QUESTIONING THE AUTHORITY OF CHRIST

The first indication of unbelief in these people is that they questioned the power and authority of Jesus: “Where did this Man get these things? What is the wisdom given to Him? How are such mighty works done by His hands?” This was the carpenter who had repaired their gates and doors, built them a table or cradle, or fixed a broken axle on their cart. No doubt they liked Jesus and appreciated His work for them in the past; and, as we have seen, they busted a little pride to see what a fine speaker He’d somehow become.

But still, who does He think He is? Who authorized Him to interpret the Old Testament, or to perform all those powerful signs and wonders? And what business is it of His how we live our lives in relation to the Gentiles or anybody else? He’s got some nerve!

The people loved Jesus as a mere man who kept within their experience and expectations. But the thought that He might have divine authority over Scripture, over their own lives, and even to offer redemption to Gentiles was just way too much. Those who want to limit the authority and power of Jesus, may want to consider whether or not they really know the Lord. For He Himself has said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to Me” (Matthew 28:18). He has authority to expose sin, condemn the wicked, and propound the terms of beauty, goodness, and truth for every area of life and every person. And if you don’t like that, or you rankle whenever the Word of Jesus begins to pry into your life beyond what you’ve ever experienced or expected, you may need to consider whether you’re not just a worshiping unbeliever rather than a true follower of the Lord.

CHALLENGING THE IDENTITY OF CHRIST

A second characteristic of unbelief is evident, and that is that these people sought to re-assure themselves that Jesus was nothing more than one of them. He had just read a passage of Scripture spoken, in Isaiah’s text, by the Messiah, then clearly and unmistakably claimed that He Himself was the fulfillment of those words. Jesus said to all those who knew Him, “I am the Messiah Isaiah foretold.” That meant that He was the eternal Word of God, the divine Truth and Reason. He was the Creator of the vast cosmos, the Redeemer of the world, and the King of Israel. How could a mere man, someone they’d all know for years, be all these things, and they didn’t know it before? The Messiah? Son of God? Preposterous!

Suggest to some church people today that Jesus is the Sustainer of the universe, that, in fact, there are no “laws” of science but only the constant action of the eternal Word, the God of order and sovereign might, upon the stuff of the cosmos, and they will raise an eyebrow and smile politely. Try to explain to them that He is King of kings and Lord of lords and, from His throne at the Father’s right hand, He is putting every last enemy under His feet and advancing His Kingdom until the knowledge of God’s glory covers the earth as the waters cover the sea, and they’ll just say, “But what about the tribulation?” Jesus is the gentle and meek Savior Who loved children, died for our sins, and rose again with that placid, upturned face and those outstretched arms, ascending on a cloud to heaven. What could He possibly have to do with the stuff of science? Or history? Or commerce? Or morality, for crying out loud?

We like Jesus as Savior, but we don’t think too much about Jesus as Lord. How many times have you heard someone say, “Let Jesus be the Lord of your life,” as though He were waiting around, like some wallflower at a middle school dance, for you to decide in His favor. Jesus is Lord—of your life and mine, and every nation, and all the vast cosmos. He rules the world—the world—with truth and grace, and He does not take kindly to those who insist that He remain just a Man or a Savior, aloof and detached from the day-to-day details of time and history—a Savior to comfort us, but not a Lord to rule us.