1/17 Mark 1:22

²² And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes.

Jesus moved to the home of Peter in Capernaum. The synagogue was just down the street about a block. The foundation of that very synagogue is still visible today. When Jesus taught, the people noticed a difference. He was not quoting other rabbis or focusing on the oral laws. That was the way the scribes taught. Instead, Jesus would often make the statement, "You have heard it was said..., but I tell you . . ." (Matthew 5:21-22, 27-28, 33-34). He spoke as one who had the authority to tell a person or a crowd what was actually true and what wasn't.

The only rabbis that claimed to have the authority to do that were ones that had memorized the entire Old Testament and been approved as an authority by two other such rabbis. Jesus claimed a different type of approval. The miracles He did, the testimony of John the Baptist, and the witness of His heavenly Father were more than enough validation that He spoke the truth (John 5:33-36; 12:49). Adding to that, Jesus claimed He came down from heaven and could therefore speak of heavenly things (John 3:13; 8:23).

No one ever spoke like Jesus (John 7:46). When I listen to the gurus of this age, all I hear are words strung together that don't really make sense. Jesus' words are powerfully moving, and He backed them up with actions that validated them. You can count on them to be completely true.

Consider: Some people base their faith on feeling. Others base their faith on their own personal ideas about what sounds right to them. There is only one source of truth you can be absolutely sure of-the words of the One who came down from heaven.