The teachers of the law had a habit of doing the same kind of name-dropping in Jesus day. Every teacher would back up his words by quoting some teacher whose words were golden. But when Jesus talked he never quoted other teachers. He spoke for himself.  Everyone marveled because he didn’t teach in the same way and the crowds interestingly enough didn’t care. They wanted to hear more and more—from Jesus! It didn’t matter that Jesus wasn’t quoting the illuminati of the day Mark 1:22

 

The irony is that an authoritative stamp comes from an outside source--the demon that Jesus is about to cast out.  It recognizes Jesus and his authority and fears for its existence Mark 1:24.  

 

Jesus’ teaching not only showed authority because of the style, but because it also showed power over the demons who were destroying people's lives. 

 

Today a generation of people probably doesn’t know a thing about E.F. Hutton. Scandal destroyed the company, and who’s listening now? I still marvel at how God’s Word spoken so many years ago applies to me and everybody else so many years later. I hope you are enjoying listening (or reading) and growing closer to and more like Jesus. I know I am.