Jesus speaks with authority

I recently listened to two speakers; both were "experts" in their field.

Speaker No. 1 knew his subject well. He'd had personal experience in the subject, and he had done extensive research as well. He spoke with enthusiasm and power; he spoke with authority. I listened!

Speaker No. 2 also knew his subject well, but he'd had no personal involvement in it. Then too, you could tell that he had not done the required research. Plus, some of his facts were questionable. An expert? Yes. An authority? No.

When Jesus came back to his home town and spoke before a crowd in Nazareth, they all agreed: "He speaks with authority!"

An authority is a person who knows from personal experience what he's talking about, knows what is true and factual. He's been there and done that. An authority is also one who has the power to command, to control, to guide and to determine. God alone is the Ultimate Authority! He is all-powerful. He gives a command and it becomes reality. He controls the final outcome of all things, heavenly and earthly. Only God has the power to create life, to bring entire galaxies into being, to forgive all our sins, to defeat Death and to reveal the Absolute Truth by which every person on Earth will be judged.

Jesus is God-in-the-flesh; he is Ultimate Authority in human form. All authority is his, over things heavenly and things earthly. Jesus says: I was there at the beginning. I was the Word that created life and brought forth universes. I have total authority to command, to control, to guide and determine outcomes, to forgive all sin, to defeat evil and death, to reveal Divine Truth, and to raise the dead to new and eternal life. I have the authority to heal the sick, to cause the blind to see, to melt frozen hearts, to open closed minds, to change a person's direction and to being them into a close relationship with God. I have all this authority because my Father gave it to Me. I am his Divine Representative, his Divine Authority on earth.

SO, when Jesus speaks, we would do well to listen to Him! For the One who designed life, knows exactly how life is to be lived. The One who put life together knows exactly how to live life at its best. Listen to Jesus! Listen to The Authority!

-- Dr. Don Kuehle is a retired United Methodist minister who lives in Jackson. Opinions are those of the author.