Series No 3 – Jesus the Son of man respected authorities
“The truth is incontrovertible. Malice may attack it, ignorance may deride it, but in the end, there it is.” Winston Churchill.
“Then the Pharisees went and took counsel how to entangle him in his talk. “And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are true, and teach the way of God truthfully, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men.” Matthew 22: 15, 16.
They accepted that Jesus was a truthful man in his interpretation of the scriptures, and he spoke the truth regarding the hypocrisy of some of their religious leaders. But their suggestion that he had scant regard for the ordinary person and people in authority wasn’t true.
Jairus the synagogue ruler reveals Jesus’ regard for him and his daughter and the lady desperately in need of being healed: Jairus came to Jesus asking him to go with him to his house where his daughter lay dying. They set off and as they were going, a lady touched the hem of his garment, which caused Jesus to stop and ask who touched him. The lady owned up and Jesus responded to her saying her faith had made her well and to go in peace. Meanwhile the news came to Jairus that his daughter had died, Jesus’ response he told him not to fear, only believe. Peter, James and John accompanied him to the house where the mourners had gathered. In the presence of his disciples, Jairus and his wife, Jesus took her by the hand, saying “Little girl, I say to you, arise” and she immediately got up and walked and he strictly charged them that nothing should be said to anyone about what had taken place. Mark 5: 21-43.
Jesus showed respect and discretion for Jairus position as a Ruler of a synagogue. Matthew probably sought the family’s permission to include this incident when writing his Gospel.
Prayer
“The truth shall make you free.” John 8: 32
Heavenly Father help us to respect the truth and to live by the truth. To have regard for the positions of responsibility that people carry, especially in the church. Help us to follow Jesus he came to serve and not to be served. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Jesus the Son of man proved his authority was of God.
Mark records Jesus was at home at Capernaum, whether he was at his own house or he was staying with Simon Peter it’s not clear, but the house was full of people including Pharisees and teachers of the law and people from Jerusalem, they had come to hear him preach the word.
The meeting was interrupted when the roof above where Jesus was standing began to be removed. The clatter of debris and the dust falling on where Jesus stood, above him four men had made a hole in the roof big enough to lower a stretcher carrying a man.
Jesus wasn’t troubled by confusion and noise or perturbed at his home being broken into. To the Pharisees and scribes present Jesus was the intruder breaking into their traditions and interpretations of the law,
In this turbulent scene Jesus proved that he is God made visible in the flesh.
The dust had not settled, when Jesus saw the faith of the four friends of the paralysed man, and responded by saying to him, “My son your sins are forgiven.” He discerned that some of the scribes present questioned in their hearts, “Why does this man speak thus? It is blasphemy! Who can forgive sins, but God alone?” Jesus responded knowing what they were thinking said, “Which is easier, to say to the paralytic, “Your sins are forgiven’ or to say, ‘Rise, take up your pallet and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of man has authority on earth to forgive sins’, he said to the paralytic, “I say to you rise, take up your pallet and go home.” The man got up before them all and went home. Mark 2: 5-12. John 9: 34.
This incident proved that Jesus had the authority to forgive sin; the Jews believed that only God could forgive sins and that sin was the cause of sickness, so by healing the paralysed man Jesus proved that he was God, the man was healed, his sin had been forgiven. “The Messiah’s Secret” 2001 by Dorothy Newton.
In another situation Jesus said that not every sickness is a result of personal or hereditary sin. We read of the account of the man who was healed of blindness from birth. “The disciples asked Jesus, “Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he was born blind.” Jesus answered, “It was not that this man had sinned, or his parents, but that the works of God might be made manifest in him.” John 9: 1-3.
In 2013 the optician told me that I had cataracts coming on both my eyes. I prayed for healing praying against an hereditary spirit of blindness. In 2016 the optician told me that I had a cataract on the centre of one of my eyes and I would need it removed in a few months time. I believe that the Lord has healed my eye, I’ve prayed the same prayer and I refuse all that would come to me from down the hereditary lines. I pray daily for forgiveness of my sins knowingly or what I’ve done in ignorance. It only takes five minutes or so. Thank you Lord.
The passionate faith of the four men who believed in Jesus authority to heal their friend and their determination to help him that led them to break into Jesus’ house.
