we must understand that we are in the midst of a cosmic spiritual battle. We must reckon with the reality of unclean spirits. The devil is not a metaphor and demons are not symbols. They are actual spirit beings who are at work in our world; they are the unclean hosts of the spiritual underworld who seek to wreak havoc on mankind.

Perhaps you have heard of a book entitled The Screwtape Letters by C. S. Lewis. It is an insightful book about the reality of temptation, but from the perspective of the demons. The Screwtape Letters are letters from a senior devil to a junior devil about how to lead human beings astray. In his introduction to the book, C. S. Lewis makes an important observation about how people often swing to extremes when it comes to their perspective on demons. One extreme is to basically be preoccupied with demons, to see a demon behind every tree, to see an unclean spirit in every nook and cranny, and to blame all bad things on the devil. Call it ‘demon hysteria’. The other extreme is to basically disbelieve in the existence of demons at all. Call it ‘demon denial’. On this view, only ignorant and unenlightened people believe in the spirit world, whereas educated western intellectuals know better. C. S. Lewis is surely correct when he says that the demonic powers “hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”[7]

For most of us, I suspect that our temptation as Christians in the American West is to disbelieve or at least downplay the role of demons in human life. But as Christians we must be Bible people. And the Bible is clear that human beings are caught up in a cosmic battle that includes demons. We must reject both ‘demon hysteria’ and ‘demon denial’ – and instead we must face reality as the Bible presents it to us. What does the Bible say? The Bible says: “Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.” (1 Peter 5:8) The Bible says: “the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.” (1 John 5:19) The Bible says: “For some [referring to professing Christians in the church] have already strayed after Satan.” (1 Timothy 5:15) The Bible says that ministers like Timothy must gently correct people who are steeped in error so that “they may escape from the snare of the devil, after being captured by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:26). The Bible says: “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” (Ephesians 6:11-12) Our warfare is not against the devil only, but against an entire satanic network of demonic forces.

As Christians, we are vulnerable to these “spiritual forces of evil,” which is why we need to be vigilant and prayerful, always walking in the Lord’s strength.

As for unbelievers, they are totally under this sway of evil. Paul teaches us that unconverted sinners “[follow] the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience.” (Ephesians 2:2) Whether or not a person is demon-possessed like the man in Mark 1:23-26, the truth of the matter is that unclean spirits are “at work in the sons of disobedience.”

Friends, are your eyes open to this spiritual reality? Do you understand that behind the chaos of disobedience is the influence of cosmic powers? Human beings are still responsible for their sin, mind you, but there is more going on than meets the physical eye. Human beings are in fact complicit in the rebellion that characterizes both unclean spirits and human sinners. And yet, there is still a very real sense in which sinners are in bondage, in captivity, in the snare of the evil one. Do you understand?    

In Chapter 1 of The Gospel of Mark, we see the two divergent paths that confront each individual. God made us for fellowship with Himself, and in remarkable grace Jesus came to restore that fellowship. He came, after all, to rescue sinners from the enemy’s grip and “baptize [them] with the Holy Spirit.” (Mark 1:8) This is one way to live – in the comfort, fellowship, and strength of the Holy Spirit. Jesus died as an atoning sacrifice for our sins and rose from the dead so that everyone who turns to Him receives the gift of the Holy Spirit.

What’s the alternative? The alternative is to remain bound in sin and thus subject to the fellowship, discomfort, and cruelty of unclean spirits. Of course, unclean spirits broker in illusion and deception, so they attempt to hide the discomfort and cruelty part, until you wake up one day and find that your sin has taken you farther than you ever imagined possible, and then you find yourself cast into the outer darkness at the final judgment.

Note well: The Holy Spirit leads Jesus’ people into actual holiness (Galatians 5:16-26), whereas unclean spirits lead unbelievers into actual and increasing uncleanness. Where there is “sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, [and] orgies” (Galatians 5:19-21; read in conjunction with Ephesians 2:1-3), you may be sure that unclean spirits are not far away. So the question for you at a very individual level is: which spirit are you of?

We all live in the midst of a cosmic spiritual battle, and each and every individual is caught up in it, one way or the other.

Jesus’ Word Carries Divine Authority to Topple The Kingdom of Darkness

The second takeaway lesson is even more important, but we needed the first lesson to set the stage for it. Within this context of a cosmic spiritual battle, here is the second and utterly key lesson: Jesus’ word carries divine authority to topple the kingdom of darkness.

