Authority

"Lord do not trouble yourself, for I am not worthy to have you come under my roof ; therefore I did not presume to come to you. But say the word and let my servant be healed. For I am a man set under authority, with soldiers under me: and I say to one, 'Go', and he goes; and to another, 'Come' and he comes; and to my slave, 'Do this,' and he does it.' When Jesus heard this he marvelled at him" (Luke 7.1-10).

This centurion was a very unusual man. Jesus was amazed at his faith. The only other record of Jesus being amazed was at the absence of faith among the Jews in Nazareth recorded in Mark 6.6. How sad is the contrast between this man, a Gentile, and God's people among whom Jesus had been brought up.

Centurions

Centurions were the highest non-commissioned officers in the Roman army with nominally one hundred men under their control although that number could vary. They did not rush readily into battle, but if called upon to do so they were unflinching in their bravery. They were expert in both military and civil strategy, often acting as trusted diplomats in an occupied country as here in Israel, part of the Roman territory of Syria. They were role models for the men or the populace under their control, often conveying the orders of the senate and having the oversight that the orders were carried out.

Centurions played an interesting part in the New Testament stories. Perhaps the most remarkable man was the one in charge of the soldiers that led Jesus from the judgment seat of Pilate to Calvary. He would have controlled the soldiers who nailed Jesus to the cross and all that was done at that time. He witnessed the death of Jesus with a valued comment and reported to Pilate that he was definitely dead. (Luke 23. 26-47; Mark 15.44)

Centurions were involved in Paul's arrest in Jerusalem, in his transfer to Caesarea and most importantly in the Apostle's voyage to Malta ‑ one Julius. He was instrumental in saving Paul's life and there appears to be something of a friendship between them. (Acts 22.25,26 ;23.17,23; 27) Most noteworthy of all centurions, in the New Testament, was Cornelius who became what is regarded as the first Gentile convert and to whom Peter went at Caesarea. (Acts 10).

The centurion that requested Jesus to heal his slave ( Gr. doulos in Luke) had already given evidence of being a 'God-fearer' ‑ a Gentile who admired

and followed the ethical teachings of the Law but did not go so far as becoming a proselyte. The Jewish leaders seemed to have shown much concern that Jesus should help him. For his part this extraordinary man expressed love for a slave, who to most Romans was no more than a chattel, no better than a piece of furniture, to be used and discarded with less consideration than their armour. The expression 'slave who was dear to him' really means one that is valued or even honoured.

As Jesus approached the house the centurion sent word that Jesus need not even go as far as his house. He may have had regard for the fact that Jesus, a Jew, might not wish to enter his house because Jews avoided entering the houses of Gentiles. But with astonishing humility he expresses such faith that Jesus has not even witnessed among Jews. This man, used to handling things by remote control, knew that Jesus' power from God was able to operate even without Jesus being present at the miracle.

There are one or two differences between the accounts of this incident given by Matthew and Luke (something not unusual among the synoptic writers). It does not in any way reflect inaccuracy on the part of Gospel writers, but rather tells us what they were most interested in. Luke uses a medical term for 'heal' and emphasises humility as an interest in character whereas Matthew speaks of his faith and nationality. Jesus is amazed at the Roman's spiritual insight sadly lacking in the religious leaders of God's people Israel.

What is 'authority'?

It is translated from the Greek word exousia ‑ and means lawful permission or the ability to do something. The Oxford Concise Dictionary defines it as the power or right to enforce obedience, - political or administrative; a recognized influence or opinion; knowledge; expertise and experience. It is necessary to differentiate between 'authority' and 'power' from the Greek word ‑ dunamis similar to our word 'dynamo'. Power is physical might and is associated with 'miracle'. The two words are allied but not the same.

A government surveyor may have the authority to enter a farmer's field but he does not possess the power of the farmer's prize bull.

God ‑ the ultimate authority

All are responsible to God ‑ everything and everyone is at His command for He has power and dominion over all His works ‑ all are subject to Him. Paul clarifies this in his resurrection chapter 1 Cor15.28 "When all things are subjected to him, then the Son himself will also be subjected to him who put all things under him, that God may be everything to every one"

David and Solomon gave wonderful expressions of worship in their preparations for and dedication of the Temple in Jerusalem. "Then David blessed the LORD in the presence of all the assembly; David said "Blessed are you, O LORD, the God of our ancestor Israel, forever and ever. Yours, O LORD, are the greatness, the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, for all that is in the heavens and on the earth is yours, yours is the kingdom, O LORD, and you are exalted as head above all. Riches and honour come from you, and you rule over all. In your hand are power and might; and it is in your hand to make great and to give strength to all. And now, our God, we give thanks to you and praise your glorious name." (1 Chron.29. 10-13 NRSV)

"But will God indeed reside with mortals on earth? Even heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain you how much less this house that I have built" (2 Chron.6.18)

Paul discusses God's prerogative in Rom.9 (v21) "But, who are you, a man, to answer back to God? Will what is moulded says to its moulder 'Why have you made me thus? Has the potter no right over the clay'" Paul is not referring to Jer.18 where the prophet condemns apostate Israel so that God must destroy them. The reference may be to Isaiah 29.16 which says that God has the right (exousia) - authority over all His works like the potter over the clay. We must acknowledge with Job that we can't contend with God because he has the expertise to make of us, in love, what is best. But God in His mercy does not punish us for asking questions for He knows that we find some things perplexing and difficult to understanding.

