Christ's Authority

Turn in your Bibles to John chapter 7.

Introduction

As Americans, we tend to have a natural, deeply ingrained suspicion of authority. It seems like the stronger the leader, the more extensive the authority they claim, the more suspicious we become. In general, that suspicion is not a bad thing. History has taught us well that leaders who make much of themselves and revel in exerting authority typically do not serve the interests of the people well. I have in mind leaders like Hitler, Stalin, the Persian Empire, and basically any empire you can think of.

We even have this loathing built-in to some of our favorite movies. Take Star Wars, for example. The whole plot line is the Rebels fighting against the evil Emperor Palpatine as he tries to exert and expand his authority over the whole universe. The authoritarian leader is evil, the Rebels fighting against him are good.

But sometimes that fierce independence, that rebel spirit, carries over into our spiritual lives as well. We subconsciously transfer our suspicion of authority to God as well, questioning or rebelling against his authority over our lives, making him out like Emperor Palpatine from Star Wars. It’s a conflict that dates back to the Garden of Eden— “Did God really say…? You will not surely die… God just doesn’t have your best interests at heart.”

As we pick back up in our series in the Gospel of John in chapter 7 today, we see this conflict intensifying as Jesus’ claims to authority bring him into more and more conflict with the religious leaders and others who desire to have the authority for themselves.

The fundamental reason for this conflict boils down to an issue of authority. Even still today, we see a conflict between those who willingly submit to Christ’s authority and those who sinfully rebel.

FCF: Our fallen world—and our own sinful hearts—rebel against a higher authority. But in John 7 we see that submission to Christ’s authority is in our best interests and is the only way to salvation.

Read John 7:1-24

John 7:1–24 ESV

1 After this Jesus went about in Galilee. He would not go about in Judea, because the Jews were seeking to kill him. 2 Now the Jews’ Feast of Booths was at hand. 3 So his brothers said to him, “Leave here and go to Judea, that your disciples also may see the works you are doing. 4 For no one works in secret if he seeks to be known openly. If you do these things, show yourself to the world.” 5 For not even his brothers believed in him. 6 Jesus said to them, “My time has not yet come, but your time is always here. 7 The world cannot hate you, but it hates me because I testify about it that its works are evil. 8 You go up to the feast. I am not going up to this feast, for my time has not yet fully come.” 9 After saying this, he remained in Galilee. 10 But after his brothers had gone up to the feast, then he also went up, not publicly but in private. 11 The Jews were looking for him at the feast, and saying, “Where is he?” 12 And there was much muttering about him among the people. While some said, “He is a good man,” others said, “No, he is leading the people astray.” 13 Yet for fear of the Jews no one spoke openly of him. 14 About the middle of the feast Jesus went up into the temple and began teaching. 15 The Jews therefore marveled, saying, “How is it that this man has learning, when he has never studied?” 16 So Jesus answered them, “My teaching is not mine, but his who sent me. 17 If anyone’s will is to do God’s will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own authority. 18 The one who speaks on his own authority seeks his own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and in him there is no falsehood. 19 Has not Moses given you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why do you seek to kill me?” 20 The crowd answered, “You have a demon! Who is seeking to kill you?” 21 Jesus answered them, “I did one work, and you all marvel at it. 22 Moses gave you circumcision (not that it is from Moses, but from the fathers), and you circumcise a man on the Sabbath. 23 If on the Sabbath a man receives circumcision, so that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because on the Sabbath I made a man’s whole body well? 24 Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment.”

Prayer for illumination and submission to God’s Word.

Passage Intro and Overview

John 7 is a long chapter and we won’t be reading all of it today, so I want to start by drawing your attention to what all happens in the chapter because I’ll make reference to some of the latter parts of the chapter throughout my sermon today.

v.8 probably means, ‘not yet going’ to the feast

‘My time’ and ‘your time’ = ‘time of glorification’ (see v. 39)

The Festival (or “Feast”) of Booths was a 7 or 8 day celebration and remembrance of God’s provision for the people of Israel during their wandering in the wilderness. More on this later.

The bulk of chapter 7 is a back and forth between Jesus and those who believe or refuse to believe in him. Cycles of Division and Conflict in Jn 7:

vv. 1-13 With Jesus and his brothers

vv. 14-24 With the religious leaders over interpreting the Law

vv. 25-31 Amongst the people over where his authority/claim to the title Messiah comes from

vv. 32-36 With the religious police & Pharisees

vv. 37-39 Jesus offers salvation

vv. 40-52 The people and religious leaders argue over Jesus

This passage is all about Christ’s authority and shows us that:

Christs’ authority gives us courage to proclaim God’s Word

In spite of opposition (v. 13-14)

Some people had started to believe in Christ but for fear of what others might think remained silent.

