Jesus Taught with Authority (A Reflection on Mark 1:21-22)

“Jesus went to the synagogue and began to teach.

The people who heard him were amazed at the way he taught,
for he wasn’t like the teachers of the Law;
instead, he taught with authority” (Mark 1:21-22, GNB).

Jesus reputation has gone before Him and He is invited to preach in the synagogue service on the Sabbath day. As he taught, people were amazed. The content of Jesus’ teaching, I think, is not new but the way he teaches is unique. It is refreshing but also challenging and somewhat – disturbing.

What’s the difference between Jesus and the teachers of the Law (or scribes)? Jesus “taught with authority.” Even though the scribes were the Israel’s hard-core seminary students and were always studying the Law of Moses and teaching it to the people, overtime they seems to forget the Lord behind the Law. They were so wrapped up in knowing every details of the Law that they overlooked the God of the Law. They lack authority because they lack real relationship with God. We can be like that.

Jesus’ teaching was authoritative because He knew God the Father, the Author of the Law, personally. He taught not only what the Law said but what the Law meant (After all, the Son of God was there went the Law was given to Moses). It was uniqueness that makes the people “amazed at the way he taught.”

When students asked me, how to share God’s Word in my Christian fellowship? I often replied, get to know the Scripture that you want to share very well. Not too detail but sufficient for the day. Left aside your previous ideas and personal agendas behind and let the Word speaks to you. If there are encouragements, share it. If there are warnings, tell people about it. If there are challenges, make sure that you deal with it first before challenge others to do the same. Don’t try to force the Word to be relevant but be sure that it is applicable both to your life and theirs.

Most important of all – no matter how convincing your message might be – have a personal relationship with God. Either people like your message or not, let them say that you teach and speak “with authority” because you know God. I’m convince that the Holy Spirit will teach you more about this if you allow Christ and His Word to have authority in your life day by day. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.