The Authority of Jesus
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”
John 13:10-13
Though Jesus often asked questions of people, either to start a conversation or to reveal what was in their hearts, there is not a single time in the Gospels where He asked anyone to do anything. Jesus is Lord, and as such has the right and authority to command people. Jesus told the disciples to follow Him. He told the demons to leave those they possessed. He told the storm to be silent. Jesus did not ask for favors or obedience—He commanded it.
We see this principle of authority in the story of the Roman centurion who came to beg Jesus to heal his servant. He said, “For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” (Matthew 8:9). Jesus did exactly what the man asked, commanding the healing of the servant without ever seeing him in person, and he was healed. Jesus is Lord of all.
Our view of God is most revealed not in what we say, but in what we do. If we see Him as the rightful Lord of our lives, obedience is the only possible correct response. Many Christians struggle with both service to God and with overcoming sin because they do accept the authority of Jesus to rule their lives.
Today's Growth Principle:
Nothing that we are told to do in the Word of God is optional—it is commanded and must be obeyed.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
by Dr. Paul Chappell
“Jesus saith to him, He that is washed needeth not save to wash his feet, but is clean every whit: and ye are clean, but not all. For he knew who should betray him; therefore said he, Ye are not all clean. So after he had washed their feet, and had taken his garments, and was set down again, he said unto them, Know ye what I have done to you? Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.”
John 13:10-13
Though Jesus often asked questions of people, either to start a conversation or to reveal what was in their hearts, there is not a single time in the Gospels where He asked anyone to do anything. Jesus is Lord, and as such has the right and authority to command people. Jesus told the disciples to follow Him. He told the demons to leave those they possessed. He told the storm to be silent. Jesus did not ask for favors or obedience—He commanded it.
We see this principle of authority in the story of the Roman centurion who came to beg Jesus to heal his servant. He said, “For I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me: and I say to this man, Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to my servant, Do this, and he doeth it” (Matthew 8:9). Jesus did exactly what the man asked, commanding the healing of the servant without ever seeing him in person, and he was healed. Jesus is Lord of all.
Our view of God is most revealed not in what we say, but in what we do. If we see Him as the rightful Lord of our lives, obedience is the only possible correct response. Many Christians struggle with both service to God and with overcoming sin because they do accept the authority of Jesus to rule their lives.
Today's Growth Principle:
Nothing that we are told to do in the Word of God is optional—it is commanded and must be obeyed.
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