Theme – Jesus’ Authority

Verse – Luke 20:8, And Jesus sad to them, “Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.”

In this passage, authority comes from the Greek word exousia, which means power, right, or jurisdiction. When we look at the authority police officers have been given, we understand that they are limited to exercise that authority in the jurisdiction that they serve. The Pharisees were given authority in the Temple to regulate activity and to protect their customs and traditions. So, when Jesus came in and threw out the money changers from the Temple, the Pharisees demanded to know who gave Jesus the authority to do what He had done. When we surrender our lives to Jesus and receive the forgiveness of our sins, we surrender the authority or jurisdiction of heart to Jesus. He now has jurisdiction of our heart. Paul said this well in Galatians 2:20, ““I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.”

Prayer for today –

Dear Lord, I recognize this issue of authority is the greatest issue of the heart. As I live Lord, help me to live in and under Your authority, Your jurisdiction. Forgive me when I try to take Your authority as my own. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.