BY GREG CRUM
“And when he was come into the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came unto him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority doest thou these things? and who gave thee this authority? And Jesus answered and said unto them, I also will ask you one thing, which if ye tell me, I in like wise will tell you by what authority I do these things. The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men?” (Matthew 21:23-25)
Here in the Gospel of Matthew we read about a time in which the religious leaders of Jesus’ day questioned his authority to do and say the things he was doing and saying. His reply? He reminded them of man’s tendency to rebel against the authority of God. The implication? What they had typically done, they were doing again!
Man is an awesome creature, made in the image of the Almighty. Unfortunately, from the beginning, we have had a tendency to kick against God’s hierarchy, following in the footsteps of Satan himself. Understanding our weakness in this area, and knowing its root, should serve as a warning to our “Born Again” selves that we must endeavor to keep Jesus in his proper place in our hearts and minds. What’s that place? The place of ultimate authority!
As you read through the Gospels and watch the ministry of Jesus here on this planet unfold, you begin to see what the religious leaders of his day saw: that Jesus spoke and acted with authority. Why? How? Because Jesus is the Ultimate Authority! As much as Jesus is our savior and our friend, he was and is the ultimate authority in this universe. Know this modern Christian, and hold this understanding dear. Why? Because in this day of rebellion and riot against all that represents authority, knowing that Jesus is our ultimate authority is a safeguard for our souls and will help us interact with him appropriately.
So, Jesus is the ultimate authority, but what does that really mean? Well, what does “authority” mean? The most common definitions of the word include ideas like “one that is invested with the power to enforce laws and exact obedience” and “one that is invested with the power to command, determine, or judge.” Another popular definition is “an accepted source of expert information.” Jesus is the ultimate authority because he is the ultimate definition of this concept! In Colossians 1:15-19 the Bible declares that in all things he should have the “preeminence,” and in Philippians 2:9-11 we read that every knee should bow in deference to his position of command. Jesus is the one that the Father invested with power to enforce, exact, command, determine, and judge. Therefore, he is the One with all authority in Heaven and in Earth.
You can see, then, that there is a hierarchy in God’s Universe, and that Jesus is currently at the top of the chain of command. This will be the case until all of God’s enemies are brought into subjection (I Corinthians 15:20-28). The devil hates this and works in mankind to rebel against this chain of command. We see it in the attitude of the Pharisees when they heard Jesus speak, and we see it in the Garden of Eden, but here’s a question for our day…does God see it in us as well?
What do I mean? Think about it. While most Christians may not openly question the words in red, more than a few kick against the authority of Jesus in their thoughts and actions. How? By not fully accepting the truth of the third definition of authority we gave you, that surely applies to Jesus, that he is the ultimate expert on all, and that we should follow his advice above all others.
Who knows more about life than the Author of life? Who knows more about life than The Life that was and is The Light of men? No one, right? Yet to this day, men and women would rather listen to every other “expert,” and heed their counsel, whether that be the doctor, or the educator, or the government agent. How has that worked out for us? Yeah. Brothers and sisters, our recognition of God’s authority over us is seen in our following of His Word over everything else. Let’s let Jesus take his proper place of authority in our lives!
Greg Crum is the pastor of Calvary Temple in Lovely.