The Authority of Our Lord Jesus

The Servant's Authority

Book of Mark Chapters 4 and 5

Before we get to Chapter 5, we get to read about the authority and the deity of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ.

We read of the many parables that give us some of the truths of Heaven in ways we can understand.

The miracles the Lord did and the lessons He has taught us attest to the absolute authority of our Creator.

The four Gospels contain many Scriptures reflecting upon the absolute authority of the Messiah, our Savior.

Every miracle is backed up by Scripture such as, the miracle of healing the blind man.

Psa 146:8  The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:

The water to grape juice in Cana. We should understand that the Lord Jesus would never make wine!

Isa 12:3  Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. 

The feeding of the five thousand.

Isa 30:23  Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures. 

The Lord's authority over the animal world.

Isa 11:6  The wolf also shall dwell with the lamb, and the leopard shall lie down with the kid; and the calf and the young lion and the fatling together; and a little child shall lead them. 

Isa 11:7  And the cow and the bear shall feed; their young ones shall lie down together: and the lion shall eat straw like the ox. 

Isa 11:8  And the sucking child shall play on the hole of the asp, and the weaned child shall put his hand on the cockatrice' den.

The raising of the dead.

Isa 65:20  There shall be no more thence an infant of days, nor an old man that hath not filled his days: for the child shall die an hundred years old; but the sinner being an hundred years old shall be accursed. 

We should consider these things that only God can do, as we take a closer look at the miracle when the Lord raised a young female child from death.

*****Mar 5:21  And when Jesus was passed over again by ship unto the other side, much people gathered unto him: and he was nigh unto the sea. 

The Lord Jesus had now crossed by over the Sea of Galilee again, to a location near Capernaum which had become His base after he had left Nazareth again according to Scripture.

Mat 4:13  And leaving Nazareth, he came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is upon the sea coast, in the borders of Zabulon and Nephthalim: 

Mat 4:14  That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, 

Mat 4:15  The land of Zabulon, and the land of Nephthalim, by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles; 

Mat 4:16  The people which sat in darkness saw great light; and to them which sat in the region and shadow of death light is sprung up. 

We can find these things prophesied in the Book of Isaiah.

Isa 9:1  Nevertheless the dimness shall not be such as was in her vexation, when at the first he lightly afflicted the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, and afterward did more grievously afflict her by the way of the sea, beyond Jordan, in Galilee of the nations. 

Isa 9:2  The people that walked in darkness have seen a great light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, upon them hath the light shined. 

We begin to see that the Lord Jesus could be no one else, but the Messiah come from Heaven!

There were so many things that the children of Israel had missed from the Old Testament, and much of the reason was that the Priests refused to teach the truth of the Word of God just like so many are doing today.

From this point to the end of this chapter, we will see how the support of the multitude will always change.

We will also see how those who should have supported Jesus refused to do so.

His friends said that Jesus had gone mad and insane. 

We must believe Jesus and show our faith in Him. 

We may have to go against our friends.

The religionists said that Jesus was demon possessed. 

Religionist do not really know the truth of God.

His own family said He was an embarrassment to them. 

We must surrender to Jesus regardless of what our families think of us!

These things will always be said about the true Christian and we will have to deal with them all our lifetime, without sin.

As soon as the feet of the Lord Jesus touched the shoreline one of the rulers of the local synagogue came running to Him.

The fame of our Lord Jesus had spread everywhere.

*****Mar 5:22  And, behold, there cometh one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name; and when he saw him, he fell at his feet, 

Mar 5:23  And besought him greatly, saying, My little daughter lieth at the point of death: I pray thee, come and lay thy hands on her, that she may be healed; and she shall live.

Mar 5:24  And Jesus went with him; and much people followed him, and thronged him. 

We might ask ourselves, was it just his lucky day? 

We know the Lord did not heal everyone He came in contact with, and we know He knew ahead of time who had ailments and who did not.

We must know there was a reason behind every move the Lord made, but we already know of His great compassion for all humans.

Joh 3:16  For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. 

Joh 3:17  For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. 

Joh 3:18  He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

Some people say that Jesus had to be very careful that He did not go against the teachings of the Old Testament, the Laws of Moses, and all the things written by the prophets but this is simply not true!

The Lord did not need to put forth effort, because these are all things that He just did because He is the True and Living God!

If Jesus had not done the things, He did then, He would be outside His character!

