The Authority of Jesus Christ

The Authority of Jesus Christ THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST
By JAS. F. COX.

It is very unfortunate for any individual or for any people when mandates of authority are accepted and followed without thought or question. On the other hand, it is a good sign when the masses, the common people, begin to question the authority of their leaders and rulers in any institution or organization. For a long time, probably a thousand years, the masses of the people were in the darkness of ignorance and superstition, following meekly and timidly in the way of their ignorant and customhound riders. During this period of the Dark Ages, if any one in the lower ranks dared to think for himself and question the authority of the rulers, he was looked upon with suspicion and was probably burned at once. When all the people for more than thirty generations accept without question the ipse dixits of priest and king and bow in humble submission to their authority, there can be but one result, a racial habit that of blindly following anybody or anything that purports to be in authorit). It is this habit of the people that causes so many of them now to accept, without question, statements concerning their religion just as they are handed out by books, manuscripts, or preachers. This is one extreme, and is indeed a deplorable state of affairs. But the human mind is so made up that it will not remain thus in intellectual or spiritual thraldom. A good many hundred years ago there began a questioning of authority, a doubting of the statements of leaders in spiritual matters. This spirit of inquiry relative to religious affairs, encouraged and fostered as it was by such outstanding characters as Luther, Calvin and Knox, would not down when persecution came, but rather thrived on it. This same questioning spirit extended to affairs of state, and in this field it was only a few short centuries until practically all of the people of all of the civilized world were seeking to know the source and rightful extent of all the political authority to which they were subjected. Today there is not much blind following in matters political. In religion also there are many doubting and inquiring minds. This. I consider a good sign, for it shows that the people are seeking a solid rock upon which to plant their religious faith. It shows that the people are seeking to know the source and extent of all that claims to be religious authority. The thoughtful, faithful child of God should hail with delight such a condition of affairs, for the claims of the Christ thrive and spread most when subjected to honest earnest critical study. This merely leads up to a study of that very important subject: THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST. I make no apology for discussing such a question before this audience of Christian people, for there are many to-day who claim to be Christians who doubt both the Divine source and the unlimited extent of the authority of the Christ. If you are here this evening, Mr. Doubter, I beg that you give the claims of the Nazarene a fair, thorough and impartial consideration. This question is asked you, "What think you of Christ, whose son is he?" Do not cast it aside with only a superficial examination.

"And He went into the temple and began to cast out those that sold therein, and them that bought; saying unto them, it is written, my house is the house of prayer; but you have made it a den of thieves.

"And He taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him, and could not find what way they might do; for all the people were very attentive to hear Him.

"And it came to pass on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders and spake unto him saying, tell us by what authority doest thou these things? Or who is he that gave thee this authority?" This was indeed a very pertinent question. It is a question that ought to he asked today in sincerity by all thinking people when it conies to religious question. This is an age and time of many creeds, many churches and many religions, due, of course, to this great doubting, questioning, inquiring spirit referred to a few moments ago. It is well that people should be so concerned about their religion, for it is the most important and far-reaching thing with which they have to do, being the only thing that has to do with their after-death existence. It is but sane and sensible, therefore, that one should give honest earnest consideration to the matter of the source and extent of the authority of those whom he follows in religion. I take it that no intelligent earnest student of history today doubts that Jesus of Nazareth lived and exercised great and unusual authority. Many are not quite clear and sure as to the extent and source of this authority. It is therefore important and expedient that we consider this question in the light of God's word, the only source of information upon this matter. But whence came that great authority which was so frequently exercised by Jesus of Nazareth? It came from no earthly source, because no human or earthly power had done or could do the marvelous things he did.

