THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS by David Wilkerson

After Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, His listeners sat in awe. Scripture says, "The people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes" (Matthew 7:28-29). The Greek word for authority in this verse means "with mastery, power, liberty; as one in control." Jesus' listeners were saying, in essence, "This man speaks as if He knows what He is talking about."

Note that this verse does not say Christ spoke "with authority," but rather "as one having authority." It is one thing to speak with what we think of as authority””in a loud, boisterous voice, seeming to have total control. But in God's kingdom, authority is something altogether different. It's something you have, not something you simply speak.

The authority Jesus wielded shook up the entire religious system. Jewish leaders kept coming to Him demanding to know where He had obtained His authority: "By what authority doest thou these things? And who gave thee this authority?" (Matthew 21:23). Jesus answered them point blank, "I'm not telling you" (see verses 24 and 27). Our Lord knew He didn't have to answer to the devil about where He got His spiritual authority.

Christ had this authority not only in the pulpit, but also over all satanic powers. When He entered a synagogue in Capernaum, He was accosted by a man possessed by a demonic spirit. The spirit cried out, "Let us alone; what have we to do with thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us?" (Mark 1:24).

Now, Jesus knew this synagogue didn't need another sermon or interpretation of the Law. It didn't need a how-to seminar or some exciting new program. It needed a person with authority””someone who could chase the devil out of their midst, and cleanse both the possessed man and the powerless church.

Christ used His authority to do just that. Scripture says, "Jesus rebuked him, saying, Hold thy peace, and come out of him" (1:25). In modern terms, Jesus said, "Shut up, devil, and get out of here." And Satan fled. "The unclean spirit . . . came out of him" (1:26). Once again, the people marveled, saying, "What thing is this? . . . For with authority commandeth he even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him" (1:27).

If ever the Church of Jesus Christ needed His power and authority, the time is now!

Reading this wonderful article reminded me of a scripture I read this morning in Proverbs 17:14 (from the Septuagint)
"The sovereignty of righteousness shall give authority to words."

If we believe that the "effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much", perhaps our own words would carry much more authority if we were walking in the Holy Spirit fully yielded. Those who walk according to the Spirit will see "all the righteousness of the Law is fully met in us." This is the righteousness of faith.

Perhaps we have so little genuine authority, because we are not as fully submitted to the authority of the Father to the same degree as our Lord submitted Himself to His Father.

Jesus knew the truth of the Psalm - "sacrifice and offering for sin Thou hast not desired, but a body you prepared for me. whole burnt offerings and sin offerings You did not seek - then I said behold in the volume of the book it is written, I delight to do Thy will."

"To obey is better than sacrifice" and Jesus became "obedient unto death, even the death of the cross." "Who in the days of His flesh, offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the One who could save Him from death and He was heard because of His reverent submission." (literally "eulambano" - He laid hold of well)

Our Lord laid hold of the reality that man shall live by every word from the mouth of God. He was filled with the authority He received from His Father through submitting fully to that authority by a perfect life of obedient faith.

Perhaps we would know more of His authority, if we knew more of His submission to the Father's authority. If we experienced more of the heart of the bondservant, whose first act of freedom is to voluntarily enslave Himself in love out of grateful adoration of the master, then we would experience a greater dynamic of faith expressing itself through love in obeying the commandments of our Father.

The Father fully committed all His authority to the Son, because the Son fully committed all of His will to the Father.

makrothumia