The Authority of Jesus Christ

Beloved, I am glad to share with you today on the authority of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer and the Savior. It is important to note right away the amazement of the crowds at the authority with which the Lord Jesus spoke.He claimed to hold all power or all authority, in heaven and on earth. He had just started his ministry, and in his state of humiliation, in his servant form, he stripped himself in the form of a simple man, making himself obedient until death on the cross.(Philippians 2.7)

Then, by his resurrection, by his return to heaven, in the midst of his glory, (John 17.5) he enters right into his divine kingship, where all things are subject to him.(Ephesians 1.20-23; Philippians 2.9-11).

This divine power and authority are the foundation and the guarantor of the mission which he will give to the disciples, and whose impossibility would have frightened them without this assurance.

That’s why this authority resulted first from the feeling of the divine mission which animated his word, and then from the power of truth which was brought into immediate contact with souls. Thus, neither this authority nor this power was in the teaching of their scribes and doctors of the law. And the scribes, properly writers, were the learned interpreters of the law and the Scriptures. We understand more of their hostility to the Savior.

1. THE TEACHING OF THE DIVINE MASTER

The authority of Christ comes from God, as we read in the verses below: Matt 28.18 ” Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

Matt 7.29 “ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”; Mark 1.27 “ The people were all so amazed that they asked each other, “What is this? A new teaching—and with authority! He even gives orders to impure spirits and they obey him.”; John 5.27 “And he has given him authority to judge because he is the Son of Man.”

• He teaches many things in many forms, as we read in the following verses:

Matt 7.28 “When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching;”; Mark 4.2 “He taught them many things by parables, and in his teaching said:” John 7.16 “Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.”; 2 John 9 “ Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

• Christ causes astonishment: Matt 13.54 ” Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. “Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?” they asked.”;

Matt 15.31 “ The people were amazed when they saw the mute speaking, the crippled made well, the lame walking and the blind seeing. And they praised the God of Israel.”; Matt 22.22,33 “ When they heard this, they were amazed. So they left him and went away.” 33 “When the crowds heard this, they were astonished at his teaching.”; Mark 2.12 “ He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all. This amazed everyone and they praised God, saying, “We have never seen anything like this!”; Mark 4.41 “They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”; Mark 7.37 “ People were overwhelmed with amazement. “He has done everything well,” they said. “He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.”; Mark 10.24 “ The disciples were amazed at his words. But Jesus said again, “Children, how hard it is to enter the kingdom of God! ”; Luke 2.48 “ When his parents saw him, they were astonished. His mother said to him, “Son, why have you treated us like this? Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.”  Luke 4.22, 36 “All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked. 36 All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!”; Luke 8.25 “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, “Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.”

• The authentic doctrine is good: Deut 32.2 “Let my teaching fall like rain and my words descend like dew, like showers on new grass, like abundant rain on tender plants.”; 1 Tim 4.6 “ If you point these things out to the brothers and sisters, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, nourished on the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed.”
• The Teaching of the Divine Master: John 7.16 “Jesus answered, “My teaching is not my own. It comes from the one who sent me.”; 2 John 9 “Anyone who runs ahead and does not continue in the teaching of Christ does not have God; whoever continues in the teaching has both the Father and the Son.”

• Characteristics of the words of Christ:

-they are imperishable: Mark 13.31 “Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.”

-they are full of grace: Luke 4.32 “They were amazed at his teaching, because his words had authority.”

-they are spiritual: John: 6.63 “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of the Spirit and life.”

-they bring life: John 6.68 “ Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

– they are words of judgment: John 12.48 “ There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; the very words I have spoken will condemn them at the last day.”

– they are divine: John 14.24 “Anyone who does not love me will not obey my teaching. These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me.”

• Christ as Divine Master: Mark 6.34 ”When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”;

Mat 4.23 “Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.”; Mat 5.2 “ and he began to teach them. He said:”; Mat 7.29 ” because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”; Mark 6.34 “When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. So he began teaching them many things.”; Luke 4.15 “He was teaching in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.”; Luke 5.3 “ He got into one of the boats, the one belonging to Simon, and asked him to put out a little from shore. Then he sat down and taught the people from the boat.”; John 3.2 “ He came to Jesus at night and said, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God. For no one could perform the signs you are doing if God were not with him.”; John 7.14 “Not until halfway through the festival did Jesus go up to the temple courts and begin to teach.”; John 8.2 “ At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them.”

