Authority or tradition? (Lk 4:31-37)

There is an interesting question raised by the fact that the people who heard Jesus teach in the synagogue with authority were astonished.  Why were they astonished?  Perhaps because the scribes and religious leaders in those days always relied on Moses and the rabbinic tradition as the authority for their teaching.  Jesus, on the other hand, did not rely on those who came before to justify his claims, nor were his claims the result of a step-by-step logical argument based on tradition.

  

Rather, Jesus relied on no authority but his own to speak the truth about God and his plan of salvation, and for that reason, was able to speak with knowledge and conviction (Eph 4:21).  In simple terms, we might say that the people were astonished by what Jesus said because his teaching revealed the purpose of his mission.  Jesus came into the world to bear witness to the truth, for in him are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge (Col 2:2-4).

To demonstrate that he indeed had such spiritual authority, Jesus often performed a miracle to show that his authority extended over the physical realm as well.  On one occasion, for example, after he teaches in the synagogue, Jesus commands a demon to come out of a man (Lk 4:33-36).  This only further astonished the people and proved beyond doubt that Jesus had total authority to preach good news to the poor, release to captives, and liberty for those who are oppressed (Lk 4:18).

 

Sad to say that relying on the authority of Jesus in today’s world is often ignored, or at least difficult to keep in focus.  Jesus was keenly aware of a similar problem in his own day as well.  For this reason, he called attention to the moral error of the religious leaders who set aside the commandments of God to uphold their own authority based on their traditions (Mk 7:9-13).

  

Jesus rejected this idea in total and warned his disciples that salvation on human terms is indeed impossible, but with God, all things are possible (Mk 10:24-27).  Thus, the many signs and miracles that Jesus performed are a solid reminder that we can rely on his promise of salvation proclaimed in the synagogue soon after his baptism.  We just have to place our trust in him and follow his lead (Jn 8:31-32), for only he is the way, the truth, and the life (Jn 14:6).