Jesus himself did not claim that such power was inherent with him, or that he deserved any special credit for having such power and authority. In Matthew 11:27 he says: ''All things are delivered unto me of my Father." In John 3:35 Jesus says again: "The Father loveth the Son and hath given all things into his hands." In John 5:19 he says: "The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do.' John says: "Jesus knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands " In that great prayer which the Savior prayed just before he went out into the garden, we have this statement: "Father the hour is come; glorify Thy Son, that Thy Son also may glorify Thee. As thou hast given Him power over all flesh, that he should give eternal life to as many as thou hast given Him." John 17:1-2.

Again, speaking of his judgment, the Savior says: "For the Father judgeth no man, hut hath committed all judgment unto the Son....I can of my own self do nothing: As I hear I judge; and my judgment is just..." John 5:22; John 5:30. Paul tells us that: "For the Father hath put all things under his feet." 1 Corinthians 15:21.

These scriptures are sufficient to prove to the honest man that Christ received all his authority from Jehovah, the God of the Israelites. But the question arises how or why did he get it? In the first place he lived such a life that it pleased the Father who is the source of all authority. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased." said the God of the world in Matthew 3:17. And again while he was on the mount of transfiguration God spoke from the eternal courts of glory and said. "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye Him." It is but natural to want to give good things to those who please us. He was pleasing to his heavenly bather because he was humble and obedient. In Php_2:5-8 Paul says: "Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus; who being in the form of God, thot it not robbery to be equal with God: but made himself of no reputation, and took upon himself the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: and being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death on the cross." In Hebrews 5:8-9 we have this language: "Tho he were a Son yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; and being made perfect he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him." Not only did Jesus prove himself by showing humility and obedience, but he also showed his worthiness by his lighting qualities when he came lace to face with the evil one. In (Luke 4:1-13) we see him lighting Satan and using the sword of the spirit as a weapon. There were many other battles to be fought and victories to be won, each of which would increase his power and authority. Paul tells us: "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the Kingdom to God, even the Father; When he shall have put down all rule .and all authority and power. For he must reign until he has put all enemies under his feet. The last enemy that shall he destroyed is death." 1 Corinthians 15:24-25.

Having seen that all the authority that Christ possessed and exercised came from God, and that he proved himself worthy to have such power; the next question to answer is: What was the extent of that authority? First we will answer that question as it pertains to him before His death. His authority was greater than that of the scribes, for they could only teach according to what was written. They had no authority to go beyond what was written or to teach against the customs and traditions of the elders. Matthew tells us that when Jesus had finished that wonderful sermon on the mount. "The people were astonished at his doctrine: for he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes." Matthew 7:28-29. His enemies said of Him, "Never man spake like this man." John 7:46. He had greater authority in his teaching than Moses or the prophets for God spoke from Heaven to those on the mount of transfiguration and said, "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased hear ye Him." Peter, quoting from the Old Testament, gives us the same idea: "For Moses truly said unto the fathers, a prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, He unto me; Him shall you hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you." Acts 3:22 The greatness, extent and superiority of his authority is quite notable in the matter of his teaching. He also demonstrated that he had this wonderful power by the doing of his mighty works. He showed that he had complete power over the human body by many great miracles which he did. When John wished to be assured that Christ was "He that should come" he sent two of his disciples to ask him. When they came: "And in that same hour he cured many of their infirmities and plagues, and of evil spirits: And unto many that were blind he gave sight. Then Jesus answering said unto them, (it) your way, and tell John what things you have seen and heard; how that the blind see, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, to the poor the gospel is preached." All of these things he could do and he did do; not as by human agencies, for they were done by the power of God and at once. The Christ could heal by personal touch, by mere personal presence, or at a distance by speaking the "word only." The many instances where he exercised his power over the human body to restore it to health or to life are too numerous to give in this short address. There is nothing in all history before that time or since, that can in any way be compared with it. All these things were done, of course, as evidence that the power of God was with Him.