2. THE SCRIBES

The scribes had shown increasing hostility towards the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and had resisted his warnings and stopped the plan to seize him. For his part, he had given up all consideration for them and openly broke up with them. This is why the scribes, who in all were similar to the Pharisees, had taken the same position, because they were literate men and scholars (1 Corinthians 1.20).

They were the ones who copied the Scriptures in the Old Testament, and in the New Testament, they taught the law, as we read in the verses below:

– first in the Old Testament: 2 Sam 8.17 “Zadok son of Ahitub and Ahimelek son of Abiathar were priests; Seraiah was secretary;”; 2 Kings 18.18 “They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.”; 

Ezra 7.6 “They called for the king; and Eliakim son of Hilkiah the palace administrator, Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph the recorder went out to them.”; Neh 8.1 “ all the people came together as one in the square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the teacher of the Law to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.”; Esth 3.12 “ Then on the thirteenth day of the first month the royal secretaries were summoned. They wrote out in the script of each province and in the language of each people all Haman’s orders to the king’s satraps, the governors of the various provinces and the nobles of the various peoples. These were written in the name of King Xerxes himself and sealed with his own ring.”; Jer 8.8 ” ‘How can you say, “We are wise, for we have the law of the LORD,” when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled it falsely?”;

– then in the New Testament: Mat 5.20 “ For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.”; Mat 7.29 “ because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.”; Mat 9.3 “ At this, some of the teachers of the law said to themselves, “This fellow is blaspheming!”; Mat 16.21 “ From that time on Jesus began to explain to his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things at the hands of the elders, the chief priests and the teachers of the law, and that he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”; Mat 17.10 “ The disciples asked him, “Why then do the teachers of the law say that Elijah must come first?” Mat 20.18 “We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of Man will be delivered over to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They will condemn him to death.”; Mat 23.2,15 “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.”, 15 “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single convert, and when you have succeeded, you make them twice as much a child of hell as you are.”; Mat 27.41 “ In the same way the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders mocked him.”; Mark 12.38 “As he taught, Jesus said, “Watch out for the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and be greeted with respect in the marketplaces, ; Luke 5.21 “ The Pharisees and the teachers of the law began thinking to themselves, “Who is this fellow who speaks blasphemy? Who can forgive sins but God alone?”; Luke 20.46 “ “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets.”; 1 Cor 1.20 “Where is the wise person? Where is the teacher of the law? Where is the philosopher of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?”

From the above, the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ flowed from the divine mission that animated his word, and his power of truth was brought into immediate contact with the crowds he taught. For neither this authority nor this power was in the teaching of their scribes and doctors of the law. Because all power was given to him in heaven and on earth. The scribes could not prevent his teaching and only facilitated his accusation and his death which he was relieved on the third day by Almighty God. We pray that your efforts to walk according to this word of authority will make you all grow every day.

PRAYER OF ACCEPTANCE OF JESUS ​​CHRIST AS LORD AND PERSONAL SAVIOR

I now invite anyone who wants to become a new creation by walking in the truth, to pray with me as follows :

Lord Jesus, I have long walked in the lusts of the world ignoring your love for humans. I acknowledge that I have sinned against you and ask forgiveness for all my sins, because today I have decided to give you my life by taking you as my Lord and personal Savior. I acknowledge that you died on the cross of Calvary and that you rose from the dead for me.

I am now saved and born again by the power of the Holy Spirit. Lead me each day to eternal life you give to all who obey your Word. Reveal to me and strengthen my heart and my faith so that your light may shine in my life right now.

Thank you, Lord Jesus, for accepting me in your divine family so that I too can contemplate the wonders of your kingdom.

I will now choose a nearby waterpoint to baptize myself by immersion, in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

To you all worship, power, and glory, now and forever and ever. Amen!

I would be glad to respond to your queries and comments as necessary, before sharing with you next week on Jesus’ authority by healing a leper.

May the Lord Jesus Christ bless you profusely.

David Feze, Servant of the Lord Almighty.