Jesus Speaks On Authority

Music: Athanasius Schaefer - Dawn
(Pink Floydesque Christian Worship?? I don't know, I just chose the song for the Tolling Bells intro..)


The Authority of Jesus Challenged

23 And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority? 24 Jesus answered them, I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. 25 The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man? And they discussed it among themselves, saying, If we say, From heaven, he will say to us, Why then did you not believe him? 26 But if we say, From man, we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet. 27 So they answered Jesus, We do not know. And he said to them, Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things (ESV ) Matthew 21:21-27


Can you see who has the authority in this case? Under the old covenant, authority responsiblity lay with every man and the nearest rock. Jesus, when asked, demonstrated how authority works. Authority isn't about who gets the title, but who you fear.



Note: Jesus had a lot more to say about authority....