With Authority

Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. - Luke 4.31-32

By the time we get to Luke 4 Jesus has grown to adulthood and entered His ministry. At this stage He was in Nazareth, His hometown. As an adult male He had the opportunity to read the scriptures in the synagogue.  When the attendant handed Him the scrolls He opened them to Isaiah and read the prophecy of Messiah. He read of the Messiah that when He came He would 1) preach the gospel to the poor, 2) heal the brokenhearted, 3) proclaim liberty to the captives, 4) give sight to the blind, 5) to set the oppressed free, and 6) to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.

But then He said something that stunned them – ‘today this prophecy is fulfilled.’

They couldn’t believe their ears – ‘This is Jesus, Joseph’s son!’ And eventually they were so disturbed that they wanted to stone Him because he claimed to be Messiah, The people in His home town could not accept Him, even though He spoke such gracious words.

Jesus escaped and went to Capernaum where He continued to teach in the synagogues. Here though the people were astonished because as He taught He spoke the words ‘with authority.’

Despite seeing the power of God’s word the people of Nazareth rejected. The people of Capernaum though were astonished that He taught with such authority.

When Jesus left earth and He told the disciples that as the Father sent His, He was sending them. We have the same message to share. As we go in His name we have His authority. His words have the same authority now as they did then. When we speak His words, not ours, we too have authority. That’s why it is so vital that when we speak we don’t ever try to do so in our own authority.

Only when we speak His words do we have any authority to speak for Him.