First Published Saturday, September 27, 2014
By What Authority?
Author's comment: In re-publishing these posts on their tenth anniversary, I have made very few edits. In the case of this particular one, the original seemed a little sloppy and disjointed; like it was a first draft, or a sketch with some ideas. I decided to make some major edits so that it would make more sense. But even then, it seems to have some issues. I invite the reader to read it anyway, and try to notice whatever's good in it, while ignoring the rest. GD, May 2025
"By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"
- Matthew 21
There came a time when the Scribes and Pharisees began to put Jesus on the spot. They would throw the Law at Him and trip Him up in some logical challenge.
Notice that when the question of authority came up, Jesus referred to John the Baptist. The simple message of water, to save us, was embraced by the sinners of the community. Now I want you to think of something . . .
Do you know somebody that, maybe, rarely attends Church?
Maybe this person frequents the local bar. Perhaps the person has been married several times. Maybe the person has few friends. The main point is: this person has a "shaky" reputation.
But if you think deep, can you imagine Jesus Christ Himself entering your home town, maybe during a community festival or downtown holiday celebration, like the lighting of the tree, of Memorial Day parade, and walking among us? Think about which of your friends or neighbors would drop everything they're doing, to follow Him.
I believe that many of those people would be the ones I described above. Some professing Christians might see Him. They may even realize that it is THE Christ. But they will not follow Him.
"By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?"
- Matthew 21
There came a time when the Scribes and Pharisees began to put Jesus on the spot. They would throw the Law at Him and trip Him up in some logical challenge.
Notice that when the question of authority came up, Jesus referred to John the Baptist. The simple message of water, to save us, was embraced by the sinners of the community. Now I want you to think of something . . .
Do you know somebody that, maybe, rarely attends Church?
Maybe this person frequents the local bar. Perhaps the person has been married several times. Maybe the person has few friends. The main point is: this person has a "shaky" reputation.
But if you think deep, can you imagine Jesus Christ Himself entering your home town, maybe during a community festival or downtown holiday celebration, like the lighting of the tree, of Memorial Day parade, and walking among us? Think about which of your friends or neighbors would drop everything they're doing, to follow Him.
I believe that many of those people would be the ones I described above. Some professing Christians might see Him. They may even realize that it is THE Christ. But they will not follow Him.
But, during this unexpected visit of Christ, into your community, you may look around, and see that some of the community's most disliked, or disrespected people, are right there with Him. When He leaves town, they continue following Him.
I know a few people like that. One of them likes the bars. She has had many, many "boyfriends." She rarely goes to Church. Yet I told her once: "I'll bet if Jesus walked in here right now you'd be the first to fall on your knees." Now interestingly, this person acted as though I had just paid her a compliment. Interesting . . .
Those that seem the farthest away are perhaps the first to recognize real authority. And as you go through the New Testament, there are so many accounts of Christ dealing with sinners, or acting upon His authority, and yet it is the "sinners," so-called, that always seem to recognize Him first, with the greatest sincerity.
Pay attention to the people that seem to care most about human and worldly authority (especially if they are "authorities in the Church"). They are most likely, the ones that care least about Christ's authority.
I know a few people like that. One of them likes the bars. She has had many, many "boyfriends." She rarely goes to Church. Yet I told her once: "I'll bet if Jesus walked in here right now you'd be the first to fall on your knees." Now interestingly, this person acted as though I had just paid her a compliment. Interesting . . .
Those that seem the farthest away are perhaps the first to recognize real authority. And as you go through the New Testament, there are so many accounts of Christ dealing with sinners, or acting upon His authority, and yet it is the "sinners," so-called, that always seem to recognize Him first, with the greatest sincerity.
Pay attention to the people that seem to care most about human and worldly authority (especially if they are "authorities in the Church"). They are most likely, the ones that care least about Christ's authority.
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