Listen

Jesus and his followers went into Capernaum. Immediately on the Sabbath Jesus entered the synagogue and started teaching. The people were amazed by his teaching, for he was teaching them with authority, not like the legal experts.

Mark 1:21-22

Think

Jesus was a teacher. There were lots of teachers in Israel. In today’s text they are called legal experts. They were people who had studied the Hebrew scripture and other authorities. When they taught, they would show their learning by quoting from these famous teachers. Jesus was a different kind of teacher. He taught the meaning of scripture without reference to anyone else. What he taught was not dependent on what someone had said before him.

The people in the synagogue that day were amazed! They were amazed at the unique style of Jesus. He spoke with an inner authority. They were also amazed by the content of what he taught. For many of them, it sounded both true and good. It was good news about God.

LaMon Brown

Question to Ponder:

What do you think the people liked best about Jesus’ teaching concerning God?

Pray

God, help me to listen to Jesus.

Help me to follow his teachings.

Amen.

Go

I live today in the love and truth of my Lord, Jesus Christ.