Mark 1:21-22 … As one with Authority (05/07/17)
“He entered the synagogue and taught. They were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having Authority.” ~ unknown (Mark 1:21-22)
Note first & foremost that the author of Mark does not show Jesus teaching as the authority himself, but rather as one who has authority – i.e. as one exuding the same air of authority (i.e. the limbic resonance we all feel in the presence of one who is talking Big Talk and who has Walked the same) that always accompanies those who need not strive to exude their legitimacy …
Secondly, note that he “entered the synagogue and taught” – something that the son of a laborer (Matthew 13:55 & Mark 6:3 both contain the Greek word “tektonos” in describing Joseph, which meant “artisan” in general – see Strong’s #5045) would most certainly not have done in that day & time (providing an extra implication of his thorough knowledge of the Scriptures) …
Thirdly, note too that this passage implies not only that Jesus felt confident in his knowledge, but that he actually possessed the same – that Jesus actually knew the Scriptures to such a fine degree that it was acceptable for him to speak in a synagogue; meaning that he was indeed an Old Testament scholar – that he did indeed have the requisite knowledge to challenge its 613 laws and “fulfill” them (i.e. the Greek “pleroo” in Matthew 5:17-18, a word meaning not “to obey” or to “affirm” but rather “to hone”, “to perfect” &/or “to make complete” – see Strong’s #4137), which is indeed exactly what he did over the course of his three-year ministry; dramatically intensifying the application of the Law some 63 times, dramatically lessening the impact of the Law some 42 times, and dramatically dismissing the Law entirely some 35 times – all in the Gospel of Matthew alone!
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