This father was desperate and he knew there was no other means to save his daughter than the Lord Jesus Christ!

But Our Lord will not do anything if there is a lack of faith!

1) This man exhibits humility and falls at the feet of Jesus.

2) This man exhibits believing, because he knows Jesus is omnipotent, has all power and the power to heal and bring new life.

3) This man boldly goes to the Lord Jesus in the face of all the people, many of whom would not react well, because he was a ruler of the synagogue.

None of the synagogues recognized the Lord Jesus as the Messiah.

The Lord Jesus went with him because these are the actions, we must all take to be saved! It is called faith!

Eph 2:8  For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: 

Eph 2:9  Not of works, lest any man should boast. 

The Lord Jesus will meet the needs of the desperate if they have that saving faith!

A crowd was gathered including the twelve disciples and they all went toward the place of Jarius.

*****Mar 5:35  While he yet spake, there came from the ruler of the synagogue's house certain which said, Thy daughter is dead: why troublest thou the Master any further? 

Mar 5:36  As soon as Jesus heard the word that was spoken, he saith unto the ruler of the synagogue, Be not afraid, only believe. 

Our lesson skips right over the woman who had an issue with her blood for twelve years, who just touched the robe of our Savior and was immediately healed.

This was also a message of faith from someone desperate for life!

Even though there was great rush for the Lord Jesus to get to this child before she died, the Lord Jesus did not have to rush and took the time to heal that woman.

If Jarius had the faith that he said he had, he would have known that there is no need to rush the Almighty God.

He is the giver and the taker of life!

Did Jesus know this child would die if He did not get there in time? Sure He did!

Though we cannot always understand why the Lord does what He does, we can understand that there is reason and purpose in every move that Jesus made while He was upon this world.

One of those was the fact that He wanted to establish His resurrecting power!

The Lord Jesus also wanted to show the difference between little faith and true faith.

True faith has no feeling of hopelessness!

True faith has nothing to do with fear and despair!

While the Lord Jesus Christ was still talking to that woman who did have that blood issue, someone from the home of Jairus came with some terrible news, his daughter had died.

Did the Lord Jesus cause this death? No

We can only imagine how Jairus felt having just witnessed the healing power of the Lord Jesus Christ, and realizing had Jesus not stopped to do this, that He may have made it to his daughter before she died.

Jairus was devastated and crushed and believed it was now too late to save her life.

We know that the Lord Jesus is never too late, but that He is always on time!

What did the Lord Jesus say to him? What happened to your faith?

"be not afraid, only believe."

Fear is the exact opposite of faith!

Believing God eliminates fear!

Believing that God actually cares and will deliver us through all of our fears, is essential in our relationship with the Lord.

The Lord certainly cares about our feelings and our times of despair.

Without believing that God cares for us, will lead to fear!

We should understand that we will face things in our life that no other human being can help us with, but then there is Jesus who cares for us if we only trust Him.

For those who do not know the Lord in a personal way, they have no one to go to and they will be filled with fear and despair.

The Christian should never feel this way!

Though we cannot help it, there is little need to mourn over the death of a Christian as they have returned to the God who created them!

There is very little mourning in faith!

If we mourn, let us mourn for those who do not know the Lord our Savior.

There is never a time that the Lord Jesus can do nothing!

There is never a time that God is twiddling His thumbs or even wondering what He should do next!

There was no need for the crowd to go any further because so many of them had no faith at all.

*****Mar 5:37  And he suffered no man to follow him, save Peter, and James, and John the brother of James. 

Mar 5:38  And he cometh to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and seeth the tumult, and them that wept and wailed greatly. 

Mar 5:39  And when he was come in, he saith unto them, Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Here we see the first time that the Lord Jesus only took Peter, James, and John, with Him, to be witnesses of things not permitted to be seen by the other nine.

Jesus did the same thing at His Transfiguration.

Jesus did the same thing when He was under agony in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The thing that Jesus was about to do, to raise this child from the dead, did not need to have those that might have doubt in the same room!

We should understand that the family of this child would surely mourn for her, but most of those remaining were hired to mourn.

It was a belief of the Jews, that those that were hired to mourn would make it easier for those in the family.

Notice Mark writes that it was tumultuous and more like a commotion, but it also tells us that the child had already died before Jesus had arrived.

Jesus first words were: Why make ye this ado, and weep? the damsel is not dead, but sleepeth.

