The Authority of Jesus Challenged

 Advent Meditations

December 14, 2020

The Authority of Jesus Challenged

When Jesus returned to the Temple and began teaching, the leading priests and elders came up to him. They demanded, “By what authority are you doing all these things? Who gave you the right?”

Matthew 21:23

Read Matthew 21:23-27

What things?

Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey and the people shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord! (verse 9 NRSV)

Then as Jesus arrived in the Temple area, in a fit of fury, he drove out all the people buying and selling animals for sacrifice.

Then the blind and the lame came to him in the Temple, and he healed them, and the children in the Temple shouted, “Praise God for the Son of David.”

What authority?

Jesus doesn’t answer the religious leader’s question, but we know. By the same authority when,

“(Jesus) woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Peace! Be still!” Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm” (Mark 4:39 NRSV).

“When (Jesus) had said this, he cried with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!”  The dead man came out . . .” (John 11:43-44 NRSV).

“Jesus said to the paralyzed man, “Be encouraged, my child! Your sins are forgiven.” Then Jesus turned to the paralyzed man and said, “Stand up, pick up your mat, and go home!” And the man jumped up and went home!” (Matthew 9:1-8)

My Takeaway: On the First Sunday in Advent, Jesus said, “Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear” (Mark 13:31). We remember “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).

I know there are places in my life where I need Jesus to speak his words of forgiveness, healing and hope. How about you?

Sē’lah

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(Selah is a word that appears in the Book of Psalms that I often use as the Complimentary Closing in my correspondence. Its meaning, as I use the word, is to pause and think about these things.)

 

These meditations are written by Alex M. Knight as he seeks the life in Christ as his way of life.  The meditations are published on the BLOG, http://seekingthelifeinchrist.blogspot.com/ and they are also distributed on the Constant Contact email server. You may subscribe to this email service by sending an email to: amkrom812@gmail.com.

 

Copyright © 2020 by Alex M. Knight

 

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.