The Authority Question
Notes
Transcript
John 7:14-31
Jesus begins to preach and they marvel at Him since He had no formal education under a rabbi. There was much confusion about Jesus in His day, and there is much confusion about Him today as well. John wants for us to have an exceedingly high view of the Savior through the reading of this Gospel account. My desire for this message is that He would do a work in your heart to make Jesus much larger in your mind so that you trust Him much more deeply than you ever have.
Jesus has authority over truth
They are perplexed as to how He has so much learning
People are not simply born with a knowledge of the Scriptures and the Truth of God
In every other case, to have the a depth of knowledge of the Scriptures even comparable with Jesus’ knowledge would require years of rabbinic training
Yet, Jesus is speaking as an untrained man who has much knowledge
He is speaking as one sent by God
Matthew 7:28-29- And when Jesus finished these sayings, the crowds were astonished at his teaching, for he was teaching them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes.
He speaks not for His own sake, but for His Father’s sake
He is fully trustworthy
What they are missing is that He is the very Word of God
He Himself is authoritative because He is God
All truth proceeds from Him
Is His Word sweet to you?
It is through His Word that we know Him
Jesus has authority over the physical world
Back in chapter 5, Jesus healed a lame man on the Sabbath
John 5:16-18- And this was why the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because he was doing these things on the Sabbath. But Jesus answered them, “My Father is working until now, and I am working.”
Verse 23
Even nerves and muscles obey the word of Jesus
Jesus didn’t simply heal the body
Jesus has authority over the actions of people
The Jewish authorities are trying to kill Him
They have been seeking to kill Him since His last visit in Jerusalem
John 7:1
John 7:19
John 7:25
Yet His time has not yet come so they don’t lay a hand on Him
John 7:30
John 7:44
He is completely in control of what happens to Him
John 19:11- Jesus answered him, “You would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.”
He is completely in control of what happens to you as well
Proverbs 19:21- Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.
Jesus has the full authority of God
He is sent by God in the full authority of God
Verses 17-18
He is fully God
John 1:1-3- In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made.
Yet they judged Him wrongly
They missed the truth because of their superficial and misplaced judgment
Verse 24
They have a distorted view of the Law of God
It is through this distorted lense that they failed to see Him
My concern for us is that some of you might miss the glory of who Jesus is for you by looking through a distorted lense of who Christ it
Making too much of self-ability and worldy powers
Making far too little of Jesus
Jesus has authority over all things
There is nothing outside of the scope of Christ’s sovereign rule and authority
Ukraine and Russia/ the details of the outcome
World powers/ the hearts of their leaders
Wars and rumors of wars/ the spark plugs of tanks and lips of reporters
Supreme court rulings and justice nominations/ fabric of law and order
Elections/ the circuit boards of voting machines/hands of vote counters
Gas prices/ the money in your bank account
The church/ the salvation of sinners
Your life/ the breath in your lungs
The question is, will you trust Him?
It is one thing to acknowledge the complete authority of Christ in your head, but will you love the His authority and trust His purposes in the world and your life?
Cast yourself on Him wholly upon Him each day, because this authoritative Savior died for you
He promises to always be 100% for you through faith