When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law. Matthew 7: 28, 29, NIV.
Gracious God, Today we come to You, fully convinced that You have Words of eternal life to share with us. By faith, we come expecting to be convicted by Your Holy Soirit. In the precious name of Jesus we humbly pray. Amen.
I am almost certain that most of us, have, at one time or another, met someone who, at first glance, exuded authority; sometimes, without even opening his or her mouth! Their very presence demands respect. I have met, not a few, in my lifetime, especially during the years I was studying! Jesus was such a person! He hds just finished His Sermon on the Mount. One of the last statements He made, as recorded in the Gospel according to Matthew, was about the reliability of His Word. He assured His audience that everything that He had taught them was trustworthy! His Words were like a solid foundation upon which they could build!
Compared to His Words, were the words of, “the teachers of the law.” The difference was that “He spoke as Someone who had authority,” and they did not. I would like us, for a few minutes, to consider what it was that gave authority to Jesus’ Words, and what will give authority to ours. There are several things that I can think of, but perhaps the most important of them all is consistency! He lived what He preached! All of the things that Jesus taught the people He put into practice! He was “poor in spirit,” He came “to serve, not to be served.” He mourned over the sick, and the lost, and those who refused His salvation. He was saddened by those who lost their loved ones to the icy grasp of death, and wept for them, and with them. He sympathized with all who were affected by the terrible effects of sin, and He rescued as many as He could by feeding them, healing them, and resurrecting them! His life was a carbon copy of His sermons!
Another factor that gave authority to His Words was His conviction in what he preached! He believed what he taught others. He had received Words of life from the Father, and He believed them. Therefore He could share them with authority! “I have revealed you to those whom you gave me out of the world. They were yours; you gave them to me and they have obeyed your word. Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you. For I gave them the words you gave me and they accepted them. They knew with certainty that I came from you, and they believed that you sent me” (John 17: 6-8).
The authority resided in Him. He was the Word incarnate. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1: 1-3, 14). Only He who created humankind in the beginning, could speak to the essence of human existence with such authority!
By His grace, we too, can speak with authority! When our words become our way of life; when we are convinced that what we preach is the truth; and when we become one with the Word incarnate, then, our words will be filled to overflowing, with authority!