From the desk of Pastor Ben

Jesus’ Divine Authority Over People

“Immediately, He made the disciples get into the boat and go ahead of Him to the other side, while He sent the crowds away. After He had sent the crowds away, He went up on the mountain by Himself to pray; and when it was venting, He was there alone.”         (Matthew 14:22-23)

In spite of its great size (probably 25,000 or more, counting women & children), the crowd could not force Jesus to do anything contrary to His Father’s will and plan. Many people in the crowd were determined to elevate Him to a throne to further their own selfish, ambitious purposes — but they were unable to do so. Instead, after the Lord sent the apostles on their way, He simply, without a lot of words or any formalities, dispersed the crowd and let people bed down for the night wherever they could find a place near Bethsaida Julius (a town a few miles from the lake’s northeastern shore).

Christ has the final authority over the destinies of all people, including their final judgment (John 5:22). The multitudes who heard His Sermon on the Mount recognized that “He was teaching them as one having authority, and not as their scribes” (Matthew 7:29). In His Great Commission, Jesus reminded the apostles and believers of all eras, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth” (Matthew 28:18). The apostle Paul further reminds us of Jesus’ ultimate authority over all people, a truth that ought to bring us much comfort in these last days: “at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ I’d Lord, to the glory of God the Father” (Philippians 2:10-11).

Ask Yourself:
What would your unsaved friends, neighbors, and family members think if they knew their lives were under the ultimate authority of the God they refuse to acknowledge as Lord and King? What are some ways you see god working around them, even if they don’t see it?