There was one who rebelled against the Most High and wished to usurp His authority. He tempted the Son of God to rebel, recorded in Luke 4.6-8. He promised to give the "glory and all this authority" of all the kingdoms of the world to our Lord; but He rebuked the Devil in the words of Deut.6.8 "You shall worship the Lord your God and him only shall you serve."

Jesus' authority

"the crowds were astonished as at his teaching for he taught them as one who had authority, and not as their scribes" (Matt 7.29).

This was at the end of Jesus 'Sermon on the Mount'. So how was He different? The teachers of the Law in Jesus' day taught by constant reference to the rabbis of the past; they were the 'authorities'. Sadly, rabbinical interpretations of the Law had replaced the authority of God. Jesus' teachings and life style did not match their interpretations so they rejected Him. He said of Himself ""He whom God has sent speaks the words of God" (John 3.34 NRSV) and again,"I declare to the world what I have heard from Him." (John 8.28 NRSV) Jesus was the 'Logos' of God which, according to one scholar, literally means 'the sayings of God'. But ordinary people "were all amazed and said to one another 'What is this word for with authority and power he commands the unclean spirits and they come out'" (Luke 4.36) and in this verse there are the Greek words exousia and dunamis together.

It was strange that the Jewish religious leaders asked Jesus to show them a sign. Perhaps it was even more astonishing that John the Baptist should ask whether Jesus was Messiah. He evidently believed that Jesus would give an honest answer. He had heard the voice of God when he baptized Jesus. Had the months of solitude in the castle disturbed his thinking? Whatever had shaken John's earlier conviction Jesus quietly answered him with a testimony from John's disciples of the signs which Jesus was doing. His authority was clearly seen in those signs; the blind saw, the lame walked, leprosy was cleansed, the deaf heard, the dead were raised and the good news was preached to the poor.

The authority from God was passed to the disciples who went out to preach the Gospel. Mark 3.15 records that the disciples were "sent out to preach and have authority to cast out demons". Many years later Paul demonstrated at Philippi the reality of the authority Jesus gave to His followers, A girl, possessed by a demon, called after Paul and Silas and so Paul expelled the evil spirit from the girl.

Jesus further said to the disciples "See I have given you authority to tread on snakes and scorpions and over all the power of the enemy and nothing will hurt you. Nevertheless do not rejoice at this, that the spirits submit to you but rejoice that your names are written in heaven" (Luke 10 19). It was on the Island of Malta immediately following the shipwreck that Paul escaped snakebite as he put wood on a fire that they had kindled to dry their clothes.

But the most important aspect of this text in Luke 10 is the last phrase because however great or seemingly insignificant our lives and activities, we must all have the assurance, "rejoice that your names are written in heaven".

Jesus authority was shown again and challenged when some friends let a paralysed man down through the roof of the house which was full of people and He was preaching. The Pharisees said that he had no right to forgive sins because that was God's prerogative alone. So Jesus said to them "so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins, he said to the one who was paralysed, I say to you, stand up, take up your bed and walk" (Luke 5.17-26)

On yet another occasion the leaders said "by the Prince of Demons he casts out demons" (Mark 3.22). Jesus silenced them with his logic and showed that their assertion was self destructive and silly. Let us be wary that we do not make the same mistake..

Jesus demonstrated His authority over creation on one occasion by feeding more than 5000 people, and 4000 on another. He showed His authority over the wind and waves by the way he stilled the storm on Galilee. Perhaps the most important lesson came from His lips when His disciples took Him across the lake in a boat but had forgotten to take anything to eat. He spoke about the leaven of the Pharisees. They thought He referred to their forgetfulness of bread. Why did they worry about forgetting bread after seeing Him feed 5000 and 4000 people? In spite of those signs they still doubted His ability to provide? Jesus ask them if they too were hard hearted. So what of us? Do we fail to see signs because we doubt and our hearts are hard and stubborn?

Jesus exerted His authority in a very unusual way as He approached the cross. He drove the traders out of the Temple courts, quoting Jer.7.11. He said "My house shall be a house of prayer but you have made it a den of robbers" (Lk.19.45‑47). Next morning the Jewish leaders challenged His authority with the question "By what authority do you do these things "Jesus countered the question with another but He was answering their question and not avoiding it. Jesus' authority was direct from God like the authority of John the Baptist.

During Jesus' hearing before Pilate the governor said, ''surely you know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you?' 'You would have no authority at all over me' Jesus replied, If it had not been granted you from above.'" (John 19.11,12 REB). Many of the well used modern translations use 'power' in this text but it comes from the Greek word 'exousia' and should be 'authority'. We may take heart from this text for no one on Earth has the authority or the power to override that which is from Heaven. We are in God's hands and are immortal until our task is done. After His resurrection Jesus declared that "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Go therefore and make disciples of all nations baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matt 28.18) It may be of interest that the early Church always baptized in the name of Jesus. Peter and John made the lame man who lay at Beautiful Gate of the Temple to walk "in the name of Jesus Christ of

Nazareth". In keeping with the Lord's commission in John 21, Peter became a wonderful under-shepherd within the Early Church. no longer vying with his brethren as to who was the greatest but obedient to the Lord's words "Those who are supposed to rule over the Gentiles lord it over them and their great men exercise authority over them ..but it shall not be so among you." For Jesus - 'came not to be served but to serve and to give His life a ransom for many' (Mark 10.45)

Authority from God is controlled by love and not violence. Humanity have yet to learn that lesson.

"To the King of the Ages, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honour and glory forever and ever Amen."