He Spoke with Authority

 

Why Did Jesus Talk This Way?

Matthew 7:28-29 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:  (29) For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes. 

Jesus is often referred to as the Master Teacher.  One of the reasons is due to his use of Parables and illustrations.  He also was very innovative and unconventional in the messages and truths he proclaimed.  Today we are going to focus on the characteristic that is mentioned in our passage today.

Matthew tells us that there was something VERY distinctive…. One might even say troubling about his teachings.  So much so that it caused those present to be Astonished!  The audience was amazed, taken back, almost to say in disbelief.  What was it that caused so much uproar when he spoke?  

He taught as one that Had AUTHORITY!  

When comparing Jesus to any other “expert” or “authority”, he stands worlds above all others.  Some people are called authorities because of the schooling that they underwent.  Some because of the accomplishments.  Jesus’ resume for being an authority speaks for itself.

1.  He Spoke With Authority...The World into Existence. 

Genesis 1:1-3 and John 1:1-3 both speak to Jesus’ integral participation in the creation of the world.  The magnitude of his Power and Authority is evident everywhere we look.  It amazes me every time I think about it that Jesus created each day’s creation by SPEAKING it into existence.

2.  He Spoke With Authority...Evil Spirits Expelled

Luke 4:33-36  I think sometimes it is easy to loose perspective as to the strength of Satan.  We watch movies and such and can get the understanding that Satan is virtually uncontrollable.  But this passage tells us otherwise.  Even though Satan had power to possess man during this time.  Satan nor his demons were any match to the supremacy of Jesus.  Notice the manner in which this unclean spirit cowers to the shear power of Jesus.  And with the simple strength of the Authority of his words of Jesus…The demon obeys the word of Jesus!

3.  He Spoke With Authority...Storms Stilled

Mark 4:36-41   Jesus was able to control the worst of storms with the power of his voice.  The Disciples were literally afraid for their lives.  They even asked Jesus”  “Do you not care that we perish”.  They thought the storm would kill them.  But Jesus SPOKE with AUTHORITY and the storm ceased and the ocean stilled.  Notice too the ease with which he was able to control the storm.  He didn’t have to give it a long speech.  He didn’t have to yell over and over for it to pay attention.  He didn’t have to plead with the storm to go away.  He simply said “Peace be Still”

4.  He Spoke With Authority...Diseases Healed

Luke 7:1-10  Most of Jesus’ healings, he was present to the sick person and made some sort of physical gesture to heal them.  Here we have a unique situation. Without being present...without Jesus laying his hands on the sick person…Or doing any other miraculous ACT…He requested that Jesus heal his friend with the command of his voice.  This man truly understood that Jesus Spoke with Authority.  He realized that Jesus had the authority to speak but a word and his friend could be completely disease free.  

With the same power that Jesus Spoke the World into Existence, Spoke Sins Forgiven, Spoke Evil Spirits Expelled, Spoke Storms Stilled, and Spoke Diseases Healed…Jesus speaks to us the will of God!   So...what’s the point to mention that Jesus Spoke with Authority?  When I read this phrase,  It reminds me of the old TV Commercial for E.F. Hutton, the stock brokerage company.  The tag line for everyone of their commercials is:  “When E. F. Hutton talks, people listen”.  Likewise, because Jesus speaks with such authority, We OUGHT listen to him.  Not just casually hear...But REALLY Listen.  Will we Heed to the authority of the word of Jesus?

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Wise or Foolish

Are You Ready for a Storm?

Matthew 7:24-27  Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock.  (25) And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock.  (26) And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand.  (27) And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.

Now that spring has arrived, we are solidly in severe weather season.  That means the threat of  thunderstorms, lightening, hail, strong winds, and even potential tornadoes are possible with every weather front that passes through.  When the time arrives, and storm alerts sound, one of the first precautions that the authorities advise is to “Take Shelter Immediately”.

In our passage today, Jesus warns that the Storms of Life are coming.  It is not a matter of IF but rather WHEN.  These storms can take many forms:  The death of a close family member, the loss of a job, problems within the family, personal illness, loneliness, depression….the list is virtually endless.  Like a weather storm, when the Storms of Life hit,  we will naturally head for shelter.  Our life’s choices determine the soundness of the refuge that we have when we are in need.  Jesus says that there are only two types:

1.  The Shelter built upon a Rock

Jesus says that the Wise Man is able to ride out the storm with All hope of coming out of the danger unscathed.  He is Wise because he knew of the impending danger and made preparations.  Those preparations require sacrifices.  So what is the Key?  

The Wise Man Hears the Words of Jesus and Does them.  