Another important way in which Christ demonstrated to the people that he had the power of God was in his dealings with the elements. He spoke to the raging storm and there was a calm. At his word the angry waves subsided and the sea became peaceful and quiet. He could make one loaf of bread feed a thousand hungry men and then gather up more fragments of food than was in the original loaf. By the power of his word life went out of the bodies of animals, and trees were made to wither away immediately. Surely this was the Son of the all-powerful and most-high God. '

Evil spirits existed on the earth in the time of Christ, and were permitted to manifest themselves in various ways. It is significant that these evil spirits knew the Savior, that they knew he was the Son of God, that they recognized his great authority, and that they knew that they must be submissive to him. In Mark 1:23-27 we have this language:

"And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit, and he cried out, saying, let us
alone, what have we to do with Thee, thou Jesus of Nazareth? Art thou come to destroy us? I
know Thee who thou art, the holy one of God. And Jesus rebuked him, saying, hold thy peace
and come out of him. And when the unclean spirit had torn him, and cried with a loud voice, he
came out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves,
saying, what thing is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority commandeth he even
the unclean spirits, and they do obey Him."

During his personal ministry the Christ also had power to forgive sins and this he exercised on many different occassions. In Matthew 9:2, we have this language: "And behold they brought to Him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said to the sick of the palsy: Son. be of good cheer, thy sins he forgiven thee." When his authority to do this was questioned by the scribes he proved his power by performing a miracle upon the body, restoring the palsied man to health. He said: "But that you may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (Then said he to the sick of the palsy) arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thy house. And he arose and departed unto his house. But when the multitude saw it. they marveled and glorified God, which had given such power unto men." Matthew 9:6-8.

Another very remarkable characteristic of the Master was that he had power over his own life. Concerning this he said: "Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, thai I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but 1 lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. 'This commandment have I received of my Father." John 10:17-18. He voluntarily went into Gethsemane. He made no effort to escape those who came to arrest him. He said unto them, "this is your hour, and the power of darkness." Without an effort at defense he yielded himself to his enemies that they might work their will upon his mortal body. For three days and three nights the body of the blessed Savior was in the power of, and subject to the authority of wicked men and earthly government, but his spirit, which he himself committed to his heavenly bather, was in the Paradise of God. A Roman seal was placed upon his tomb, this seal being the symbol of authority of the greatest government on earth. A guard of Roman soldiers was placed around the grave as a further guarantee, that this inanimate body might not escape from them. But how weak was the great power of men, and how futile were their efforts to retain their authority over his mangled body! By the power of God the Roman seal was shattered, the Roman guard was struck down, the spirit of Christ was returned to its body, and Jons of Nazareth came forth a triumphant conqueror over death, the power of darkness and evil, and the grave. The last great battle had been fought and the last great victory had been won, and the Christ was able to say to His apostles: "All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth." Christ is now exalted, "Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come." "God hath put all things under His feet, and hath given Him to be the bead over all tilings to the church, which is his body, the fullness of him that filleth all in all." Peter says of Him: "Who is now gone into heaven, and is on the right hand of God; angels and authorities and powers being made subject unto Him." Then why should elders, deacons, evangelists, or any other christian attempt to legislate in the church? Christ alone has authority in the church. He is its head. Why should any priest, pope, potentate, or king set himself up as stun - great one and presume to speak where Christ has not spoken? God says, hear my Son. Why should any of these exalt themselves and presume to exercise authority independent of the Christ? Do they not understand that "the powers that be are ordained of God"? Why should human being- set up chinches in the name of the Christian religion and not give Christ the preeminence? Let us follow Christ and be subject to him in all things.

Even the comforter, the Holy Spirit, which was sent to the apostles to guide them into all truth was not to speak of himself, "But whatsoever he shall hear, that shall lie speak: and he will show thee things to come. lie shall glorify me: For he shall receive of mine, and shall show it unto you." I say it reverently, and I believe it is true, that the Holy Ghost could not then, and cannot now do anything or give any teachings contrary to the authority of Jesus Christ.

