Jesus died on the cross, He was resurrected from the grave, and He now stands before His disciples, proclaiming, “I have all authority ” (Matthew 28:19).” It seems to be a bold statement. But what does Jesus mean by this statement? This article will explore three characteristics of the authority Jesus possesses.

Jesus Has Endowed Authority

The endowment of authority upon Jesus is affirmed throughout the New Testament. Just before Jesus issues “The Great Invitation (Matthew 11:25-29),” He acknowledges, “All things that been handed over to me by my Father (Matthew 11:27).” The authority Jesus possesses is given to Him by God the Father.

In the last days of His life, Jesus gathered with His disciples to prepare them for His coming death. This evening, Jesus instituted a memorial called “The Lord’s Table” or “Communion.” On this same evening, Jesus wrapped Himself with a towel and washed His disciples’ feet. In the context of this evening, John records these words, “Jesus, knowing that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he had come from God and was going back to God (John 13:3).”

In the last hours of His life, Jesus prays His great, high-priestly prayer. As he begins His prayer, He says, “Father, the hour has come; glorify your Son that the Son may glorify you,since you have given him authority over all flesh, to give eternal life to all whom you have given him (John 17:1-2).” Do not overlook the importance of the reason Jesus asked the Father to glorify Him. God would glorify Jesus because God has given Jesus authority over all flesh.

While Jesus acknowledges His authority, other New Testament writers affirm the authority of Jesus. John the Baptist speaks of Jesus as being “above all.” John asserts, “The Father loves the Son and has given all things into his hand (John 3:35).”

The Apostle Paul also affirms the authority of Jesus. In writing to the Ephesians, Paul writes, “And he put all things under his feet (Ephesians 1:22).”

Jesus has authority. He asserted His authority. Other New Testament writers affirm the authority of Jesus. But why did He use the phrase “given to me?”

We believe in the Holy Trinity. Verse 19 of our text acknowledges the Holy Trinity (Matthew 28:19). In speaking of baptism, Jesus speaks of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We recognize the Godhead is comprised of three distinct persons. All three persons of the Godhead are not the same as each other. Yet, they are all God. So, specifically concerning Jesus, we say that because Jesus is God, he possesses the authority of God. But here is the question:

If Jesus is God and possesses the authority of God, how can He be granted authority?

Matthew 28:18 gives a clue as to how this authority is granted to Jesus. Jesus said this authority is given to Him “in heaven and on earth.” As God, Jesus possesses authority in heaven. But, when He came to earth, God took upon himself flesh. God has not possessed flesh before this. When Jesus took upon Himself flesh, He came to earth as the God-man. Jesus stands before His disciples as the God-man to make this proclamation.

The answer to our question is in the incarnation of Jesus. It is found in Jesus leaving heaven and taking upon Himself flesh. Jesus was granted authority when He became the God-man. Jesus has the right and the power to rule on this earth.

Jesus Has Extraordinary Authority

We have established that the authority of Jesus was granted to Jesus as a result of the incarnation. But what authority does Jesus Have?

Jesus Has Authority to Teach

The first public sermon given by Jesus at age thirty is known to us as “The Sermon on the Mount.” Matthew records this sermon in chapters five, six, and seven for us. Jesus addressed life in the Kingdom of God in the sermon. The sermon begins with the Beatitudes. The Beatitudes are summary statements of life in the Kingdom of God.

He then expands upon these statements with difficult teachings. These teachings include murder, adultery, marriage, taking oaths, serving others, loving our enemies, doing good, prayer, fasting, laying up treasures in heaven, finances, worry, judging others, a fruitful life, and God’s judgment.

Make no mistake, the subjects addressed by Jesus in His first public sermon were complex. He challenged everything the crowd believed and practiced. Yet, the Scripture says, they were “astonished.” Why? Because He taught as one with authority. His teaching was different from the Scribes.

Mark records a situation in which Jesus entered the Synagogue on the Sabbath and began to teach. Mark’s record includes a comparison of Jesus to the Scribes. The Scribes knew the Scriptures better than anyone. The Scribes knew the Scriptures because of the work of repetitively copying them over and over again. They were considered experts. Now, they are challenged because Jesus is teaching as if He also knew the Scriptures, if not better than the Scribes. Again, Mark records for us, like Matthew, they were astonished because of Jesus’ teaching.

Jesus Has Authority Over Nature

Jesus has extraordinary authority, as displayed in HIs power over nature. When I speak of Jesus’ authority over nature, I speak primarily of His miracles. All of the miracles prove to us that Jesus has extraordinary authority over nature. It should not surprise us that Jesus has authority over nature because John explicitly points to Jesus as Creator (John 1:3). 

We have an example of Jesus’ power over nature. Jesus is in a boat with His disciples. All in the boat encounter a violent storm. The wind is beating the boat. Waves are overcoming the boat. The disciples cry out, “Lord, save us. We are perishing.” In response to their cry, Jesus rebukes the storm. The storm is immediately calm. According to Matthew’s record of the miracle, “the men marveled, saying, ‘What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?’” (Matthew 8:27) They marveled. They have the same reaction we saw others have to Jesus’ teaching. So, people were astonished at his teachings and marveled at his miracles.

We have another example of Jesus’ authority over nature. He encounters a paralytic man (Luke 5:17-26). He first speaks forgiveness to the man. But Jesus then instructs the paralytic man to take up his bed and walk (Luke 5:24). Again, the people are amazed at Jesus’ power over nature to heal a paralytic man (Luke 5:26).

Many of Jesus’ miracles are recorded for us in the Gospels. There are many miracles recorded. These miracles prove to us that Jesus has authority over nature.

Jesus Has Authority to Forgive Sins

In conjunction with Jesus healing the paralytic man, Jesus also forgave His sins (Luke 5:20). This man’s friends brought him to Jesus to seek his healing. But Jesus surprised them when He first said to the man, “Your sins are forgiven.” Please make no mistake about it! Jesus’ primary mission in coming to earth is to bring forgiveness of sins to us and to rule the Kingdom.

Jesus Has Authority To Rule The Kingdom

Jesus focuses on the Kingdom in the Sermon on the Mount. The prophets proclaimed that there would be a Messiah who would rule the Kingdom. Isaiah prophesied, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given;  and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6).” Each of these four names are significant concerning Jesus (Messiah) ruling the Kingdom.

Jesus Has Empowering Authority

This fact that Jesus has the authority to rule the Kingdom leads us to the third characteristic of His authority.The word “therefore” connects the command of the commission to Jesus’ statement concerning His authority. Yet, in this commission, He is empowering His disciples (and ultimately the Church) to continue His work of making disciples.

We must not quickly pass over the fact that Jesus chooses to build His Kingdom by using the Church (His disciples) to make disciples (Matthew 16:18-20). Matthew records Jesus’ interaction with His disciples. He promises to build His Church. When Jesus makes this promise, he says to His disciples, “I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven (Matthew 16:19).”

His promise to build His Church included empowering the disciples with the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven. So, how will Jesus build His Church? Jesus builds His Church by commissioning the Church to “go make disciples.”

Reflection

• Are you a disciple of Jesus under His authority? Or, are you your own authority? Jesus desires for you to repent of your sins, surrender your life to Him, and place yourself under His authority.
• Are you a disciple of Jesus executing the authority of Jesus as He commanded? Jesus’ command to “make disciples” is not a suggestion or good idea. It is His expectation for His disciples to live under His authority and to act on His behalf in His authority.