The Unwavering Authority of Jesus

Introduction

Dietrich Bonhoeffer was a German pastor and leader in Nazi Germany during WWII.

When Adolf Hitler ascended to power, a group called the “Deutsche Cristen” in the German Evangelical Church began to promote the nazification of Germany from inside the church and created the “Reich Church.”

This nazification grew and grew until the German Evangelical Church was synonymous with the Nazi regime.

Bonhoeffer opposed the nazification of his church, and as a result, he was ostracized from his church.

He began to teach in an illegal seminary that opposed nazi views, but the school was closed, he was banned from Berlin by the Gestapo, and was forbidden to speak publically in 1940.

He spent the rest of his short life teaching the gospel in secret, rescuing Jews, and conspiring against the Nazi regime.

As a result, he was arrested, tried injustly, sentenced to death, and executed in a concentration camp in 1945.

Bonhoeffer lived in a day where bring a Christian who is true to the word of God ran totally opposite to most of the people around him.

What do we do when ideologies around us that run contrary to the gospel are:

widespread,

endorsed by the masses,

endorsed by the powers that be, or

pervasive.

Bonhoeffer, “The mysterious, invisible authority of the divine child over human hearts is more solidly grounded than the visible and resplendent power of earthly rulers. Ultimately all authority on earth must serve only the authority of Jesus Christ over humankind.”

Today, by witnessing several miracles from the life of Jesus, we are going to see that Jesus has authority over all things. May we place our confidence in Him.

Read Luke 4:31-44.

May we have such confidence in the authority of Jesus that we will do whatever He asks us.

Explanation

Luke 4:31-32 And he was teaching them on the Sabbath, and they were astonished at his teaching, for his word possessed authority.”

Jesus is teaching with authority. He has a great command of the Scriptures.

He is teaching in Capernum which is one of the largest towns in Galilee. It wasn’t large, but it showed that his influence and credibility was increasing.

When you contrast the gospels, you will notice that Mark concentrated on the miracles of Jesus, while Luke balanced the miracles with the teaching. Mark was showing the Jesus was God. Luke was showing this well rounded picture of Jesus the teacher AND miracle worker.

Application: Jesus’ compassion is directly attached to His teaching, AND Jesus’ teaching is directly attached to His compassion.

He is not truth without compassion.

He is not compassion without truth.

Jesus teaches as one who has AUTHORITY.

Teachers only teach what they have been taught.

Seminary: You teach something new… and you’re wrong. We have a rich, historic faith that has been passed down for centuries.

However, Jesus does teach new things:

“You have heard it said… but I say to you.”

Jesus is making the rules, because He is God.

He teaches as one who has authority, because He IS the authority.

Luke 4:33-35 “And in the synagogue there was a man who had the spirit of an unclean demon, and he cried out with a loud voice, “Ha! What have you to do with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God.” But Jesus rebuked him, saying, “Be silent and come out of him!” And when the demon had thrown him down in their midst, he came out of him, having done him no harm.”

Demons - I will talk a little about demons here, but we will address them later in the book of Luke.

C. S. Lewis says, “There are two equal and opposite errors into which our race can fall about the devils. One is to disbelieve in their existence. The other is to believe, and to feel and excessive and unhealthy interest in them. They themselves are equally pleased by both errors and hail a materialist or a magician with the same delight.”

Let me give you a few facts: Demons are fallen angels that rebelled against God. They have been allowed temporary, incomplete authority in the world we live. They attempt to foil the plans of God and overthrow the Kingdom of God. They will always fail.

The Possessed Man in Luke

When a person was possessed by a demon, we don’t really know what that entails, but we do know what the Bible tells us of different accounts. People suffered physically, mentally, and spiritually from a demon.

We don’t know what was particularly happening to the man in this passage, but the demon cries out to Jesus.

He says a few things:

“Ha!” “Hey!” “Stop!” - An exclamation. Surprised or scared.

“Why are you bothering us?” more literally, “What am I to you?” “Have you come to destroy us?”

These demons know, as all demons do, that they are created beings, and they are speaking to their creator.

Demons can no more defeat God than any of us can. God is creator and sustainer of the universe.

They know who Jesus is, and they know they are no match for Him.

May that give you comfort today that the schemes of Satan are no match for God.

Jesus responds - “Be silent and come out of him.”

Jesus didn’t ask.

The demons obeyed.

Jesus has authority over spiritual forces of Satan.

Jesus, in his compassion, helped this man.

Luke 4:38—39 “And he arose and left the synagogue and entered Simon’s house. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was ill with a high fever, and they appealed to him on her behalf. And he stood over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her, and immediately she rose and began to serve them.”

We have a shift from Jesus authority over the spiritual realm to his authority over the natural realm. He was just casting our a demon, not he is healing disease.

Simon’s mother-in-law has a high fever.

A high fever is something to take serious today, but a high fever is something much more serious in the ancient world without adequate medical care.

Side Note: Luke is a physician. He would not have included this account if the situation was not significant. Which kids get to stay home the least from school for being sick - Kids whose parents are in the medical profession.

Jesus commanded the fever to leave the woman.

Jesus is able to heal and has authority over the natural world.

Not only did the high fever leave her, but she was immediately able to get up and prepare something to eat.

I don’t know about you, but when I have a high fever, I feel completely drained.

She was completely revived.

Where Jesus reigns, people are free.

Jesus authority is not oppressive, but it brings real freedom.

The world we live in today says, “Christianity is oppressive. Be free and do whatever you want.”

To the people that Jesus exerts his authority in this passage, the are not oppressed, but freed.

Neither the man with the demon or the woman with sickness felt oppressed by the authority of Jesus. They were better for it.

Luke 4:40-41 “Now when the sun was setting, all those who had any who were sick with various diseases brought them to him, and he laid his hands on every one of them and healed them. And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.”

Jesus’ compassion has him healing and exorcising demons throughout the evening.

“He laid his hands on every one of them and healed them.”

Jesus didn’t miss a single person.

Everyone was healed and everyone was cared for.

Notice that Jesus’ ministry moves from his friends and family into the world.

Luke 4:42-44 “And when it was day, he departed and went into a desolate place. And the people sought him and came to him, and would have kept him from leaving them, but he said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well; for I was sent for this purpose.” And he was preaching in the synagogues of Judea.”

The next morning, Jesus did something curious. He withdrew to a desolate place.

Jesus then tells them, “I am here to preach the good news of the kingdom more than I am here to heal you.”

Jesus is saying, “I am more than what I can give you. I am bringing about my kingdom.”

The Kingdom of God is a theme throughout the gospels. Jesus is pushing back the darkness of the world

Patrick Schreiner: The King’s power over the King’s people in the King’s place.

When we pray, “Thy Kingdom Come” in the Lord’s prayer, it isn’t a plea or a wish but a statement of fact. The Kingdom is coming and nothing can stop it.

Invitation

Live under the authority of Jesus.

Be saved and know freedom.

Repent and experience the perfection of His rule in your heart.

Give Him the part of your life that has enslaved you.