All Authority

Doctrine

John 7:16–17 (NKJV)

Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

The setting:

Jesus goes up for the Feast of Tabernacles secretly because of all the fervor around HIs activity

John 7:10–13 (NKJV)

But when His brothers had gone up, then He also went up to the feast, not openly, but as it were in secret.

Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?”

And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”

However, no one spoke openly of Him for fear of the Jews.

The issue at hand was from where did His authority come from? How was it that He healed on the Sabbath?

John 5:16 (NKJV)

For this reason the Jews persecuted Jesus, and sought to kill Him, because He had done these things on the Sabbath.

This Jesus was not like the other teachers!

Matthew 7:29 (NKJV)

for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1:22 (NKJV)

And they were astonished at His teaching, for He taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

Mark 1:27 (NKJV)

Then they were all amazed, so that they questioned among themselves, saying, “What is this? What new doctrine is this? For with authority He commands even the unclean spirits, and they obey Him.”

It wasn’t the “good old religion” that was demonstrated by Jesus! He shock the very foundations of tradition and man’s religious system!

John 7:16 (NKJV)

Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

Jesus was not teaching something new but rather that which was from the beginning!

Doctrine means - teaching - Literally “to speak on the basis of instruction with an emphasis on the facts”

So what facts are reveled to us here?

Matthew 28:18 (NKJV)

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

The word authority here means “the ability to perform an action without any hindrances”

It includes the “right” to do something or the “right" over something”

Authority is different than “power”

Power does not always have authority but authority always has power!

Dunamis is an “external” power where as exousia is the power displayed in the fact that a command must be obeyed!

Interestingly enough, Satan was exercising “exousia” over creation

Luke 4:6 (NKJV)

And the devil said to Him, “All this authority I will give You, and their glory; for this has been delivered to me, and I give it to whomever I wish.

Satan exercised authority to lie, kill, and destroy man

Jesus now comes on the scene and challenges that authority, demonstrates that He has the power, and secures man’s salvation, redemption and restoration!

But all this is worthless unless it is received and walked out in the life of the believer!

The grumbling was due to their lack of experiencing the reality of Jesus ministry!

John 7:11–12 (NKJV)

Then the Jews sought Him at the feast, and said, “Where is He?”

And there was much complaining among the people concerning Him. Some said, “He is good”; others said, “No, on the contrary, He deceives the people.”

Look at what Jesus said!

John 7:16–17 (NKJV)

Jesus answered them and said, “My doctrine is not Mine, but His who sent Me.

If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.

“if anyone wills to do His will” “he shall know” - this is a statement of activity!

The command to the believer is an active one also - “Go”

Look at what Jesus told us

Luke 10:19 (NKJV)

Behold, I give you the authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you.

Of course the greatest of all

Matthew 28:18–20 (NKJV)

And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.

Look at the command, “Go” “Teach” what? to obey! action!

In speaking of the last days...

Mark 13:32–37 (NKJV)

“But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Take heed, watch and pray; for you do not know when the time is.

It is like a man going to a far country, who left his house and gave authority to his servants, and to each his work, and commanded the doorkeeper to watch.

Watch therefore, for you do not know when the master of the house is coming—in the evening, at midnight, at the crowing of the rooster, or in the morning—

lest, coming suddenly, he find you sleeping.

And what I say to you, I say to all: Watch!”

The command is “each to his own work” - do not be asleep!

We must be waken by the Holy Spirit for Jesus said,

John 16:12–15 (NKJV)

“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.

However, when He, the Spirit of truth, has come, He will guide you into all truth; for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak; and He will tell you things to come.

He will glorify Me, for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.

All things that the Father has are Mine. Therefore I said that He will take of Mine and declare it to you.

Let me encourage you today to “wake up!” and open your eyes to the reality of where God’s timetable is!