Teaching, Truth, and Purpose

Continuing a non-sequential, “question-based” look at Mark 1:14-45 from the last article, let’s skip down to verse 21…

They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law.

Mark 1:21-22 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mrk.1.21-22.NIV

Here’s our next question: How would you differentiate the scribal teaching from Jesus’ teaching? And, no, you can’t just say, Jesus taught “as one who had authority”. We can read those words from the Bible, but what do they actually mean? What did teaching “as one who had authority” look like?

One way that I might differentiate these two types of teaching is that the scribes taught from what they had been given. They taught from what had been said, what had been written, and how others had interpreted the Scriptures before them. On the other hand, Jesus taught what He knew to be true, and where things weren’t clear, He could explain. He taught the very truth that came from His being God. When Jesus said something, it wasn’t merely His opinion, it was divine truth. (Does God even have opinions? That might be beyond the scope of this lesson!)

So, how do we teach, today? (Each of us should share what we learn from God with others, by the way, whether or not you are a formal teacher in the church.) Do we teach with authority or like these “teachers of the law” [NIV] or “scribes” [NASB]?

After all, we don’t get to decide what truth is. While God shares truth from His power, wisdom, and knowledge; we cannot define the truth ourselves. However, we can teach what God has clearly told us to be true. We can confidently share the gospel of Jesus, having received both words and examples from God. I don’t mind telling you that I myself am trying to only teach what God has already given.

Next, let’s skip down to verse 38. We previously saw that Jesus was proclaiming the good news of God. In verses 38-39, we find an affirmation that this is why He came. This wasn’t just something that He did: it was at least part of why He came to earth at just the right time and the right place.

So, how about us? Is our service in God’s kingdom just something we do, or our purpose? Now, I define our work for God fairly broadly, including many things that we do at His direction. Even what might look mundane to others can be service to God for His kingdom. If we saw more of our activities as part of our purpose, though, would it change how we go about them?

Jesus also drove out demons, which was also part of His ministry. For instance, you can read verses 40-42 for another example of His healing (in this case, healing a man afflicted with leprosy, or perhaps another skin disease). Do you remember how those who heard Jesus saw that He spoke with authority? Here, Jesus spoke that the man would be clean, and the man was healed. Jesus’ words are truth.

By the way, I appreciate that Jesus didn’t merely heal this man from leprosy. He said that He was willing to do so. Jesus cared for people, and His healing them wasn’t self-serving. Miracles attested to the truth of His message and who Jesus was (and is), but they also seem to have been an outpouring of His compassion. Even through miracles, we learn more about the nature of God.

Today, let’s focus on the truth. Let’s remember that the most important answers don’t come from human beings’ opinions or consensus, nor – in some cases – even our own “logic” (where our rationale and rationalization have been distorted by sin). Actual truth and real power in this world trace back to God, so only by going back to Him can we experience those things and share them with others. I pray that you and I will do so, today.

From Sunday School lesson prepared for September 7, 2025

References:

Scripture quotations taken from the NASB. Copyright by The Lockman Foundation.

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