Really quick

Really quick before dinner and a meeting rawr.

So went to the gospels as I said yesterday because it's times like these that I just need to remember the Jesus and the love God has for us (He sent down His son for us!).

Read Mark because I thought it was kinda unfair that people read Matthew since it's the first book, Luke because he writes very historically, and John because he has that whole first chapter on the "Word was God" and all that. But not Mark. So I read Mark.
I guess I'm still feeling contrary.

Didn't really go too far, a bit strapped for time and ah so tired, but that's neither here nor there because it's God time right now.

So Mark 1.

This part of it struck me:

Jesus Heals a Man with an Unclean Spirit

²¹ And they went into Capernaum, and immediately on the Sabbath he entered the synagogue and was teaching. ²² And they were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as the scribes. ²³ And immediately there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit. And he cried out, ²⁴ “What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” ²⁵ But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent, and come out of him!” ²⁶ And the unclean spirit, convulsing him and crying out with a loud voice, came out of him. ²⁷ And they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? A new teaching with authority! He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey him.” ²⁸ And at once his fame spread everywhere throughout all the surrounding region of Galilee.

Um yeah, my first question was how did they know there was a spirit? ... or that it left? But that's okay, I'll let that one go for right now (going back to it later when I tackle spiritual warfare or something like that).

But the parts I bolded: he taught them as one who had authority. What is this authority? Is it the timbre of his voice? Is it the strength of his conviction? how did they know he had authority, more so than the scribes? While I understand that God and Jesus knows the He has the authority because the Word came from God and the Word was God.... people listening might not have known.

So I looked up the Greek for authority. It is "exousia".  Exousia : where I found it. And it means "it is lawful" or "power of authority" or the "right to excise power".

Ah huh? Haha. But something struck the back of mind and jostled a loose memory... it reminded me of a time when I learned about how Jesus preached. I think it was at Urbana... but regardless. It was saying that when Jesus talked and taught and preached, he always started with this: "Truly I tell you..."
At the time I thought nothing of it. It's just Jesus saying he's telling the truth. But the person explained how in the old times, anyone teaching would begin with: "_____ had said this" or "So-and-so told us this, and that is why...." etc.
For Jesus to put himself as the authority (authority! see what I did there?) solely instead of another scholar or another major prophet, it was almost blasphemy.

Maybe this is similar. Except this I don't get: if he only referenced himself, wouldn't most people raise an eyebrow and think, this guys is so unlearned, who does he think he is saying these things?
But people were amazed.

I can't tell if it's a positive amazement or a negative one. It should be positive right? So maybe Jesus' teaching was that powerful or right-sounding even with the backing of another scholar.

But that makes almost no sense.... some teachings from the Bible that Jesus says as an authority I can only take as truth because I know he is the son of God. Some things he says are not "right-sounding" and any fool politician knows to sound "powerful" or moving.

How, or is it why?, were people so amazed in a positive light?

I am a little mystified. I need to read on.. but I need to leave :/ Maybe it will be more understood with later thoughts... and more reading of the Bible.

But take home message of this little bit: Jesus is an authority.
... more on what that means later. (which means, when i actually find out)