6. As one with authority

Let's face it, if you ask any child if they like going to school, if they like learning, very few will say yes. They see school as a constraint, as a bad thing. Today, however, I must encourage you that knowledge, knowledge of the Bible, is very important, because it can give protection and solutions in many situations.

„And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” ‭‭Mark‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Mark 1:21-28

Before you continue reading, stop for a moment and read today's passage. Listen to what God wants to teach you.

Jesus taught for most of his life on earth. Of course, miracles followed his work, as he healed many people, cast out demons, raised the dead, commanded nature. Yet he spent most of his time teaching, for he knew that it is the knowledge of God's Word that keeps us.

Good nutrition

 Without the Word we starve spiritually, because the Word feeds our souls. Jesus answered the devil with the Word when he tempted him. Proverbs 25:11 says:

„A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.” ‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭25‬:‭11‬ ‭ESV‬‬

But the Word also tests our hearts:

„For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” ‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭4‬:‭12‬ ‭ESV‬‬

That is why it is also very important for us to know the Word. It is well expressed in our good Hungarian proverb that "A good priest learns until he dies". And how true it is for us, who are a royal priesthood, a holy nation (1 Peter 2:9), that we must study the Word until the end of our lives, and even then there will be parts of it that we will only understand in Heaven. So I encourage you, don't stop reading this book, try to understand as much as you can what God wants to teach, whether by using commentaries, commentaries, or theological studies.

However, there is a continuation of this passage which is also important in the knowledge and teaching of the verb. Mark tells us that „for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.” The power of the Holy Spirit was there in His speech, in His teaching. Not only did He have the knowledge, like the scribes, but He had the power of God. If these two are not coupled, then there are only words, heads can be filled with Him, but not hearts. But if we focus only on the power without knowledge of God's word, then we get all kinds of distorted "theologies", views, misinterpretations, and the focus is on something else entirely.

Therefore, it is very important to have a balance of both, the knowledge and continual study of the Word, and the power of the Holy Spirit in our lives, so that we can say that we teach as one who has power, which is not our power, but the power of the Spirit at work within us.

Reflective questions

  1. Does the Word of God speak to you? Are you studying it so that you understand what it is saying? Don't be proud that you know everything, you don't know everything. Be open to God overriding what you know wrong.
  2. Knowing the Word will protect you, warn you, encourage you, guide you, answer your questions. Use this inexhaustible repository.
  3. The balance of the Holy Spirit and the Word gives strength to the teaching. Use it for the glory of God.

Draw strength from the Word of God and the Holy Spirit every day.

Judit

If you have a testimony about today's verse that you would like to share with us, please write to us.
We will also try to answer any questions you may have about today's passage. Feel free to contact us.

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