If you are an unbeliever who is enveloped in spiritual darkness, you need to know that Jesus’ word carries divine authority to topple the kingdom of darkness. He can simply speak a word and put demons to flight. He can simply say “Be silent, and come out of him!” – and the demon flees and you are free. If you are confused and your spiritual vision is obscured, Jesus brings “teaching with authority” – teaching that cuts through the darkness, shines forth the light of truth, and enables you to see. Jesus is the One person in the universe who can liberate you from the power of an unclean spirit and, in its place, lavish upon you the peace of the Holy Spirit.

If you are a Christian who feels weak and vulnerable before “the cosmic powers over this present darkness” (Ephesians 6:12) – and in and of yourself you ought to feel weak and vulnerable – then you need to know that Jesus’ word carries divine authority to topple the kingdom of darkness. You don’t need spiritual gimmicks to fight the good fight of faith; you need His Word. His word of truth protects us from the deceits of the devil. His teaching equips us to encourage and support one another. His promises sustain us in the battle. And His gospel is mighty and powerful to conquer strongholds, release the captives, make disciples, and grow the church. How will we become the kind of people who display the power of the gospel “by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love,” and “truthful speech” (2 Corinthians 6:6, 7)? By following Jesus and letting His powerful word push back the darkness and transform us into people of light.

This leads to a very practical question: Are you filling your heart and home with the words of the One who has authority over the darkness? On Thursday I happened to see a punchy statement from John Piper, and it is very relevant to what we are talking about here. He said, “Satan devotes 168 hours a week trying to deceive you. Do you think you can maintain a renewed mind with a ten-minute glance at God’s book once a day?”[8] Let this question sink in.

If you are a follower of Jesus, you have a responsibility to participate in the pushing back of darkness. This is why you need to be strong in His grace and clothed in His armor. You need to push back the darkness out of your own life. You need to push back the darkness out of your home. And you need to bring His light to a chaotic and convulsing world. Of course, you cannot do any of this in your own strength. The Lord Jesus Christ is the One who shines the light and dispels the night. But you are called to participate in His mission! Which means you need to be immersed in Him and His Word. So, do you think that a quick “ten-minute glance” at the word of the Lord is sufficient for you to carry out your assigned mission? Do you think that a steady diet of ‘spiritual fast food’ will nourish you into a fruitful disciple?

Brothers and sisters: “[Jesus] commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” His word carries divine authority to topple the kingdom of darkness. Abide in Him, and His words in you (John 15:7).

The hymn puts it this way:

“And though this world, with devils filled,

Should threaten to undo us,

We will not fear, for God hath willed

His truth to triumph through us.

The prince of darkness grim,

We tremble not for him–

His rage we can endure,

For low, his doom is sure:

One little word shall fell him.”[9]

Therefore, my brothers and sisters, let us hold fast to the abiding and all-powerful word of our Lord Jesus Christ – that His kingdom might come, and that His fame might spread.

Let us pray.

ENDNOTES

[1] James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark (The Pillar New Testament Commentary). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002: p. 48.

[2] William L. Lane, The Gospel of Mark (The New International Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974: p. 72.

[3] Ibid.

[4] Ibid., p. 60-61.

[5] I have been listening to D. A. Carson’s lectures on The Book of Revelation, in which he makes this very same point in his comments on Revelation 1:12-20. Available through The Gospel Coalition’s online Resource Library: http://resources.thegospelcoalition.org.

[6] Ben Witherington III, The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001: p. 93 (see also p. 91-92).

[7] C. S. Lewis, The Screwtape Letters. New York: Simon & Schuster (A Touchstone Book), 1996: p. 15.

[8] John Piper, published October 14, 2019 by Desiring God on Twitter.

[9] From the hymn “A Mighty Fortress Is Our God.”

BIBLIOGRAPHY

Victor Babajide Cole, “Mark.” In Africa Bible Commentary: A One-Volume Commentary Written by 70 African Scholars. Tokunboh Adeyemo, General Editor. Grand Rapids: Zondervan, 2006.

James R. Edwards, The Gospel according to Mark (The Pillar New Testament Commentary). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2002.

William L. Lane, The Gospel of Mark (The New International Commentary on the New Testament). Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 1974.

Eckhard J. Schnabel, Mark (Tyndale New Testament Commentaries Vol. 2). Downers Grove: IVP Academic, 2017.

Ben Witherington III, The Gospel of Mark: A Socio-Rhetorical Commentary. Grand Rapids: Eerdmans, 2001.