THE AUTHORITY OF JESUS
MATTHEW 28:18
INTRODUCTION
The Word of God is clear about who Jesus is–He is God!
John 1:1-- "In the beginning was the Word (Jesus). . ."
Genesis 1:1-- "In the beginning God created. . ."
Jesus is God!
If Jesus was just a good person from history, then it wouldn’t really be a big deal if we ignored His person. There have been a lot of so called "good men" who have not gained the recognition or respect that other people feel that they should have had while they were alive.
If Jesus was just a good teacher, then it wouldn’t really be a big deal if we chose to ignore His teachings. There have been a lot of good teachers whose teachings have gone unheeded both during and after their lifetime.
If Jesus was just another religious leader who formed a following, claimed He was God, and then faded off the scene while His religion went on He would be just one of many who have done that. It wouldn’t really be a big deal if we just picked and chose what we want to believe of what He said or we just chose not to believe him at all.
But listen, Jesus was and is more than just a good person, Jesus was and is more than just a good teacher, and Jesus was and is more than just another religious leader who claimed to be God–He was and is very God!
Jesus not only claimed to be God, but, He showed Himself to be God–through His miracles and through His resurrection!
And because Jesus is God, He has all authority. That is what we mean when we say that Jesus is LORD!
Matthew 28:18–"All power is given me in heaven and in earth."

We know from experience that the person with the power is the one in authority! Jesus is that authority that is above all authority!
For Example: Who is it that really controls our country’s economy? To listen to the Presidential candidates, the Senators and the Congressmen you’d think they are in control.
But listen, they can spout all they want to about what they will do to spur economic growth. Nevertheless, they are all at the mercy of Chairman of the Federal Reserve–Ben Bernanke.
However, there is one who is in control of Ben Bernanke–The Lord Jesus Christ, Who is the One who put him in that position and the One who can bring him down!
Romans 13:1–". . . For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God."

Philippians 2:9–"Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."
I. OUR LORD’S AUTHORITY WAS QUESTIONED BY SOME BEFORE HE EVER BECAME FLESH!
A. The Lord’s Authority Was Questioned By Satan!
(Isaiah 14:12-15)
". . . I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. . .I will be like the most High."
B. The Lord’s Authority Was Questioned By Satan And Mankind In The Garden Of Eden!
Satan challenged the authority of God when he spoke to Eve.
Genesis 3:1-- "Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden."
Genesis 3:4–"Ye shall not surely die: For God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing . . ."
And then, in spite of what the LORD had told them, Adam and Eve ate of the tree they were told not to eat from!
C. The Lord’s Authority Was Questioned In Noah’s Day!
Genesis 6:5–"And God saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every imagination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually."
D. The Lord’s Authority Was Questioned At The Tower Of Babel! Genesis 11:4–"And they said, Go to, let us build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth."
E. The Lord’s Authority Was Questioned By Pharaoh In Egypt. Exodus 5:2–"And Pharaoh said, Who is the LORD, that I should obey his voice to let Israel go? I know not the LORD, neither will I let Israel go."
F. The Lord’s Authority Was Questioned By His Chosen People. 1 Samuel 8:7–"And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them."
OUR LORD’S AUTHORITY WAS QUESTIONED BY SOME BEFORE HE EVER BECAME FLESH!
II. OUR LORD’S AUTHORITY WAS QUESTIONED BY MANY AFTER HE BECAME FLESH!
A. His Authority Was Questioned By Devout Men!
Those in the Synagogue including the Scribes, Pharisees, Elders and Sadducees questioned His authority!
These were the very ones who should have recognized His authority!
1. We See It In Their Astonishment!
(Mark 1:21-22)
2. We See It In Their Amazement! (Mark 1:26-27)
3. We See It In Their Antagonism! (Mark 2:5-7; 16)
4. We See It In Their Animosity! (Mark 3:6)
5. We See It In Their Announcement! (Mark 3:22)
Beelzebub is of Chaldee origin. He was the dung god and it also became a name referring to Satan.
6. We See It In Their Arrest! (Mark 14:43)
7. We See It In Their Accusations! (Mark 15:3)
Luke 23:2–"We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King."
John 18:28–"If he were not a malefactor, we would not have delivered him up unto thee."

8. We See It In Their Activity! (Mark 15:11)
His authority was questioned by the very ones who had taken and robbed God’s authority for themselves. (Mark 7:6-9)
His Authority Was Questioned By Devout Men!
B. His Authority Was Questioned By His Disciples!
(Mark 4:39-41)
C. His Authority Was Questioned By His Own Countrymen! (Mark 6:1-6)
D. His Authority is Still Questioned By Many Today!
OUR LORD'S AUTHORITY WAS QUESTIONED BY SOME BEFORE HE EVER BECAME FLESH!
OUR LORD'S AUTHORITY WAS QUESTIONED BY MANY AFTER HE BECAME FLESH!
III. BUT UNDERSTAND THAT WHILE JESUS’ AUTHORITY WAS QUESTIONED BY MANY IT WAS UNQUESTIONED BY SOME!
A. His Authority Was Not Questioned By Some Demons!
(Mark 1:23-26; 34; 3:11; 5:7, 13)
B. His Authority Was Not Questioned By Many Who Were Diseased! (Mark 1:32-34; 40-42)
C. His Authority Was Not Questioned By Some Who Were Dead! (Mark 5:41-42; John 11:43–"Lazarus, come forth")
D. His Authority Was Not Questioned By His Creation!
(Mark 4:39)
IV. BUT WHAT WE REALLY NEED TO SEE IS THAT REGARDLESS OF WHETHER JESUS’ AUTHORITY IS QUESTIONED OR NOT, IN REALITY, THERE IS NO QUESTION OF HIS AUTHORITY!
A. Understand That Just Because Someone Has A Question About One’s Authority, That Doesn’t Minimize That Person’s Authority!
"Example–Man we witnessed being told to leave the ballpark Umpire at a Dixie League Baseball playoff game in Tennessee."
B. Understand Also That There Are Consequences To Disregarding Authority!
We are fooled into thinking otherwise because the authorities we are familiar with are not always aware that we are disregarding them and sometimes we get away with disregarding authority. (Example–speed limits, stop signs, no turn on red)
There is only one problem with that mind-set as it relates to the authority of Jesus–Nothing escapes Jesus! He knows absolutely everything about us!
Hebrews 4:13–"Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do."
C. The Proof Of The Lord Jesus Christ’s Authority Comes In The Judgment!
1. Believers Will Stand Before Jesus At The Judgment Seat Of Christ!
Romans 14:10–". . .for we shall all stand before the judgment seat of Christ."
Romans 14:12–"So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God."
2. Unbelievers Will Stand Before Jesus At The Great White Throne Of Judgment!
Revelation 20:12-- "And I saw the dead, small and great stand before God. . ."

Conclusion
Who do you see as the authority in your life? We can say one thing with our lips but what does our life say?
Are you really recognizing the authority of Jesus in your life? You will one day. Why not today?
You may be here this morning and you call Jesus your Lord–However, are you being obedient to Him?
Luke 6:46-- And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?