Authority...

Growing up in South Africa, CBD had a different meaning for me... it was the central business district; the commercial center of the city of Durban. It was where we went to make the big, important purchases. And on Mum’s birthday every year, Dad sent me, his only daughter, to shop for his wife’s gift! It was exciting! With 1 letter in hand, I had the power to walk into that large department store, Edgars, and purchase something I knew Mum would love. Charter Club was one of the favorite name brands; and I would carefully pick out something and charge it to Dad’s account. That letter was Dad’s written permission; his name signed to it, giving me the authority to make decisions, to act on his behalf...

In our gospel reading today, the chief priests and elders approach Jesus in the temple area. Earlier in the chapter, Jesus cleansed the temple, driving out those who were buying and selling there; He cured the blind and lame, and now we find Him teaching. The chief priests and elders have the audacity to ask, “By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority? (Mt 21:23)

All power in heaven and earth was given to Jesus by His Father; He came in the might and power of God to “bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the broken-hearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the Lord” (Isaiah 61:1). He acted according to the will of His Father. What was the will of the Father?

“For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.“ (John 6:40)

How unfortunate... the chief priests and the elders saw the Son, they witnessed His works, but they did not believe...

Does Jesus have full authority over our lives?