The youngest of children learn in Bible class about the “Wise man built his house upon the Rock”.  But this is not a childish teaching.  It is a principle that many people… even so-called followers miss.  Jesus doesn’t teach us a different way of living from the rest of the world because he is an “evil puppet master” that gets his kicks from watching us dance.  He teaches us to go the opposite direction from the rest of the world because it is a better way of life.  He teaches us to behave completely different from the rest of the world because he knows that by doing so we will avoid many self-made storms.  Jesus tells us to think differently than everyone else because when we are truly followers of, not only the concept of Jesus but also the actions, behaviors and lifestyles of Jesus, we will be helped, protected and strengthened by God himself.  Then when the rains begin to fall, the flood waters rise, and the winds begin to storm through…We will have Refuge in Jesus Himself!

2.  The Shelter built upon sand

Building one’s house on the sand is obviously ridiculous!  If you have ever walked along a sandy beach near the water’s edge, you know the instability of sand in the presence of water.  But Jesus says that living one’s life without following the teachings of Jesus is equally unstable.  A house sitting directly on the sand will come crashing down.

How many people’s lives are one pail of water shy of crashing down because they have built their lives on the sandy lifestyles of drugs, alcohol, sexual immorality, lying, cheating, and generally just living ungodly lives?  How many have built their lives on the sandy lifestyle of beneficial things like a career, and then a storm comes and the job is gone and “Great Was the Fall” of their lives.  How many people have built their lives around family and then storm comes out of nowhere then “Great Was the Fall” of their lives because their sandy foundation failed them?

Jesus is the only foundation that we can depend on.  But to be able to put our faith in Jesus, we must hear his words and Do them.  Only then will we be prepared for the Storms of Life.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Who's Going to Heaven

 Who is Going to Heaven?

Matthew 7:21-23  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.  (22) Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?  (23) And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

In a poll from 2013, 62% of all Americans believe there is a place called Heaven.  Furthermore, that same 62% believe that they would be going there.  That is a fascinating statistic.  It is amazing that so few people in America believe in Heaven.  It is even more amazing that for everyone that believes in Heaven, they think they are going.

In previous verses in this chapter (verses 13-14), Jesus says that “Many” are on the “way” that leads to destruction (not Heaven) and only a few will enter the gate that leads to Life (Heaven).  Without trying to assign specific values to Jesus’ qualifiers of many and few, logic can conclude that at a bare minimum, greater than 50% of the world’s population will be lost and less than 50% of the world’s population will go to heaven.  The best case scenario, according to the numbers, at least 12% of those polled are misguided about their eternal fate. According to Jesus, there are quite a few people that are misinformed about their eternal future.

The news gets even worse.  In our passage today, Jesus narrows the field even more.  Jesus say that “Not everyone that says Lord Lord with enter the Kingdom of Heaven”.  So let’s identify who Jesus is talking about.   Who would say to Jesus “Lord Lord”?  Would atheists?  Absolutely not.  They would NEVER claim loyalty to a being they believe never existed.  How about agnostics?  Would they call Jesus Lord?  Again, if you do not believe in someone, you would not claim them as your master.  This can only include one group of people:  Those that CLAIM Jesus as their Lord…Believers, Followers, maybe even christians.  Now what does Jesus say about them?  Not All “believers”, “followers” and “christians” will enter the kingdom of Heaven.

Who Does Jesus say will Go to Heaven?  Those that do the will of the Father in Heaven.  Therefore, it demands that we Learn God’s Will.  It demands that we Apply God’s Will.  And it demands that we Do God’s will.  This passage is contrary to many doctrines that are taught throughout Christiandom.  Christianity is not just a mindset that we prefer Jesus over all other alternatives.  Jesus demands that we are both Loyal and demonstrating our Love for him by doing what he says.  It is not good enough that we just have our names on the roles.  Jesus wants us to be ambassadors and representatives of and for his cause.

Jesus continues in verses 22-23 showing that many people that will be lost but think they were right with him will make an argument for themselves that they have done good works and should be able to enter.  Jesus will say unto them “I Never Knew You”.  It is sad that there could be a significant number of people that truly believe they have a relationship with God, but God does not “know” them.

This passage is quite consistent with the rest of the New Testament.  When we become Christians, Jesus expects us to Deny ourselves and Follow him.  As a christian and a follower of Jesus, we must always and continually strive to Know the will of God and have the courage to do it, regardless of the cost.

Reflecting the SON, 

Dennis Hogan

dennis.hogan@icloud.com

Questions, comments or  further explanation?  Contact me at:  dennis.hogan@icloud.com