DAY 44 of #100daysofJesus
Some believe that Jesus was nothing more than a great teacher, one of many throughout history. However, scripture clearly distinguishes Jesus from the teachers of that day. We know He was so much more.
Mark records that while Jesus was teaching in a synagogue in Capernaum, the people "were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes."
The scribes were professional clergy and teachers. They knew the scriptures and the law forward and backward and spent their days teaching and enforcing. Yet they lacked authority, and the contrast between them and Jesus was not just noticeable but astonishingly so.
Not only was Jesus able to teach with authority, but he also used that priesthood authority to act. In this very same occasion in Capernaum, a man was present, possessed by "an unclean spirit."
Jesus cast the devil out of him, and the response from the gathered crowd was, again, amazement: "insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, what thing is this? what new doctrine is this? for with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him."
Jesus didn't just have power to preach but also power to heal.
It's clear the Jews were accustomed to religious leaders who cared more about law than people, who taught with their lips not their hearts, and whose actions and words were rarely aligned. Don't we also see this today at times?
I am so grateful that Jesus was more than a teacher. I'm grateful that He has authority to heal, bless, inspire, lift, encourage, and redeem. I'm also grateful that His priesthood authority is again on the earth today, restored nearly 200 years ago, and that His chosen servants are able to preach and bless with that same authority, which has been delegated to them for that purpose.
(Reference: Mark 1:21-29)
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