Authority – What do we do about it?

A question everyone must answer: what is the authority of Jesus?

The way you answer that question is life altering. And failure to answer, is an answer in itself!

In the last days of Jesus’ ministry, conflict and confrontation became the norm!

Here, Jesus heads right into the home court of the religious authorities.

And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, “By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?” Jesus answered them, “I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?” And they discussed it among themselves, saying, “If we say, ‘From heaven,’ he will say to us, ‘Why then did you not believe him?’ But if we say, ‘From man,’ we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet.” So they answered Jesus, “We do not know.” And he said to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Matthew 21:23–27 (ESV)

A question about authority

Authority is the ownership of power and the right to exercise that power.

The challenge and premise of the religious authorities was that Jesus had no authority to do what he was doing. They knew it had not come from the religious leaders or from the political leadership in Rome. If Jesus could not specify who had given him this authority, it meant he acted on his own. If he acted on his own, his actions (and teaching) could be considered treasonous to both Rome and, more importantly, to Jehovah.

Of course, when we read the gospels, we know that the religious authorities were jealous of Jesus so there is an undercurrent of hypocrisy here.  

Jesus presented a counter-challenge about John’s baptism. His challenge was much more powerful because it put them in a bind. They couldn’t acknowledge John’s ministry as being from heaven because it would make them guilty. They couldn’t acknowledge John’s ministry was from earth because it would make them unpopular!

They were unable to answer his challenge so their question remained unanswered.

However, we have the answer!

Jesus stated: All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me (Matthew 28:18). Jesus has all power and the right to exercise that power. He is sovereign and he extends that authority to every citizen of the Kingdom of Heaven!

What do you say about the authority of Jesus?

Since he has all authority, it is foolish to ignore what he said and did. To acknowledge it, our response is one of wholehearted support for his work and mission as followers and disciples.

To reject his authority is to decide that all he said and did was invalid and meaningless. I don’t think you would have read this far if that’s how you felt!

We live under that authority

Faith is essential now in all we do. We must believe and when we do, power is imparted to us. Walking in his authority changes the world we live in because it changes us to do the work of the kingdom. That work is always transformational.

Your Turn

What do you do about the authority of Jesus? How have you answered the question? Are you all-in?

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