All authority is Jesus’. Always. (John) - 01/12/20
What do we know?
We have authority in all aspects of our lives. Parents, teachers, bosses, laws, and others. Our fallen nature, meaning the sin that is natural to all of us since Adam and Eve, does not like authority. As a matter of fact, our desire to have authority over God’s authority got us going down this road in the first place. We want to do what we want to do, even when it isn’t good for us. Even if it is against God.
What do we know about authority? What does it mean to be an authority? If you were to look at the definition of authority, you would see common words no matter the source. There are two words that stand out and represent what we, as humans, do with authority in many instances. These are power and control. Have you ever heard anyone say, “I’m in control here” or “I’m in charge, not you”? These are statements that are made when someone needs to show they are the authority.
Jesus stepped into this world in the flesh not having to say these type things. As creator, as sustainer, as God, His authority is eternal. He knows the authority He has. We can either believe Him or not, but that doesn’t change the fact that Jesus is in charge.
The Big Idea: All authority is Jesus’. Always.
We learn in Matthew 28:18 that all authority on heaven and earth is Jesus’. Paul expands on this and gives us a fantastic summary of this in Colossians 1:16-20 saying, “For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him. And he is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent. and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, making peace by the blood of his cross. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,”.
In John 5, we see Jesus’ authority and where that authority comes from. The Jewish authorities in Jerusalem, specifically the Pharisees, have a problem with Jesus. Jesus is doing things that disrupt their power. The power of the Pharisees comes from traditions they have created outside of the law and they expect those traditions to be treated as law and followed. But Jesus knows the true law, and as creator of it, He knows the intent of it. Only the eternal authority of Jesus can show what real versus created authority looks like here on Earth.
True authority comes from God
We looked earlier at the core components of most authority, which are power and control. Now I will say that not all authority on earth exhibits these components in self-serving ways. There are people who see their authority as a way to benefit others. But even if we have an earthly authority to benefit others, our inherent sin can create in us a desire to use that authority, though for good, to force what we determine is good in this world.
Jesus’ authority is so incredible when we compare it to authority we have without Him. His authority, from the Father, displays real truth and real life, which shows His real power.
“Then Pilate said to him, ‘So you are a king?’ Jesus answered, ‘You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.’ ” (John 18:37) Jesus says He is bearing witness to the truth. This means that the truth already exists and he is not making it up. But what truth would this be? Where would this truth be from? The Father.
In John 5:19-47, we see Jesus refer to the Father a number of times. When we think of absolute truth, we think to the things God has established, what He has said, and what He has shown. Jesus tells us where His truth comes from in John 5:19–20, “So Jesus said to them, ‘Truly, truly, I say to you, the Son can do nothing of his own accord, but only what he sees the Father doing. For whatever the Father does, that the Son does likewise. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all that he himself is doing. And greater works than these will he show him, so that you may marvel.’ ”
When we read on in chapter 5 we see many connections Jesus makes with the Father. The Father says, the Son says. The Father does, the Son does. The Father has life, the Son has life. The relationship between the Father and the Son is never disconnected. They aren’t independent. They are one.
Acting in truth is what Jesus wants from us. The truth displays His power - the power to give eternal life. Believing the truth and confessing the truth brings salvation (Romans 10:9).
We read in John 5:21, “For as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, so also the Son gives life to whom he will.” There are two things here. First, our spiritually dead hearts are given life to live out the truth Jesus gives and to glorify Him. Second, when Jesus returns, the resurrection of the body will take place. No earthly authority we know can do this. Nothing, no thing, can give life unless it can create life.
Jesus tells us later in John 6:63, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.”
Real truth and real life go hand in hand. We cannot live a life as intended by God without knowing the truth that He has given. This truth isn’t given anywhere except in His Word, in scripture. “And the Word became flesh” (John 1:1) says it directly that the Word came to life in the form of Jesus.
Created authority comes from man
Who created games when you were little? When we make up games we also make up rules. The easiest way to become an authority is to be the one who creates the rules. Then you become the person who keeps up with everyone one else keeping or breaking the rules. This is a common way we see authority.
