While theories swirled about the identity of Jesus, Mark shows us His identity – The Shepherd of Israel. Jesus is the Good Shepherd (unlike Herod) who leads His people in the wilderness to green pastures and feeds them until they are satisfied. He alone provides the rest we need, always generous so that we lack no good thing.

The word had gotten out. As the disciples went about preaching repentance and making much of Jesus, His name had become even more known. So much so that even King Herod Antipas had heard about what was going on. He was haunted by this message of repentance that Jesus and the disciples preached. It was a message he had heard before. A message that had kept him up at night, but a message he failed to embrace. Will you embrace it or be haunted by it?

Jesus has power over creation, demons, disease and death, but still faces the rejection of those closest to him. Headed home to Nazareth, he is not welcomed with a hero’s parade, rather his lineage is questioned, his authority and wisdom dismissed, and unbelief runs as high as any time up to this point in ministry. He knows what rejection feels like, and the disciples soon will too.

Jesus doesn’t play favorites. He came to save sinners – young and old, rich and poor, marginalized and influential. From the woman suffering for twelve years to the twelve-year-old girl who had died. In coming to individuals, He always calls them away from fear and into faith. Our fears may keep us from bothering Jesus, but faith will lead us into real life and intimacy with Jesus.

Paul exhorts believers to live their lives sacrificially onto God in response to the merciful blessings they have received from Him. He encourages them to live a life of holiness in response to God's manifold blessings in their lives. He admonishes followers of Christ to refuse to live according to the philosophies of the world which are governed by Satan. Instead, he directs those of the faith to have their minds transformed by the word of God so they'll be able to discern the will of God.

King Jesus has power! He has demonstrated His decisive authority over creation, over the enemy kingdom, and now we will see His power over disease and death. Always the master teacher, Jesus never just coldly communicates His authority, but teaches real lessons of faith to real people in need. Come and meet Jesus as He brings healing to an unclean woman in need … a healing even deeper than she knew she needed!

The accounts like we studied last week in Mark 5:1-20 where Jesus demonstrates His authority over the enemy kingdom raise numerous questions that we want to understand. The subject of Satan and demons is one that needs to be handled clearly, Biblically, and practically. We have no reason to fear the power of the enemy, but we have every reason to seek Biblical clarity, so we unmask the schemes of Satan as we stand firm in truth for the glory of the King.

Jesus had powerfully demonstrated His authority over creation in the calming of the storm, even as He exposed the fears of the disciples’ heart and calmed the storm of their doubts. Now, He is demonstrating His authority over the demonic realm, even as He shows the great faith of the man now freed from bondage. Such power over the kingdom of darkness produces two clear responses begging two clear questions: Will you leave with Jesus? or Tell Jesus to leave?

Jesus has taught the disciples the principles of the Kingdom through parables. Now the principles will be put on display through powerful miracles to demonstrate Jesus’ Kingdom identity. For as much as the disciples had been taught, they still had deep seated fears that blinded them from truly seeing and trusting Jesus. Here we see Jesus as having power and authority over creation. The storms of life are simply a tool of the King to reveal the storms in our own hearts.

God has an Extraordinary Mission, that he wants to accomplish thru Ordinary People, who Tell Their Story.