Thursday, February 2, 2012
Mark 1:21 Then they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath He entered the synagogue and taught.
WHAT DID JESUS DO ... ON THE SABBATH? (2)
Jesus didn't only worship, He also taught God's Word. When asked to stand and speak, to teach from God's Word, he gladly did so.
There were other teachers in those days. There were the teachers of the law. There were the scribes. Jesus was neither a teacher of the law nor a scribe.
Jesus' teaching was markedly different than the other teachers. The Holy Spirit reveals through the Gospel writer the repeated response of the people to Jesus' teaching, when it says (Mark 1:22): "And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes."
Jesus teaching astonished the people. The substance of His Teaching that astonished them. It wasn't really that it was new, rather it was 100% accurate, 100% truth.
Jesus manner of teaching also astonished the people. He taught as one having authority on the matter. Jesus didn't "hem and haw" and leave unanswered questions. When he spoke, there was no doubt that He was right. It wasn't that Jesus was a "know-it-all" but rather that His authority was absolute.
Jesus authority came from God. Jesus didn’t speak on His own authority, but rather, He spoke as authorized by God. When asked about His authority, Jesus once said (John 12:49): "For I have not spoken on My own authority, but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak."
We should understand that the same is true today. The recorded words of Jesus still have the authority of God behind them. The Words of Jesus are not to be placed on par with any religious teacher, but above them all.
When Jesus speaks on marriage, God speaks.
When Jesus speaks on taxes, He reveals God's unaltered will.
When Jesus speaks on baptism, He speaks of what the Eternal God has commanded!
When Jesus speaks, God speaks.
Therefore, let it always be our goal to understand His Word and to interpret His words by His words, and never to put words into His mouth.
