JESUS THE FINAL AUTHORITY— HAS ALL AUTHORITY IN HEAVEN AND ON EARTH!
In the synagogue there was a man possessed by a demon, an impure spirit. He cried out at the top of his voice, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” “Be quiet!” Jesus said sternly. “Come out of him! “Then the demon threw the man down before them all and came out without injuring him. All the people were amazed and said to each other, “What words these are! With authority and power he gives orders to impure spirits and they come out!” And the news about him spread throughout the surrounding area. —Luke 4:33-37
Jesus left the synagogue and went to the home of Simon. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was suffering from a high fever, and they asked Jesus to help her. So he bent over her and rebuked the fever, and it left her. She got up at once and began to wait on them. At sunset, the people brought to Jesus all who had various kinds of sickness, and laying his hands on each one, he healed them. Moreover, demons came out of many people, shouting, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew he was the Messiah. —Luke 4:38-41
When he had finished speaking, he said to Simon, “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break. So they signaled their partners in the other boat to come and help them, and they came and filled both boats so full that they began to sink. When Simon Peter saw this, he fell at Jesus’ knees and said, “Go away from me, Lord; I am a sinful man!” For he and all his companions were astonished at the catch of fish they had taken, and so were James and John, the sons of Zebedee, Simon’s partners. Then Jesus said to Simon, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people. ”So they pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. —Luke 5:4-11
Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me” (Matthew 28:18). In the context of when He said this, it was when He gave the Great Co-Mission to His disciple to—
“Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” —Matthew 28:18-20
But Jesus has authority over everybody and everything. We see in the passages above that He showed this authority over—
- Over demons who said, “Go away! What do you want with us, Jesus of Nazareth? Have you come to destroy us? I know who you are—the Holy One of God!” Jesus commanded the demon to come out of the man and it did.
- Over sickness when He healed Simon Peter’s mother-in-law of a high fever and many others from various illnesses.
- Over creation as He told Peter to “Put out into deep water, and let down the nets for a catch.” Simon answered, “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” When they had done so, they caught such a large number of fish that their nets began to break.
- Over people as He says, “Don’t be afraid; from now on you will fish for people.”
Yes, Jesus has “all authority in heaven and on earth!” Are you and I living under His authority? Are we being lovingly obedient to Him? (John 14:21). Are we abiding in Him (John 15:1-17). Are we proclaiming Him? (Matthew 24:14). Are we making disciples? (Matthew 28:16-20; II Timothy 2:2). Are we desiring to be with Him? (Philippians 1:23-24). Again, are we living under the authority of Jesus? Dear Father, may it be so by the power of Your Holy Spirit and in the authority of Your Son Jesus. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cEbQswNB6Wc&list=RDcEbQswNB6Wc&start_radio=1