Passion Week

Matthew 21:23 ¶ And when he entered the temple, the chief priests and the elders of the people came up to him as he was teaching, and said, "By what authority are you doing these things, and who gave you this authority?" ²⁴ Jesus answered them, "I also will ask you one question, and if you tell me the answer, then I also will tell you by what authority I do these things. ²⁵ The baptism of John, from where did it come? From heaven or from man?" And they discussed it among themselves, saying, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will say to us, 'Why then did you not believe him?' ²⁶ But if we say, 'From man,' we are afraid of the crowd, for they all hold that John was a prophet." ²⁷ So they answered Jesus, "We do not know." And he said to them, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I do these things.

Here we learn three lessons about the authority of Jesus:

1. Jesus authority is God’s authority.  This is the only thing “all authority in heaven” can mean.  When Jesus speaks, he speaks with God’s authority.  The religious leaders thought that he was blaspheming on the grounds that only God could forgive sins. 
2. Jesus authority validates his teaching.  This is what first impressed so many to Him, for he did not speak on the authority of those religious teachers of His day.  They all knew that what He said was true and could be trusted.  Have you learned that about Jesus?  No one else is trustworthy.  The polls tell us that Americans lie all the time and for no apparent reason.  Politicians lie.  Only Jesus can be trusted to tell you the truth at all times. 
3. Jesus authority to forgive sin.  This is the most important point of all, for sin is our greatest problem.  Sin keeps us from God.  In fact, sin keeps us from the truth, for sin causes us to hide from the truth and cling to our sinful ways at all costs.  We need a forgiveness based on the punishment of our sins in another who is able to bear that judgment for us, which is exactly what Jesus did.  Jesus died in our place so that he can justly forgive the sin of all who will come to him asking for salvation. The leaders of Israel would not acknowledge Jesus authority.  They wanted to be the authorities themselves, and the result is that they perished in their sins.  Many will perish for exactly the same reason.  They cling to their own supposed authority and will not come to Jesus.  Why should that be true of you?  It need not be.  Acknowledge Jesus’ authority and ask him to save you from your sins.