Yesterday we looked at what it means that Jesus taught with “authority” today let’s look at where he got it.
Read Mark 1:9-11 and journal your thoughts
The question we need to ask is how did a rabbi get authority (S’mikeh)? Traditionally, a rabbi could only get authority from not one, but two other rabbis with authority. The two rabbis with authority would lay their hands on the other rabbi’s head and declare that they had “authority”. Where did they get this idea? In the book of Exodus when Moses choses 70 judges (advisors) to help him lead the Hebrews, they were anointed when both Moses and Aaron lay their hands on their heads. This is just one of those ideas that stuck with their culture, so this is how someone got authority.
So where did Jesus get his authority? Seriously, when was there a time when two rabbis with authority laid their hands on Jesus? In our Scripture for today we have the baptism of Jesus where John baptizes Jesus. Now John was a rabbi with authority, and we know this since he had disciples (NOTE: Only rabbis with authority had disciples). Also Jesus makes reference to this in Matthew 21:23-37.
So who is the other rabbi? Notice how in Mark 1 we see heaven torn open, and this Spirit descends on Jesus like a dove and proclaims “You are my Son, whom I love; with you I am well pleased.” Jesus is the only rabbi in history to get his authority directly from God.
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