God provided laws for how He wanted His people to live, conduct themselves, and govern themselves for His glory. What we read in scripture is how Israel avoided those laws, forgot the laws, and had to be reminded multiple times of the God who gave them the laws. The laws were challenging. The laws exposed the sin in the hearts of the people. When we change from helping others to understand and obey the laws to creating rules to obey the laws, we have become a created authority.
This is where the Jewish authorities come in. The ruling authority in Israel that we read in the Gospels is called the Sanhedrin. Think of a very large supreme court with over a 100 judges on it. The Sanhedrin has its origin in the Old testament, in Numbers and Deuteronomy. God established the roles of the judges and officers to serve the people of Israel and uphold the law He gave. This became the Sanhedrin which consists of two groups - the Pharisees and the Sadducees. These two groups, though part of one large council, are very different.
The Pharisees, whom we hear more of, are very zealous for the law. They are so zealous that they created more rules to keep the law. These traditions were then enforced by them on the Jewish people. The Sudducees, in contrast, were less zealous for the law than they were power and prestige. They didn’t want to upset the Roman authorities so they could be the Jewish authority. The Pharisees and Sadducees did not like each other, but when their authority was threatened by Jesus, they worked together to get Him out of the way.
We don’t get a positive view about these Jewish rulers from the Gospels, or even in Acts. We see them butting heads with Jesus and the apostles multiple times. We read several times in scripture where the Pharisees get bent out of shape over Jesus doing something on the Sabbath (Mark 2:23–28; Matthew 12:1–8; Luke 6:1–5; Mark 3:1–6; Matthew 12:9–14; Luke 6:6–11). Their concern is for the law they enforce instead of the glory of God.
This is what we see in John 5:5-17 when Jesus heals the invalid man. They miss the fact that a miracle has happened. The miracle, the act of grace from God, is overlooked to try and protect their own personal status. Our status can become our authority. We can get so wrapped up in our identity that anything that stands against it becomes an enemy. Even Jesus. The Sanhedrin had an identity of ruling. We make our wants and desires our authority.
Living in authority is complicated, and necessary
“Therefore render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's.” Jesus tells us this in Matthew 22:21 when He is being questioned by the Jewish leaders. Remember, during this period of history, Rome occupied a majority of the known world. This means they occupied Jerusalem. The Jewish authorities did not like Rome being there as the land was given to Israel by God and Rome did not have a right to it. Needless to say Israel did not want to obey Rome, but they appeased them so Israel could retain some authority over itself.
Ultimately, the Jewish authority had to rely on the Roman authority to put Jesus to death. Does this mean we should not trust any authority but Jesus? When we see what happened then, and then we look at the challenges around us today, shouldn’t we just live only around other followers of Jesus and create our own nation? As Paul would say, “By no means!”
The gospel doesn’t tell us to talk amongst ourselves but to make it known that Jesus’ death and resurrection is the fulfillment of God’s promise and any who repent and believe can have what Jesus promised. Jesus makes it known that He doesn’t want us separated from the world until the right time, His return. Later in John 17:13–19 we read, “But now I am coming to you, and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy fulfilled in themselves. I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, so I have sent them into the world. And for their sake I consecrate myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.”
Our relationship to the world, and the authority in it, is complicated but necessary. There will be times when we align with culture in the world and times we won’t. We can’t go and make disciples without interacting with all nations, all peoples. We are commanded to do this. Paul tells us in Romans 13:1, “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been instituted by God.”
What if the authority is against God? What about the times when a law is the opposite of what Jesus commands? Our first thought should always be to what God has commanded. We can see many differences around us between God and the world. We see things in our country that are counter to the goodness of God. One thing to remember when we see these things - the world, the people around you that do not know Jesus, will not be “lawed” into heaven. Only faith in Jesus will get them there.
Now what?
Knowing Jesus’ teachings and commands are critical for us as His followers. What is necessary for us is to do as Jesus commanded - love God with everything we have and love our neighbors (Matthew 22:37-40). Truth and life come from God and when we live that out and share that message we are showing the world that the authority of God is good.
What does scripture tell us?
Matthew 28:18
And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”
Leviticus 19:18
You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against the sons of your own people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. (ESV)
2 Timothy 1:7–8
for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
Resources
The Bible Project: John
https://thebibleproject.com/explore/john/