Astonished at Jesus' Doctrine - Mark 1:22

Mark wrote Jesus and his new disciples, “went into Capernaum; and straightway on the sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught”, and in chapter one and verse twenty-two of his book, Mark wrote how the people listening to Jesus, “were astonished at his doctrine” where we read:

And they were astonished at his doctrine:

for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.

The verse reads, “And they were astonished at his doctrine:” Mark began words, “and they were astonished” which means “and the people listening to Jesus were amazed and stricken” “at his doctrine” which means “at Jesus' teaching and instruction”. Mark shared how Jesus' teaching “amazed” the people in the synagogue.

The verse goes on to say, “for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes.” Mark continued with words, “for he taught them” which means “because, since and on account that Jesus instructed the people” “as one that had authority” which means “as a person who held, owned and possessed power of choice, right and liberty of doing as one pleases”, “and not as the scribes” or “and not like or in the manner as the men who were learned in the Mosaic law and in the sacred writings and served as interpreters or teachers”. Mark shared how Jesus “instructed” the people from a position of “power and rule” which was unlike the “scribes” among them.

When we think through Mark's words in this verse, we see how Jesus demonstrated His “authority” over the words of God. They are His ideas, and He knows better than anyone how they should be communicated with people. We can imagine the awe upon the faces of the people as they learned from “God incarnate” the principles of the “Kingdom of God”, and no one had ever “taught” them as He did. God loves people, and He desires for them to know Him through His word. Those who are wise will not only read and study the word of God, but will seek the Lord's help and assistance with every word He has given unto men.

Next time Mark tells how the people listening to Jesus, “there was in the synagogue a man with an unclean spirit”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".