The Authority of Jesus

After Jesus finishes teaching in this synagogue scene people are raving about his beautiful sermon. Luke says they marveled of his gracious words, “Isn’t this Joseph’s son” And he is claiming to be the anointed one? Things escalate as Jesus references stories of Elijah and Elisha where Israel is judged and blessing goes out to foreigners. Jesus escapes the mob's wrath and the story moves on to a sabbath day in Capernaum. We learn in this section of the story that Jesus is one who teaches with authority, has power over demonic forces (they obey his rebuke to leave the man), and he has authority to heal sickness (rebukes the fever in Simon’s mother-in-law). These stories show us Jesus alone has liberating power and authority for the whole of who we are. He is the authority on human thinking (mind), spirituality (spirit), and physicality (bodies).