Do you like “authority”? Well, it depends on who has it, and how they are leveraging it.
In the New Testament, the word commonly translated “authority” has two key concepts connected to it: someone with authority has the ability to do something, AND they have been assigned the task to do it.
Examples are myriad. Parents have the task of raising their children. A President, Prime Minister, or King is given the job of leading their nation. A business owner bears the responsibility of guiding their enterprise. Pastors and Elders are entrusted with the shepherding of the church. Principals are delegated the job of running a school, and teachers of overseeing the classroom. In each of these examples someone (God, the state, the constitution, the board) has handed a baton of “authority” to an individual or group of individuals and asked them to lead. In these situations, the responsibility is limited to a particular jurisdiction, and for a particular term. The leader of one country does not run another country. The parent of a seven year old child does not bear the same responsibility for all kids that age. The school does not manage the home. The church does not control society, etc. But in their area, they are given the authority to lead. And the business leader gives up his/her authority when they retire, the politician when their term runs out, and parent as their child hits adulthood. In most human examples, authority has limits in both time and space.
But do they have the ability to lead? Well some have this ability better than others, and it makes a huge difference in the experience of authority. Companies that are run well, have lines of workers looking for their employment, but companies that are corrupt at the top are termed toxic. Churches that are led with character and wisdom are a blessing to their congregation, while those who are deceitful at the top frustrate the lives of those they seek to shepherd. Parents who are full of truth and grace raise up children in the way they should go, while parents who neglect or abuse their children push their children away. Political leaders who enact sound policy and lead with integrity usher their people toward prosperous lives while corruption at the top casts a dark shadow over the nation.
So, when the right person has authority, it is a blessing. When the wrong person has authority it is painful.
But even then … it isn’t that simple. After all, sometimes good leaders make good decisions, but we still don’t like it. Why? Because it may not be exactly what we want. We are all sinners after all, and one of the chief expressions of sin is selfishness and self-focus. So I may find myself rebelling against authority because of preference, not because of the performance or identity of the leader.
Why do I go into all this today? Well Sunday at Wildwood Community Church, we will be in part 2 of our “Launch Day” sermon series. This series is walking us through the opening events of Jesus’ public earthly ministry as recorded in Luke 4:14-6:16. Last week we saw Jesus preach His homecoming sermon in Nazareth, declaring that He was the promised Messiah. This meant that Jesus had been given authority. But how much authority had He been given?
All of it. Jesus had been given all authority. There would be no end to His jurisdiction in time, place, or sphere. As the Son of God, He had been given ALL AUTHORITY in heaven and on earth.
Is this a good thing? Absolutely! Jesus is not just “good-ish,” He is perfect! Not only that, He is both just and loving; both omnipotent and compassionate; both omniscient and gracious. We should REJOICE at the announcement of Jesus’ authority.
But, not all do … and not all did. Last week in Nazareth, we saw that they wanted to kill Jesus for claiming such authority. So Jesus slipped through their midst and resettled to the north in the fishing village of Capernaum. In this Sunday’s message, we will see Jesus begin to exhibit His authority over various realms in Luke 4:31-37, to be reminded again why it is such a GOOD THING that Jesus is in charge. Join us in our 8:30, 9:45, or 11:00 service as we see Jesus’ authority over the spirit world. Join us as we sing, study, and share the Lord’s Supper together this weekend. See you there … and bring friends.