Authority
Steven J. Wallace
| Mark 11:28-30 | Date: May - July (2006) |
| 28 And they said to Him, "By what authority are You doing these things? And who gave You this authority to do these things?" 29 But Jesus answered and said to them, "I also will ask you one question; then answer Me, and I will tell you by what authority I do these things: 30 "The baptism of John—was it from heaven or from men? Answer Me." |
Place: Sunnyside, Wa |
By answering a question with a question about John's baptism, Jesus affirmed that His works and ministry were from heaven. The Pharisees were too dishonest to answer the Lord’s question, but if they would have, they would have seen heaven’s endorsement of the Lord’s work. Modern minds should keep this in perspective, it was not the Pharisees who were honest about authority and who were seeking to abide by the Law, but it was Jesus who manifested the full will of God. Pressing the need for authority does not make us side with the Pharisees, but with Jesus.
Jesus affirmed in John 12:49, 50: “For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life. Therefore, whatever I speak, just as the Father has told Me, so I speak.”
Christians, teachers, and preachers today would do well to take it to heart to speak just as the Father would have them speak.
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PowerPoint Charts:Lesson 1, Lesson 2, Lesson 3, Lesson 4, Lesson 5, Lesson 6, Lesson 7 |
Related Material: Is The New Testament Our Pattern?
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