jordanabina
Just over 365 days ago I looked back on the year 2023 and welcomed the year that has just passed. You and I made commitments and some of us kept them. For some, this last year was one of the best of your life. You welcomed new life. You were successful. You had some of your most cherished moments. For others, this last year was one you’d like to forget. You were forced to say goodbye to someone you loved. You were anything but successful. And perhaps, there were choices that you’d give anything to go back and change.
That’s how life goes, right? This last year was probably a mix of both, good and bad, difficult and easy. But how do you know? To whom do we go to determine the grade this last year should get? Well we have some options. We can go to our friends; but even our friends may only give us enough truth to make us feel good. We can go to culture where everything is permissible.
But who really has the authority to answer?
This word authority has been on my heart lately and as I was worshiping this week to a song surrounding this word, the Spirit of God began speaking to me about authority. The more I thought about it, the more I remembered how much authority is discussed in the New Testament. Authority is a major topic in the NT. It is something discussed between Jesus and His followers, His friends, and His enemies. His authority is questioned by the ruling authorities. (Matt 21) When Peter chose violence in the garden, Jesus reminds him that He has authority to call a legion of angels (Matt 26).
In the very first chapter of Mark, at the very beginning of Jesus’ ministry, the question of authority arises.
21 They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach. 22 The people were amazed at his teaching, because he taught them as one who had authority, not as the teachers of the law. 23 Just then a man in their synagogue who was possessed by an impure spirit cried out, 24 “What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!”
25 “Be quiet!” said Jesus sternly. “Come out of him!” 26 The impure spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek.
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.” 28 News about him spread quickly over the whole region of Galilee.
Mark 1:21-28 ESV
Something was different, and the people could see it, they could hear it, and they felt it. Jesus was something they had never seen before, He wasn’t just repeating what He had heard from someone else. Jesus had His own divine authority. The rest of the NT, amongst many things, is an account of people accepting or rejecting the authority of Jesus. I wonder where you fall into that story? I wonder how much authority Jesus has in your life? Has anything He said changed your mind about something? Has anything about Jesus changed you?
I was recently challenged by an unbeliever friend of mine about why Jesus is just like any other.
His argument was we shouldn’t let random people from history have a say in our lives. I reminded him that, this is normal for humans, we love old quotes, books, and teachings from the intellectual and spiritual leaders from the past. But what makes Jesus different is the authority from which He speaks. If Napoleon Bonaparte says “Impossible is a word to be found only in the dictionary of fools,” you may be inspired but that’s it, but when Jesus says, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible,” it’s different. What makes it different is the authority.
I wonder, what authority does Jesus have in your life? The answer to this question may be one of the most important things about the year ahead. There are some things we already know.
Jesus has authority over the natural order.
35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” 36 Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. 37 A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. 38 Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
Mark 4:35-41
39 He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
40 He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” 41 They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”
The Bible teaches that Jesus has authority over all creation. This isn’t because He has more power then the next human, more to the point, Jesus was there at the moment of creation. He is the one who made the stars and holds them together. We trust Jesus because He has authority over the natural order.
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.” 7 Then the man got up and went home. 8 When the crowd saw this, they were filled with awe; and they praised God, who had given such authority to man.
Matthew 9:6-8
After forgiving the sins of this man, Jesus proves His authority over the natural flesh of the human body and heals the paralyzed man. This isn’t because He was born with special healing powers, it’s because He is the author of life. We trust Jesus because He has authority over the natural order. But that’s not it.
Jesus has authority over the supernatural order.
28 When he arrived at the other side in the region of the Gadarenes, two demon-possessed men coming from the tombs met him. They were so violent that no one could pass that way. 29 “What do you want with us, Son of God?” they shouted. “Have you come here to torture us before the appointed time?”
30 Some distance from them a large herd of pigs was feeding. 31 The demons begged Jesus, “If you drive us out, send us into the herd of pigs.”
32 He said to them, “Go!” So they came out and went into the pigs, and the whole herd rushed down the steep bank into the lake and died in the water. 33 Those tending the pigs ran off, went into the town and reported all this, including what had happened to the demon-possessed men. 34 Then the whole town went out to meet Jesus. And when they saw him, they pleaded with him to leave their region.
Matthew 8:28-34 NIV
The evil in this world have no authority over Jesus, nor do they have authority over those who belong to Jesus. With a word, Jesus displays His power. I believe that the power that raised Christ from the dead is alive and active today. Not because of religion are fake supernatural conspiracies, but because Jesus holds the authority over heaven and earth. The question remains, does Jesus have the authority in my life?
Jesus commands paralysis to leave the crippled man’s body. And he heals many more. He has the authority. Jesus commands the evil demons to leave and be cast out. He will do it many times. He has the authority. But Jesus never forces anyone to love Him, instead he extends the invitation to surrender and follow. He has been doing it every year since. He has all the authority in the world, but instead of domination, He gives us an invitation. Instead, He gives His life for you, and proves His authority by rising from the dead. Is it possible that the breakthrough we have wanted to see in our lives from God has been blocked because we haven’t given authority of our lives to Jesus?
The authority of Jesus was announced from an empty tomb. The King, over everything, has invited you to be in His family, protected and loved. He says, come. Handing authority of your life to Jesus looks like putting all of your life into His hands.
The good, the bad, and the parts you aren’t sure about. Your plans. That choice you’re making. The future you’re planning. That plan you have for that person. The hurt your carrying. That fear that is killing you. That hope you’re still holding onto for that unanswered prayer. Who has authority in your life? Who gets the final say?
There’s a painting that I love, it’s called The Accolade, painted by E. Blair Leighton in 1901. It’s always been a picture that has stood out in my mind and captured my imagination. And I was thinking about authority, this picture came to mind. The man, kneeling before the queen, is recognizing her authority and his acknowledgement of that authority. It’s a vulnerable position. The same position in which a death blow could be dealt and is also the position where you could’ve been made a knight. She has authority to deliver both, but she chooses the latter.
The most powerful being in the universe, is also the most loving. The one with all authority is all someone we can trust. Jesus has authority over the natural and the supernatural, and in addition to that, He loves you. This year, hand over the authority to your life to Jesus. Kneel before Him, give Him the authority to lead your life, and then, be ready.