All of us desire to live eternally, and Jesus alone has power and authority to give that eternal life. "And being made perfect he became the author of eternal life to all them that obey Him." Just here I am reminded of the time in the life of the Savior when His disciples were forsaking Him and walking no more with Him. His great human heart was so crushed that he cried out to his apostles in anguish of spirit. "Will ye also go away? Then Simon Peter answered Him, Lord to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life." Would that all of the inhabitants of earth could get this vision of the Master, as the only one who has power and authority to give them life eternal.

There are many people who would gladly be subject to the Christ, (so they say,) if he were here in person and demonstrated to them the power and authority that he claimed to possess. "But" they say, "He is too far away, and we do not know that the Bible is his will." Jesus has delegated authority to his apostles. Before His death He said to Peter, "And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be hound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 16:19.) And again He said to his apostles: "Verily I say unto you, whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." (Matthew 18:18.) His apostles were to be his ambassadors upon earth to give his will to sinful man. They could not make a mistake in this matter for the Holy Spirit was given to them to guide them into all truth and to bring to their remembrance all things whatsoever Christ had said unto them. When he met with them after his resurrection and gave them the great and sublime mission of carrying his gospel to all the world, he told them to wait in Jerusalem until they were endued with power from on high. These great teachers who had had three and a half years of training under the direction of the Masterteacher, who had seen him perform literally hundreds of miracles, who had seen him and talked with him after his resurrection, were not permitted to give the gospel to the world until a higher power came to guide them so that they would make no mistake. Thus the privilege of teaching the gospel, God's power to save the people from their sins, was delegated to his apostles. They were to "commit these things to faithful men who should be able to teach others also." As his ambassadors Christ was to be with them always even unto the end of the world." In accordance with the great program set forth by Jesus before his ascension, the apostles waited in Jerusalem until the power came. On the first Pentecost after Christ's resurrection the promised holy spirit came, and immediately Peter began to exercise the authority that had been delegated to him by his Master, by preaching the first gospel sermon to the assembled multitude. He now used for the first time those keys which Christ had given him, when he made known to those wicked Jews how they might receive remission of sins. He here told the good news of salvation in the name and by the authority of Christ. Many many times after this not only Peter, but the other apostles as well spoke, wrote, and worked miracles by the authority of Jesus Christ. Peter healed the man at the beautiful gate of the Temple in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth. Aeneas, who had been sick for eight years, was healed by the power of Jesus Christ, exercised thru Peter. Always everywhere every time the great spokesman of the apostles, as well as the others, testified both to Jew and Gentile that salvation was in the name and by the authority of Jesus Christ. In the face of the overwhelming evidence that Jesus of Nazareth received bis authority from the God of the Universe, and that this authority was far above all earthly powers and dominions, and that his will was made known to humanity by his apostles who were guided into all truth, yet in this enlightened twentieth century we have learned ( ?) men who claim to be preachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ, who also openly aver that this Christ was only a good man, and that his will can be set aside—that he is not in authority. In the Literary Digest of Feb. 17, 1923 we have this statement quoted from Dr. Percy S. Grant, preacher for one of the large Episcopal churches in New York City. "Very few clergymen to-day who have been educated in the large Universities by which I mean places where Science as well as the Classics and Mathematics are taught—accept the idea that Jesus had the power of God. He doubtless did miracles as they were regarded in his day, but as A I. Cone points out, many of them were acts of auto-suggestion and would fall under well-known catagories clearly and well-classified by psychologists to-day. Science understands them. They are not miracles." Again he says: "We may accept the spiritual teachings of Christ as the basis of our religion, but we need not believe that he ascended and is seated on the right hand of God." These statements are similar to those which are made by any person who sets up his own reason as authority in religion. If we do not believe that Christ received "all authority in heaven and in earth," and received that from God, if we do not believe that God has said we must hear Jesus of Nazareth, His Son, then we have no standard except our own reason. There are two ways, my friends, one the way of reason, and the other the way of Christ. Those who go in the first way rely upon their own reason in matters religious, while those who go the other way acknowledge the AUTHORITY OF JESUS CHRIST as their standard in religion.