Jesus: All Authority

Sunday morning in Sunday School, our lead teacher spoke to the kids about the authority of God. She didn't quite use those words, but she spoke to the essence of it. She told the kids that we were about to pray and that when we pray, we are speaking with God. She also noted that this was the most important kind of conversation we can have, even more important than speaking with the President. It reminded me that at times, I don't consider the true authority that God is. Jesus holds the ultimate authority in all things in this world. A familiar Bible story speaks to this.

The story of the paralytic in all accounts in the Synoptic Gospels reveals the high authority of Jesus Christ. The authority and divinity of Jesus is revealed through the miracle; the focus of the entire passage is not really that men took their friend to Jesus, although this application may be made. The true focus is the authority of Jesus (vs. 24 – but that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…”).

Jesus has authority over:

Our shame vs. 5 - Jesus forgave the man of his sins. And He has the authority to do that for all of us!

Our sickness vs. 11 - Not only did Jesus heal the man from the sin in his life, but He also healed his physical body. At times, we accept the sickness in our lives or our family member's life because of a lack of faith in God. We must remember that Jesus has all authority in this area.

Our skepticism vs. 7, 12 - Look at these verses and you will see the deep unbelief in the Scribes. These men were religious - but did not have a relationship with Christ. They didn't believe in Jesus as God's Son, and so to prove His deity and that He can forgive sins, Jesus told the man to get up and walk. Christ held the authority and the key to their skepticism, as He does to the ones you know who don't believe today!