Jesus' Authority

March 8, 2015
Opening Hymns:
569 We’ve a Story to Tell to the Nations http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh569.sht

Scripture Reading:
John 2:13-22

¹³ When it was almost time for the Jewish Passover, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. ¹⁴ In the temple courts he found people selling cattle, sheep and doves, and others sitting at tables exchanging money. ¹⁵ So he made a whip out of cords, and drove all from the temple courts, both sheep and cattle; he scattered the coins of the money changers and overturned their tables. ¹⁶ To those who sold doves he said, “Get these out of here! Stop turning my Father’s house into a market!” ¹⁷ His disciples remembered that it is written: “Zeal for your house will consume me.”<sup>[a]

18</sup> The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?”

¹⁹ Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”

²⁰ They replied, “It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and you are going to raise it in three days?” ²¹ But the temple he had spoken of was his body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples recalled what he had said. Then they believed the scripture and the words that Jesus had spoken.

Message:
It seems like people in the New Testament are always questioning Jesus’ authority. They question it when he forgives the sins of a paralyzed man (Luke 5:17-26), they question it when he casts out demons (Luke 11: 14-16) and they are questioning it in today’s scripture.

Often, Jesus response leaves them speechless. “Which is easier: to say, “Your sins are forgiven,’ or to say, ‘Get up and walk’? But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins…” He said to the paralyzed man, “I tell you get up, take your mat and go home” (Luke 5:23-24). “Any kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and a house divided against itself will fall… Now if I drive out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your followers drive them out? So then, they will be your judges, but if I drive out demons by the finger of God, then the kingdom of God has come to you” (Luke 11:17, 19-20).

In today’s scripture the Jews questioning Jesus in the temple would be silenced by His reply, if they could only realize what He was saying. Instead they question His ability to raise a temple in 3 days when it took 46 years to build it. Yet, how much more amazing is the true story of the death and resurrection of Jesus?!     

Time of Prayer
Dear Lord, let us remember Your loving grace. You who created the universe can do far more than we could ever imagine. Let us remember to treat Your Holy House with reverence. Let us never forget the love You have for us. In Jesus name we pray. Amen.


The Lord’s Prayer


Closing Hymn
128 He Leadeth Me http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh128.sht

May the Lord bless you and keep you: May the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you: May the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." Amen.

Go in peace, serve the Lord
Thanks be to God