Jesus began his public ministry in the synagogue at Capernaum. He could manifest the authority of his person and message through that.
1. To participate in worship on the Sabbath was a regular practice of Jesus. (Luke 4:16). While the worship in the Jerusalem temple was centred around sacrifices, the provincial synagogue worship was centred around the reading and meditation of the holy scriptures. Jesus had very wilful participation in the socio-religious life of the Jews. He desired to use the people of God to be the leaven of the kingdom of God. It was not because that the structure of the community was perfect or that it was flawless, but because it was divinely instituted and he wanted to maximize its inherent goodness, Jesus used it as his beginning point. The person with an unclean spirit in the synagogue also was very symbolic. That pointed to the need of cleansing the temple. It could be possible only by bringing the wellness of the kingdom into human lives.
2. Jesus instructed in the synagogue. People who heard his teachings marvelled at it. The practice of the synagogue was for someone to give exhortation as per the directive from the elder of the synagogue. They might have marvelled at his teaching because they knew the background of Jesus. He had no formal theological education under any Rabbi or teacher. But His words and person were powerful and authoritative. But the mere marvelling was not enough. Only when one understands the salvific plan through Jesus, one can enter into the redemptive aspect of his person and message.
3. Jesus had a unique authority, very different from that of the scribes. He was not quoting from any of the rabbinical tradition or was substantiating his views based on their teachings. They sprang up from him in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. It came out from his conviction that he is the Son of God. This conviction was now reflected in His words and deeds. Jesus was bidding people to reflect the same authority in their own lives by imitating Jesus to grow unto His stature. The undiluted faith in God, the experiential insight about God and human situations and the conviction that they should be shared with fellow human beings, and the lifestyle proving those convictions etc. will create that authority in every human life. Only through human connectivity with Jesus, this authority can be developed.
Point to ponder: Do we develop authority in our lives through our faith in God?
Prayer: Pray for the positions of authority that they may grow in the Lord on an everyday basis.
1. To participate in worship on the Sabbath was a regular practice of Jesus. (Luke 4:16). While the worship in the Jerusalem temple was centred around sacrifices, the provincial synagogue worship was centred around the reading and meditation of the holy scriptures. Jesus had very wilful participation in the socio-religious life of the Jews. He desired to use the people of God to be the leaven of the kingdom of God. It was not because that the structure of the community was perfect or that it was flawless, but because it was divinely instituted and he wanted to maximize its inherent goodness, Jesus used it as his beginning point. The person with an unclean spirit in the synagogue also was very symbolic. That pointed to the need of cleansing the temple. It could be possible only by bringing the wellness of the kingdom into human lives.
2. Jesus instructed in the synagogue. People who heard his teachings marvelled at it. The practice of the synagogue was for someone to give exhortation as per the directive from the elder of the synagogue. They might have marvelled at his teaching because they knew the background of Jesus. He had no formal theological education under any Rabbi or teacher. But His words and person were powerful and authoritative. But the mere marvelling was not enough. Only when one understands the salvific plan through Jesus, one can enter into the redemptive aspect of his person and message.
3. Jesus had a unique authority, very different from that of the scribes. He was not quoting from any of the rabbinical tradition or was substantiating his views based on their teachings. They sprang up from him in the fullness of the Holy Spirit. It came out from his conviction that he is the Son of God. This conviction was now reflected in His words and deeds. Jesus was bidding people to reflect the same authority in their own lives by imitating Jesus to grow unto His stature. The undiluted faith in God, the experiential insight about God and human situations and the conviction that they should be shared with fellow human beings, and the lifestyle proving those convictions etc. will create that authority in every human life. Only through human connectivity with Jesus, this authority can be developed.
Point to ponder: Do we develop authority in our lives through our faith in God?
Prayer: Pray for the positions of authority that they may grow in the Lord on an everyday basis.
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