God’s passionate love for us led him to break into world affairs, in order to die for us on the cross. God raised Jesus from the dead and sent his Holy Spirit to be received by us as a gift from heaven. (After Jesus’ ascension into heaven)
The Holy Spirit fills us with a passionate longing for people to know Jesus our Saviour God.
Today the question still arises in people’s hearts, “Is Jesus God?” Under the banner of ‘The Church in Rammy’ chatting to people on the street on questions of faith is proving a challenge and a blessing.
On the 2019 Chocolate Festival Weekend, two ladies approached me and asked, “Is Jesus God? My response was “Jesus is the word of God clothed in the flesh,” this is how I relate to Jesus my Saviour; his words are Spirit and life.
John the apostle in his first letter wrote, “That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked upon and touched with our hands, concerning the word of life— 2 the life was made manifest, and we saw it, and testify to it, and proclaim to you the eternal life which was with the Father and was made manifest to us— 3 that which we have seen and heard we proclaim also to you, so that you may have fellowship with us; and our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.” 1 John 1: 1-3
Jesus is the living word, his words bring forth life. Genesis 1 The Sermon on the Mount is where we find a variety of Jesus teachings recorded by Matthew. Chapters 5-7. John wrote, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father.” John 1: 14.
Paul wrote, “Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” Philippians 2: 9-11
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank you for Jesus, his words of authority are working among people today bringing forth the joy of knowing you, Help us to know more about your love and to be able to communicate your love and regard to those who have doubts, misunderstandings about whether Jesus is God. In Jesus’ name.
Jesus breaking into the Church today by showing no partiality between Christians.
Jesus spoke directly to Martha this crucial word about the resurrection. In doing so he showed no partiality between her and the 12 disciples.
How excited and humbled Martha must have been when she shared the words about Jesus to the disciples and followers of Jesus, “I am the resurrection and the life, he who believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live and whoever lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” Martha’s reply, “Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, he who is coming into the world.” John 11: 25-27.
Jesus our Lord God spoke directly to Martha choosing her to receive this breath-taking glorious word about the resurrection in Jesus.
The question I’ve asked myself, “Why didn’t Jesus choose a woman to be one of the twelve?”
Jesus reveals that he has assigned the twelve disciples to sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel in the future new world. Below the promise Jesus gave the disciples:
“Truly I say to you, in the new world, when the Son of man shall sit on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Matthew 19: 28.
“You are those who have continued with me in my trials; and I assign to you, as my Father assigned to me, a kingdom, that you may eat and drink at my table in my kingdom, and sit on thrones judging the twelve tribes of Israel.” Luke 22: 28-30.
It’s interesting to note that after Israel reached the Promised Land, and later during the period of the Judges, Deborah was a judge over Israel. Judges 4: 4.
Therefore, Jesus in his authority chose who he wanted to be judges over the twelve tribes of Israel and no women were chosen. None of the women, had been with him from the beginning of his ministry.
The disciples anointing I believe to be Judges, took place on the evening of the day of the resurrection. Jesus breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven; if you retain the sins of any they are retained.” John 20: 23. Numbers 11: 25-30
After Pentecost Peter made judgements over Ananias and Sapphira when they committed themselves to giving the proceeds from the sale of their land, to the Jerusalem community.
When Ananias came before Peter, he said how much he had received for the land, but Peter said to to him that he lied about the amount received, as Peter spoke Ananias fell down and died, Later Sapphira came before Peter, he said to her, did she sell the land for so much? She replied, “Yes, for so much.” Peter passed sentence upon her, “The feet of those who buried your husband are at the door and they will carry you out, immediately she fell down and died.” Peter used his authority as a Judge over the community. They were individually accountable for their sin, as it’s personal salvation. Acts 5: 1-11. 8: 17-24. 12: 15-23.
There is no evidence since the apostles of the church having any power on making judgements over people’s sin. As I understand the apostles’ ministry will continue in the new world. It’s important to note that the gifts of the Holy spirit are still given to the Church.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thank your Holy Spirit leading us into all truth. Thank you for Jesus being revealed to us through the testimony of many witnesses that he is God made visible in the flesh. Thank you, for your living word to us from Jesus. may the Lord use his word to glorify his name in our lives.
Thank you, for blessing us, in knowing Jesus our Lord and Saviour and nothing can separate us from the love of God. In Jesus’ glorious name. Amen.