Ultimate Authority
Then the eleven disciples left for Galilee, going to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him—but some of them doubted!
Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.” Matthew 28:16-18
Back in the day, I was the kid who wouldn’t dare challenge my parents’ authority. Picture this. My dad was in the military, and my mom? Well, imagine a drill sergeant in yoga pants. I was always the child that would not dare undermine the authority of my parents. That is not to say I was a perfect child growing up. However, most people would say that I followed the ‘straight and narrow’ path. Heck, I was the one who told on myself before the school administrator even knew what I did! My standards were pretty clear. So, yes, I felt loved and cared for. I also never crossed the line when I lost TV time for the month (think of it as losing all electronics). It was crystal clear who the authority in my house was!
When we look to God’s word, we understand it to be both His words and the book of authority. However, I found myself challenged by a sermon that talked about Jesus being the ultimate authority. The thing is we would typically view them as all equal, but the point the pastor made was Jesus is God and He is over all things. After reading the last chapter of Matthew, I too, am starting to reevaluate how I see it.
We are to view Jesus as our ultimate authority figure. When viewing scripture, it is inspiring, life changing, and even convicting. When we read it, we feel a little wiser and hopefully better about who we are and how God loves us. The key thing to remember is that when we are unsure about what to do and question why we do it, we have one authority by which all things fall under. Reading today’s verses, it felt they are somewhat glossed over much like following verses that we all know too well (Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Mt 28:19). However, we know this to be true just as we know Jesus to be God in the flesh. But if we dig deeper in the word, we know the people who saw all the things Jesus did still question Him:
Again they entered Jerusalem. As Jesus was walking through the Temple area, the leading priests, the teachers of religious law, and the elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right to do them?” (Mark 11:27-28)
Thus, it is easy to understand how we might fall into the same category as not only those but also present-day leaders. However, we know what He did for us, and we are saved through Him. We call Him many names such as ‘savior,’ ‘king,’ and of course ‘God the Son.’ But He is our authority for He said so, and while He could have done so through force, fear, or many other of Godly attributes, He chose one that makes Him above all other authority. Love.
We walk in the footsteps of Jesus, guided by the love He bestowed upon us. Our mission is to reflect that love to everyone around us—whether they are strangers on the street or cherished companions. His love transcends barriers, cutting through the ‘red tape’ that often obstructs our own acts of kindness. Jesus declared, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples.” (John 13:34-35) Let us embody this love, demonstrating to the world that we follow Him. How can we reflect on Jesus as the ultimate authority? Where can we better honor His teachings? My prayer is our focus remain on recognizing Jesus Christ as our guiding light and ultimate authority. Amen.