We can argue and debate all day long over the details of life on earth.  No matter what the topic is, we humans are quick to form an opinion with words that will support what we think based on very little information.  Generally, our opinions are formed from what others have said.  We listen to “influencers” on social media who tell us what to buy and why.  We listen to those we regard as powerful simply because they have risen to fame because of position, wealth, charisma and the power to persuade and convince. 

Just hearing, however, without searching for the truth seems to weaken what we have decided to be truth. 

We once served a church who had the gift of gossip. They had perfected their gift of gossip to the point that no one trusted anyone.  I fell for it a few times before realizing what was going on.  To point out this flaw of character with the hope to help them see how harmful this can be to others seeking Truth, I decided to be the “bait” to those engrossed in spreading false rumors.  I shared a true but silly statement about me as “fresh meat” to throw out to the group as “research.”

I observed who took the bait of faulty information and ran with it.  I also wondered how quickly it would spread.  The results took me by surprise.  It only took a few hours after sharing this tidbit of information to an influencer of the pack of gossipers to grow into a spectacular story of false facts and with incredibly embellished details added to support the nugget of truth.  I quickly shared the truth in love, not to embarrass, but to encourage better lines of communication.  We all had a good laugh as truth was told—and the point made.

The high priests, religious teachers, and leaders of Jesus’ days of ministry remind me of this gossipy group who were the greatest determent to the mission of reconciling (reconnecting) people to God.  These “religious” influencers read and studied God’s Law without understanding God’s intentions because they had little to no relationship with God.  They merely used what they read to find ways to rise in power and influence—using the Law of God as vehicle of their own desires.  In other words, they knew enough to be dangerous! 

We read that these religious leaders were hard-pressed to play politics with the Romans, satisfying Roman rule while devising loopholes in the Law to cover their own sins of seeking the rich life of being served. The religious leaders were so enthralled with self-importance and wealth that they added unnecessary, ridiculous, burdensome addendums to the law to keep God’s people looking to them as the only authority of what is right while paying a price for breaking one of their laws.

Then Truth enters the room and everything changes.  Debate ceases.

Luke 20, The Message

^1-2 One day he was teaching the people in the Temple, proclaiming the Message. The high priests, religion scholars, and leaders confronted him and demanded, “Show us your credentials. Who authorized you to speak and act like this?”

^3-4 Jesus answered, “First, let me ask you a question: About the baptism of John—who authorized it, heaven or humans?”

^5-7 They were on the spot, and knew it. They pulled back into a huddle and whispered, “If we say ‘heaven,’ he’ll ask us why we didn’t believe him; if we say ‘humans,’ the people will tear us limb from limb, convinced as they are that John was God’s prophet.” They agreed to concede that round to Jesus and said they didn’t know.

⁸ Jesus said, “Then neither will I answer your question.”

WHAT DO WE LEARN—HOW DO WE RESPOND?

Jesus does not need to answer or debate the question of authority.  Jesus is who He says He is.  “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”  (John 14:6) You can choose to believe Truth (Jesus) or not but that does not change Truth. Truth just is, was, and always will be Truth. 

Jesus is the Way to reconnect us to God, our Creator, the One who sent His One and Only Son to save us from ourselves.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16).

Jesus is Truth. He was known and referred to Himself as the Son of Man.  He was sent to earth, born to a virgin, as the Son of God with a mission. The mission was to move into the neighborhood of humanity “to seek and to save the lost” while clearing up the misconceptions about God.  God gave His Son all authority to complete the mission. 

The Person of Truth proclaims to followers where His authority comes from:  “Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18–20

Jesus authorizes us!  The courage to go, the audacity to make disciples for Jesus from followers of other lords and other religions, the authority to baptize in the name of the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, are all based on the rock-solid foundation of the words — and the reality — “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.”

God the Father gave the authority to Jesus.  Here’s more proof: 

Matthew 11:27. “All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.”

John 3:35. “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand.”

John 13:3. “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God . . . knelt down and washed the apostles’ feet.”

Ephesians 1:20–21. “God raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places, far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.”

John 17:2. “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you, since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.”  THIS is the closest parallel to Matthew 28:18 — “. . . authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him.” What a picture of absolute authority to “go, tell, teach” others who do not know God—yet!

The Father knows his sheep and they are his. He gives them to the Son. The “author of life” gives life-giving authority to the Son. And the Son gives life to all that the Father has given him!  So when Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me,” he means “has been given to me by my Father.”

Jesus is Life! Jesus is the “author” of life, the “alpha and omega,” the beginning and the end.  Jesus has full authority then to lie down his life and pick it back up again.  “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.” John 10:18

The only debate is within each on of us: “Who do I believe?” 

Do I believe Truth who is Prince of Peace, King of kings, Lord of lords, the complete authority and author of Life…or the prince of darkness, the father of lies, the destroyer of life which leads to eternal death?

Lord,

You are God.  We are not.  You are Truth that defies debate.  Forgive us when we doubt, wander, leaning into our own limited understandings of life while forgetting that you are Truth.  In fact, You are the Way, the Truth, and Life now and for eternity.  Thank you for clearing up any misconceptions presented by those who think they know it all but know nothing at all until they know you.  Help us to follow Truth, You and no one else.  May we seek to show others the Way to Truth that gives Life.  I believe.  No question, you are Truth.

In Jesus Name, Amen