In contrast to this, Christ was bold enough to go into the temple and preach, even when the authorities were seeking to arrest him. (vv. 11 & 14)

As Christians, our message is a controversial and offensive one. We can have confidence in our evangelism when we remember that we are just the messengers. It is not our message but God’s.

2 Corinthians 5:17–21 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come. 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God. 21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

In spite of our own weaknesses and shortcomings (v. 15)

This passage doesn’t devalue theological training

Pharisees depended upon not only the Law but also Rabbinical teaching as authoritative and binding on Jews

Most Rabbis made incessant references to the Rabbinical writings in their teachings, always appealing to a prior Rabbi for authority in their teachings

While all Jews would have a basic knowledge of the Law, only those who had undergone Rabbinical training would have extensive knowledge of the Law and be able to hold their own in an argument with a Pharisee

Jesus was very well versed in Scripture, beyond the norm for an “untrained” laypersonJesus’ claim to the title “Rabbi” and his practice of gathering disciples and teaching publicly incensed the Pharisees because Jesus had circumvented their Rabbinical processes.

The crux of the issue is that the Rabbis drew upon the authority of the Rabbinical teachings handed down to them from former Rabbis, whereas Jesus cited no Rabbinical sources. He seemed to teach from his own authority! (Mat. 7:28-29)

Matthew 7:28–29 ESV

28 And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, 29 for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.

This led to constant criticism from the Scribes and Pharisees; they repeatedly accused Jesus of “bearing witness to himself” and “teaching from his own authority”

John 8:13 ESV

13 So the Pharisees said to him, “You are bearing witness about yourself; your testimony is not true.”

Their criticism is potentially valid--we do not have authority in and of ourselves. If we teach new doctrines which are not in Scripture and not from God, then we are teaching false doctrine. Jesus himself acknowledges this in Jn. 5:19-47, especially Jn 5:31

John 5:31 ESV

31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.

But what they failed to grasp--and what Jesus repeatedly says--is that his teaching came straight from the Father. Jesus’ teaching had authority which was not based upon formal training or upon intelligence but upon his commission from God himself.

Christ had no formal training, yet he boldly preached God’s Word, because it was God’s Word! While education is helpful, it is not the basis of our authority. God’s Word is.

You don’t have to be able to answer every question that an unbeliever poses to you. You just have to point them to God’s Word.

Christ’s authority causes division

It divides believers and unbelievers

Some think he is a “good man” (v. 12)

Some think he’s the Christ (v. 26, 31, 41)

Some think he’s the Prophet (v. 40)

Others think him evil

A heretic or deceiver (v. 12, 47-48)

Demon-possessed or crazy (v. 20)

Imagine for a moment that some random person walked in off the street, took the pulpit, and began to preach. You’d have every right to ask him, “What authority do you have to preach here?” The authority to preach must be granted by God and the church.

Christ’s authority demands a response

Christ’s claims are too audacious to simply dismiss

He claimed to have the authority of God the Father (v. 17, 28-29)

He claimed to have authority over the Law and Moses (vv. 22-23)

He claimed to be the exclusive source of Salvation and the Holy Spirit (vv. 37-38)

The Bible Guide Is Jesus the Christ?

Every morning of the feast, a golden flagon of water is brought to the temple from the Pool of Siloam. While the pilgrims sing hallelujahs, the priests carry the flagon in procession around the altar, and pour out the water before the Lord. The action celebrates how God provided water for his people in the desert, and will one day pour out his Spirit on all humankind.

On the last and greatest day of the feast, Jesus stands up and shouts an invitation. ‘Let anyone who is thirsty come to me and drink!’ He is the real source of life which this water ceremony is celebrating. He is the One through whom the Spirit will be given.

By claiming that belief in him generated “rivers of living water” within a person, Jesus is connecting himself with Yahweh of the OT who provided water for his people from the Rock.

Christ’s authority makes demands upon our lives

Matthew 28:18–20 ESV

18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

Revelation 20:4–6 ESV

4 Then I saw thrones, and seated on them were those to whom the authority to judge was committed. Also I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded for the testimony of Jesus and for the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or its image and had not received its mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. 5 The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were ended. This is the first resurrection. 6 Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! Over such the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Conclusion: Are you submitting to Christ’s authority?

Are you walking daily with him in his Word and in prayer?

Are you “making disciples?”

Are you giving faithfully to his church and its mission?

Have you submitted your life to him?