All Authority Unto Jesus

Examining the Lamb

v.47-48

The leaders are looking at Jesus, looking for something to condemn Him by.

They are to Choose a lamb and examine it.

This takes place the 10th day of the month. 5 Days before the passover.

This is fulfilled with the triumphal entry.

On that same day they would clean the leaven out of their house.

We saw Jesus cleaning the temple last week.

The 11th day to the 14th day they would examine their lamb for blemishes.

Now we see the religious leaders looking for blemishes in their lamb, and finding none.

This takes place until the 14th day when Christ is crucified.

Authority Challenged

v.1-2

In the temple, the high priest was the one who gave people permission to teach. He was the only one whom the Roman’s gave this authority too.

Jesus would have to admit that he was “unauthorized” by the high priest.

or

Make himself vulnerable to the Romans by proclaiming that his authority was higher than the high priest.

Jesus earlier had already given them proof of His authority.

Mark 2:10-12

Mark 2:10–12 ESV

10 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins”—he said to the paralytic— 11 “I say to you, rise, pick up your bed, and go home.” 12 And he rose and immediately picked up his bed and went out before them all, so that they were all amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!”

Jesus’ miracles testified where His authority had come from. They were just to hardened to see or recognize it.

Jesus answers with a question as usual.

v.3-4

They didn’t recognize the authority of John the Baptist either.

Matt 11:18-19

Matthew 11:18–19 ESV

18 For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, ‘He has a demon.’ 19 The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say, ‘Look at him! A glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners!’ Yet wisdom is justified by her deeds.”

Both Jesus and John had done things that bore witness that they were from God. Yet the religious leaders found “reasons” to justify not listening to them.

v.5-7

You can almost see the sweat rolling down their faces. They are squirming under this question not sure how to handle it.

In the end, they have no answer.

v.8-15

This ties into the parable of the wicked tenants, for it speaks of a long history of the Jews not recognizing those whom God had sent.

Isaiah was sawn in two by King Hezekiah.

Amos was tortured and killed by the priest at Bethel

Micah was killed by King Joram.

Habakkuk was stoned in Jerusalem.

Jeremiah was stoned by Jews in Egypt.

Ezekiel was killed by the Jews in the land of the Chaldeans.

Zechariah was killed by King Joash.

Time and time again they killed those whom God had sent to them.

This is why Stephen says in Acts 7:51-52:

Acts 7:51–52 ESV

51 “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Spirit. As your fathers did, so do you. 52 Which of the prophets did your fathers not persecute? And they killed those who announced beforehand the coming of the Righteous One, whom you have now betrayed and murdered,

Jesus is telling the religious rulers that they don’t accept the authority of Him becasue they don’t accept the authority of God.

Do We Accept the Authority of God?

Would we have been someone questioning His authority?

Would we have been a person who hated the prophets and killed them?

We would like to say no, but how much do we accept the authority of Jesus right now?

In the end, it boils down to one of two you will serve. You will serve God, or you will serve Satan.

1 John 3:7-10

1 John 3:7–10 ESV

7 Little children, let no one deceive you. Whoever practices righteousness is righteous, as he is righteous. 8 Whoever makes a practice of sinning is of the devil, for the devil has been sinning from the beginning. The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 9 No one born of God makes a practice of sinning, for God’s seed abides in him; and he cannot keep on sinning, because he has been born of God. 10 By this it is evident who are the children of God, and who are the children of the devil: whoever does not practice righteousness is not of God, nor is the one who does not love his brother.

Sin, Hamartia. Missing the true end and scope in our lives which is God.

Practicing righteousness. That is living under the authority of God.

Living for Him, not for ourselves…or should I say the devil.

Anger

How do you deal with someone who wrongs you?

Do we act out in anger yelling back at them?

Do we spread rumors behind their backs?

Do we use passive aggressive tactics to whittle them down and get our way?

Or, Do we love our enemies?

Do we sacrifice ourselves for the good of those who are trying to use us?

Do we forgive those who would wrong us?

Confession and repentance

What action do you take when you wrong someone?

What action do you take when you have acted out of anger towards someone?

What action do you take when you have stolen from someone?

What action do you take after you have assaulted someone, either physically or with your words?

The bible is clear

Go to them, confess your sin, and repent asking for forgiveness.

What about fear?

Are we consumed with fear over getting covid?

Are we consumed with fear about what the future may hold.

That isn’t recognizing the authority of a sovereign God who knows all things.

I’m not saying be foolish, but why be anxious and fearful? That won’t add a day to your life.

What about the government?

Do we do nothing but blast our leaders, speak about the horrible job that they are doing?

Or, do we pray for them. No we don’t always agree with what they do. It is okay to disagree with them. But God does call us to respect them.

I’ve seen many stickers and things about how people hate Biden or hated Trump.

How many bumper stickers have we seen that say pray for our president?

These are different things that God has called us to do. Under the authority of God, we are called to live this way.

Are we accepting the authority of Jesus right now in our lives, or are we hypocritically saying that we would if we lived during the time of Christ, but right now, we aren’t.

v.16-18,

The Chief Cornerstone

Will we recognize him as the one with complete authority to build our lives on?

The cornerstone was the stone the first stone in the building that was set, which determined how all the other stones were laid.

1 Peter 2:4-6

1 Peter 2:4–6 ESV

4 As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6 For it stands in Scripture: “Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame.”

We as believers are to be built together into the holy temple of God.

If we desire to offer acceptable sacrifices as Peter says. We must learn to live under His authority; and do things His way, not ours.