By What Authority? was the topic of our discussion this week. The Bible teaches clearly that Jesus has been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Jesus' birth, baptism and transfiguration were authorized by God and He is very pleased with Jesus' obedience toward Him. If we want to please God, we need to obey His commandments, just like Jesus.
January 31, 2011
By What Authority?
Opening question: Can you name a person in authority and what do you remember the most about them?
In our lives we will meet many people in authority. Parents have moral and legal authority over their children. Teachers have authority in the classroom over their students and a certain level of affect over the time of the students outside the classroom. When we start a job, our boss has authority over our workday and over our careers.
Today we are going to look at the Bible for the purpose of finding who has the authority today. We will see a few points in Jesus life to understand him better.
1. Jesus’ birth
The world often talks about Jesus’ birth, although the Bible does not give us the date or even the month when Jesus was born. There are a few things about Jesus’ birth that are (included in the Bible and are important to know and that we can be sure of.
In Matthew 1:18-23 we read: 18 This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. 19 Because Joseph her husband was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. 20 But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” 22 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23 “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”).
Jesus’ birth was a miracle, a supernatural event. “Jesus” is the Greek form of the Hebrew name Joshua, which means “God saves.” In verse 23, we also read that Jesus will be called Immanuel, which means “God with us.” This is a prophecy that came from the time of Isaiah, written about 600 years before Jesus birth. In Isaiah 7:14, we read: 14 Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel.
What was the purpose for which Jesus was born?
To save the people and to show that God was with the people.
How did Jesus save the people?
In John 3:17 we read that: For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.
Where was this authorized and by whom?
The Bible authorized it in verse 20 of Matthew Chapter 1 by God through the Angel of the Lord.
2. Jesus’ baptism
In Matthew 3, we are going to read a few verses about Jesus’ birth. Verses 1-2, then, 5-6 and finally
1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the wilderness of Judea 2 and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.”
5 People went out to him from Jerusalem and all Judea and the whole region of the Jordan. 6 Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River.
13 Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. 14 But John tried to deter him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” 15 Jesus replied, “Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Then John consented. 16 As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. 17 And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased.”
What does verse 15 says? Why was Jesus baptized?
Since Jesus had no sin, there was nothing for Him to confess and no need to be baptized by John (as John tried to stop Jesus in the previous verse). However, the mission of John the Baptist was given by God (and foretold by Isaiah 40:3), so Jesus wanted to fulfill every command of God.
Where was Jesus’ baptism authorized and by whom?
What does verse 17 say?
God expressed His satisfaction with Jesus and with His actions. God is publicly stating that Jesus is His Son, that He loves Him, and that He is well pleased with Him. This is an amazing sight to see for the people around Jesus – the heavens have parted, the Spirit comes down from the heavens like a dove and descends or lands on Jesus; and now a voice from Heaven is talking to Jesus and acknowledging His relationship to God.
If we want to please God today, we need to fulfill all His commands.
How does this story apply to us today?
How old was Jesus when He was baptized? Was He an adult or a baby?
Did He know what He was doing when He got baptized? Did He think it was important and necessary for Him? When we are ready should we take baptism seriously like Jesus did?
Do you think God would be pleased with us if and when we decide to get baptized as He was with Jesus’ decision?
Whose authority would we be following if we like Jesus wanted to fulfill all righteousness and obey God?
So in conclusion, God in both cases authorized and publicly stated what His plans were and what Jesus was to follow, and Jesus obeyed.
3. Jesus’s transformation
This is a story we read about in Luke 9: 28-36: 28 About eight days after Jesus said this, he took Peter, John and James with him and went up onto a mountain to pray. 29 As he was praying, the appearance of his face changed, and his clothes became as bright as a flash of lightning. 30 Two men, Moses and Elijah, appeared in glorious splendor, talking with Jesus. 31 They spoke about his departure, which he was about to bring to fulfillment at Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions were very sleepy, but when they became fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As the men were leaving Jesus, Peter said to him, “Master, it is good for us to be here. Let us put up three shelters—one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” (He did not know what he was saying.) 34 While he was speaking, a cloud appeared and covered them, and they were afraid as they entered the cloud. 35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.” 36 When the voice had spoken, they found that Jesus was alone. The disciples kept this to themselves and did not tell anyone at that time what they had seen.
Moses and Elijah represent all of the Law and all of the prophets. They had died many years before so this would have been frightening and amazing to the disciples as they awoke to learn who Jesus was talking too!
They were talking with Jesus about His death “which He was about to accomplish at Jerusalem” (Lk 9:31).
What authorization is being given and to whom is it being given to?
What does verse 36 says? Who is talking here?
It is not enough for Moses and Elijah to confirm Jesus. God the Father gives the ultimate approval when He speaks from heaven.
Listen to Him!
The authority of Moses and the prophets is being removed. God again is stating publicly to witnesses that Jesus is His Son and that God is giving Jesus the authority. Even though He was standing next to two of the greatest men in Israel’s history, God says Jesus is even greater and all should listen to Him now.
In two different occasions, at the beginning of Jesus’ ministry on earth and close to the middle of his work, God gives His sign of approval on Jesus’ work, when He confirms that people should listen to Jesus and not to any other of the old prophets. Today, if we want to please God, we are to listen to Jesus, on whom God is well pleased.
Jesus confirmed this very clearly at the end of his life on earth, after his resurrection and before He went to heaven. The last verses of Matthew 28:18-20 say: 18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Jesus has all the authority today and in order to please God we must listen to all commandments of Jesus.
Campus Bible Talk 2011
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