The Authority of Jesus
And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. (Mark 1:22)
The authority of Jesus in his teaching had three realities: (1) It revealed his divine identity; (2) his teaching was relevant to each person’s life; (3) his teaching came with an unction to obey.
The rabbis of Jesus day were usually considered experts at interpreting the Law of Moses. The scribes*, on the other hand, were those who carefully copied the scripture, the teachings of the rabbis, and other important writings or events. Though the scribes could also interpret the Law, they would more often refer to what different rabbis had said. They also tended to be caught up in obscure and irrelevant discussions about matters that were mostly of interest only to the rabbis or scribes, and not to the average person of their day.
The divine authority of Jesus: Jesus taught without apology and with authority. He did so not as a result of some recent marketing study that was released that told him he would be more effective to teach this way. He taught with authority because he was authority. He did not consult with human agencies, not did he compare what one rabbi said to another. We presume that Jesus knew what the rabbis taught, but he did not consult with them. His authority was because of who he was: Lord and Messiah.
A question that often rises in the study of the life of Christ was when was it that he knew that he was the Messiah. God has ordained that much of the information about Jesus’ life as a child and young man we are not to know. We have only one story from scripture, the story of him and Joseph and Mary going to Jerusalem when he was twelve years old (Luke 2:42). From that story we learn that Jesus of Nazareth was aware of his divine identity and calling from a very early age. We also see that there was behavior demonstrated that was typical of childhood, namely not telling his parents where he was or thinking that they would be concerned about him.
This was absolutely not a moral failure on the part of Jesus, for he had committed no sin, not even as a child. But it does reveal an appropriate level of understanding for his age. There is a difference between childish behavior, that is unable to take into concern issues of life that adults can, and clear disobedience. Luke is especially helpful in this regard for he wrote, “And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him” (Luke 2:40).
Jesus began his ministry understanding of his divine identity and authority. From the beginning of his ministry Jesus had full possession of his divine faculties. He knew who he was, where he was going, and how he was going to get there. From the beginning of his ministry he taught with authority, so that when at the close of his time on earth he would say, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matt 28:18), it was not a new thought to him or to his disciples.
Christ’s authority was not rude or ill-tempered. It was gracious and loving. It was not a mask for any insecurity, rather it came from his assurance of the love of the Father for him. He taught as he served — without apology, but also without vanity and pride. When in meekness and with a servant spirit, before he washed the disciples’ feet, there was a statement describing how he understood himself:
Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God, rose from supper. He laid aside his outer garments, and taking a towel, tied it around his waist. Then he poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to wipe them with the towel that was wrapped around him. (John 13:3–5)
This was the knowledge that Christ brought into every human situation. He laid aside his glory in heaven and made himself nothing, emptying himself (Phil. 2:6–8). And he taught with authority also from this spirit of servanthood and humility.
This is the miracle of the incarnation, that God has come in human form to bear a witness upon earth. It is a hallmark of God that he does not explain himself, having no need to do so. As Sovereign of the universe he answers only to himself, to his own divine and perfect conscience. No man can call God into account, and no one could call Jesus into account either. The meekness of Jesus is found in his complete submission to the righteousness of God, unbending, unhesitatingly, and in love.
The relevance of his teaching: It is not unusual that teachers become disconnected from normal life — this is almost a common thought. A teacher, lecturer, or professor of philosophy or theology, it is often assumed, surely has very few realistic and relevant thoughts. But Jesus’s teaching came home to every person, touched every listener where they lived. His authority fit the issues of the human heart and life.
We preachers and teachers have this same unhelpful tendency — to chase after topics that are irrelevant to anyone but ourselves. If we have presented Christianity as irrelevant, let it be clearly said, that the fault is ours, not the Lord’s. If we will simply let his life and his teachings be presented before people we will see that there is a relevance for them. They fit every life.
The unction of his teaching: “Unction” is a difficult matter to define, but it is the idea that divine teaching has an appeal to the human heart. Christ was appealing to all humanity, at least at first on some level. Many people pulled away from him in unbelief, but there was at least at first a divinely sparked interest in him.
Christ said, “If I am lifted up from the earth I will draw all people unto myself” (John 12:32). Even the Pharisees said at one time, “Look, the world has gone after him” (John 12:19). Some will only glance at him, inquire of him no more than a second, and then turn away in unbelief. Others will look more closely — like the Rich Young Ruler (Mark 10:17–27) — and then turn away, getting caught up in the cares and concerns of life (Mark 4:19). But others will follow him.
This is a message for us to always make sure that we are presenting Christ, and not ourselves. Once a small group of Greeks came to inquire about Jesus. Their words have echoed through the ages as a picture on the desire of every heart. They said to the apostle Philip, “Sir, we would see Jesus” (John 12:21). Oh, that is the wish of the whole world and it is our first duty as Christians, to show him to the world, to preach him and to live him out in our lives.
We have in the Old Testament Law, a list of the perfect law of God. But in Christ we have something infinitely greater — we have a perfect life that is the embodiment of the moral code of God. In the Mosaic Law we have at best a rough outline of what we are to be. In Christ, however, we have the complete picture, all fleshed out, a perfect man living the perfect life.
Application for us: Let it be said that (a) we should present Christ and the teachings of Jesus with divine authority, without apology. We should be true to his Word, and true to the spirit of divine meekness to the Word of God. (b) We should present the teachings that are relevant for each life, plainly and simply. And above all, © we should present Jesus Christ himself to people. The work of evangelism is not to present a “gospel” that is centered in doctrine or ethics alone or even mostly, but the true gospel that is centered in Christ Jesus himself. The gospel message is not “believe on the gospel presentation and be saved” but it is “all who call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Joel 2:32 and Acts 2:21).
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*The fact that there were so many scribes in Jesus’ day reveals the reliability of the Old Testament scriptures. They were meticulous and careful in recording and copying the biblical writings. In that sense we owe a great debt of gratitude to these many nameless scribes who faithfully copied the scriptures through the centuries for succeeding generations to have.
