The authority of Jesus and its importance were among the last things He demonstrated to the disciples before He ascended into heaven. Matthew 28:18 Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth.[1] When someone is dying or leaving, their last words are important, which makes the last words of Jesus even more significant.
God granted Jesus authority over both heaven and earth, serving as a strong symbol of divine honor. This was an honor bestowed upon Jesus as He paid the price for our sins on the cross. He was both man and God to save us from our sins. Coming to earth was not easy for Jesus, but He took that risk because of His great love for you.
Sometimes we wonder if God truly loves us. We only need to think about Jesus coming down to this messy earth to see the depth of His love—a love that would lead Him to the cross. He now holds “all authority,” which means nothing is beyond His sovereign power.
Jesus’ Authority Gives Us Comfort.
During Jesus’ temptation recorded in Matthew 4:1-11, satan offered Him “all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor.” Yet, Jesus stood firm and obeyed God, even though a horrible death on the cross awaited Him. Afterwards, He was raised in victory, gaining all authority over heaven and earth.
Since Jesus has been given all authority, we can follow Him wherever He leads us without fear. Regardless of the circumstances we face in life or where the Spirit guides us, we know that Jesus is always in control, providing great comfort. When Jesus died on the cross for our sins, He defeated sin, death, and the devil. Never again would satan have an opportunity to come against Him as he did when He walked the earth.
Jesus Gives Us Authority to Build His Kingdom
When you take time to study the book of Acts, we see believers operating based on the Lord’s sovereign authority. An example of this is when Peter and John healed a lame man outside the Temple in Jerusalem. Acts 3:4 Peter and John looked at him intently, and Peter said, “Look at us!” 5 The lame man looked at them eagerly, expecting some money. 6 But Peter said, “I don’t have any silver or gold for you. But I’ll give you what I have. In the name of Jesus Christ the Nazarene, get up and walk!” [2]
Followers of Jesus ministered in His name and depended on His power and the work of the Spirit to guide them. This is the same authority that is given to believers today to build God’s Kingdom. Here are five areas where Jesus grants us authority: to become children of God, to proclaim the good news of Jesus, to make disciples, to heal the sick, and to cast out demons. We are blessed that the Lord wants to involve us in His work, and in doing so, He empowers us with His authority.
To learn more about the authority of Jesus, listen here:
https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/discipled-to-make-disciples
[1-2] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Tyndale House Publishers.