Why did Jesus astonish people?
The Gospels often describe people’s reactions to Jesus Christ as being “astonished” or “amazed” (Mark 1:22, 27). Generally, people would not have been able to distinguish Jesus from other first century Jewish men based simply on his physical appearance as he began his ministry. The initial reaction to Jesus Christ was not, therefore, based on what he looked like. Only later did people begin to recognize him and distinguish him from others as his fame spread throughout the land.
Mark highlights two events at the beginning of his narrative revealing the reason people reacted with amazement as they often did when encountering the Son of Man and hearing his words. When Jesus Christ taught in the synagogue in Capernaum for the first time, Mark noted, the people “were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one that had authority, and not as the scribes” (Mark 1:22; emphasis added).
The second event happened just after he finished teaching on that memorable day, “There was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit” (Mark 1:23). Jesus Christ “rebuked” the spirit and it “cried with a loud voice” and “came out of him.” Mark concluded, “And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying, What thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him” (Mark 1: 26-27; emphasis added).
Although Jesus lived in a first century Jewish setting, drawing from his environment and culture many metaphors and allusions as he taught, there was, nevertheless, something “astonishing” about how he taught. Mark emphasized, “he taught them as one that had authority.” Jesus Christ did not quote from dead rabbis or famous teachers, as was the case with many others. Instead, Jesus provided his own commentary– thereby claiming authority to provide the correct interpretation and meaning of the scriptures on his own. This was a spiritual novelty and anomaly.
Additionally, as noted above, Jesus’ ministry also was revealed in power; “astonishing” the people as “he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and cast out many devils” (see Mark 1:34). This healing ministry was one of the defining aspects of Jesus Christ’s service to humankind. It was remembered “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power; who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him” (Acts 10:38).
Tags: astonished, Jesus, taught with authority
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