Jesus' Authority - and how he gives us the same!

The second day in the holy week.

Leaders and the Jewish authorities questioning Jesus about his authority. We see that this portion is mentioned in almost 3 gospels:

• Matthew 21:23 - Jesus entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and the elders of the people came to him. “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you this authority?
• Mark 11:28 - “By what authority are you doing these things?” they asked. “And who gave you authority to do this?”
• Luke 20:2 - “Tell us by what authority you are doing these things,” they said. “Who gave you this authority?”

 In the above three instances, we find the same question – by what authority you do these things and who gave you this authority.

Let us now understand what the word ‘authority’ actually means: Authority" denotes permission. It denotes privilege, power, rule, control, influence. When someone has authority that means they're on top of other people. They have responsibility beyond the norm. They are able to determine things, to decide things, to render judgments, to wield certain rights and privileges.

1          Jesus had authority in everything.

Let us see some examples:

His teaching had authority: … for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Matthew 7:29

His healing had authority: In Matthew 9:6 But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins." So he said to the paralyzed man, "Get up, take your mat and go home."

His deliverance had authority: In 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."

His statement had authority: In John 1:12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--

He has authority to lay down his life and to take it:  John 10:18 it says, "No man takes My life from Me, I lay it down of Myself, I have authority to lay it down, I have authority to take it again." He had authority for His own resurrection. He had authority to give His life, He had authority to raise it from the dead.

Authority to heal the sick.

Authority to raise the dead.

Authority to cast out demons.

Authority to forgive sin.

Authority to designate children of God.

Authority to give eternal life and authority to judge every person, tremendous authority.

In the original Greek language, the word ‘power’ is written as ‘Dunamis’ and the word ‘authority’ is written as 'Exousia'.

For example, we may not have power to stop a heavy vehicle that is rushing in the city, but when we are with the Traffic Police dept, we have the authority to stop the vehicle. Though we do not have power, authority is bestowed on us to do things which are beyond our capacity.

In a school, a watchman is given authority to stand near the gate and stop others from entering the premises. If we go against the watchman and enter, it is not the watchman that we are insulting, we are insulting the Principal of the school who gave watchman the authority.

Jesus got his authority from his father in heaven. 

He was in constant touch with his father, all his teachings, his sermons, his words were all from the father.  Let us understand it in more detail:

A few references are given here. First, let us see John 7:16 where Jesus said, "My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me." In the book of John 12:49, He said, "For I have not spoken on My own [authority]; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak."

He also spoke in John 14:24 and said, "the word which you hear is not Mine but the Father's who sent Me." Jesus, shows us with these words that He Himself, God the Son, was acting under the authority of God the Father.

Jesus also says that authority is given to him in heaven and on earth. "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth." Matthew 28:18. All authority is given unto Me. That is an amazing claim to privilege. That is an amazing claim to power, to permission, to right. And Jesus demonstrated that very well in His ministry.

In the book of Deuteronomy 18:18-19, when God told Moses, "I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be [that] whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require [it] of him." We see this prophecy fulfilled in the life of Jesus. We see that Jesus did not speak on his own, he always quoted his father and he led the people to the father.

Jesus is willing to share his authority with us

Jesus is very much willing to share his heavenly authority with us. We need to do certain things to understand and receive that authority.

First of all, we need to read the Bible every day and get acquainted with it. In the book of Ephesians chapter 3, verses 4 and 5 it is written that "when you read, you may understand my knowledge in the mystery of Christ, which in other ages was not made known to the sons of men, as it has now been revealed by the Spirit to His holy apostles and prophets".

Next, we need to pray and have fellowship with him. In the book of John 15: 5 he says “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” We need to remain in him to get that divine authority.

In Luke 10:19, Jesus gives us authority over serpents and scorpions, and  - Jesus is giving us the authority over the power of the enemy, he also assures that nothing shall by any means harm us. How wonderful this promise is. Jesus, the son of God, the savior, the redeemer, our good shepherd is giving us a promise that he is giving us authority.

We need to prayerfully take that authority and start using it in this world. If we read the daily newspapers, we find crime, violence and corruption reaching the heights… what can you do, or what can I do. Yes, we can do our part. We need to pray, we need to take the authority that Jesus gives us and start acting on his behalf in this earth. We need to stand firmly for truth and we need to hold ground for our savior.