Jesus Christ is the Lord of Life because He is Life!

Joh 14:6  Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. 

We will learn as Christians that a believing faith will be scorned by this world and we see this more today than at any other time in history.

We will also be abused and persecuted by those who have no faith!

*****Mar 5:40  And they laughed him to scorn. But when he had put them all out, he taketh the father and the mother of the damsel, and them that were with him, and entereth in where the damsel was lying. 

The Lord let them have their laughter because He knew they were about to be silenced!

The Lord Jesus and Peter, James, and John, along with the two parents, entered into the room where the dead child was lying.

All the rest were deemed unworthy to witness the power of the Messiah.

The reason that no one sees the miracles that happen in today's world, is the fact that there is no faith!

Even in the Church there is a great lack of faith today and the Church has lost its power!

It is no wonder we seldom hear of the miracles of God anymore.

The power of Jesus Christ over all evil spirits, over incurable sickness, and over death itself, demonstrates His deity and how He honors simple faith above all other of our characteristics.

Jesus walked over to the child to do what He came to do.

*****Mar 5:41  And he took the damsel by the hand, and said unto her, Talitha cumi; which is, being interpreted, Damsel, I say unto thee, arise. 

Mar 5:42  And straightway the damsel arose, and walked; for she was of the age of twelve years. And they were astonished with a great astonishment. 

The Pharisees had concluded that the Lord Jesus had a devil living within Him.

The relatives of Jesus had said Jesus was a mad man and beside Himself.

The Lord Jesus had begun teaching by parables so people could see without perceiving and hear without understanding.

But the Lord Jesus proves He is the Master of all the forces in this life.

The Lord Jesus proves that He is not only the Master of Life, but also the Giver of Life!

Mark preserved the actual words that Jesus said here, no doubt getting them from Peter the eyewitness.

We all know that our children are special to us at any age and we know that they grow so fast, but that age just before they blossom into adulthood is truly a special time.

This young lady was twelve years old preparing to take on the world when for some reason, she had succumbed to death, but as we know Jesus changes things!

Straightway this child rose up and walked and all that were in the house of Jarius, were astonished.

The Lord said, feed this child for she is hungry.

*****Mar 5:43  And he charged them straitly that no man should know it; and commanded that something should be given her to eat. 

By eating, she could prove to all that she was no spirit but had returned to normal existence.

Even when this child was restored to life, then she would have to return to the things of this life that sustained life, such as food and water.

It was for the sake of these parents that Jesus brought this girl back to life!

Her life in no way could change the providence of God for this world.

This is why God can answer prayer!

This child completed her growth in a home of saving faith and at death she returned to Heaven because this home had faith!

Amen 

Jesus the Authority of God

The Power and the Authority of Jesus

Book of John Chapter 2

We know that the first recorded miracle that came by the hands of Jesus was in the City of Cana during a marriage in which His whole earthly family and His disciples had taken part in. His family also continued with Him as they went with Him to Capernaum.

Capernaum had become the place where Jesus and His disciples had made the home base of His ministry. Both Cana and Capernaum were cities in what was called Galilee, but Capernaum was a city on the Sea of Galilee about 18 miles downhill from Cana.

It was in the city of Capernaum where Jesus taught in a synagogue that was probably built by a Roman Centurion.

In fact so many miracles happened in the city of Capernaum that God placed a curse upon this city because the people failed to see Jesus as the Messiah.

Mat 11:23 And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day.

Mat 11:24 But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

We will see this city mentioned many times as we seek to study the Book of John.

*****Joh 2:12 After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and his brethren, and his disciples: and they continued there not many days.

Joh 2:13 And the Jews' passover was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem,

Joh 2:14 And found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting:

After this means, after the wedding that all the earthly family of the Lord and all the disciples of the Lord attended, they all then went to Capernaum. Capernaum was at a lower elevation or downhill from Cana and their next trip would be up hill all the way to Jerusalem for Feast of the Passover.

We must understand that the pathway to Heaven is not always easy but the view from the top will be wonderful when we get to New Jerusalem.

The annual Passover was a Memorial to freedom but also a symbolic Memorial in memory of that first Passover night in Egypt much like our July the 4th celebration.

It is symbolic because the ultimate fulfillment of the Passover was Mount Calvary where the Lamb of God took away the sins of the entire world.

Joh 1:29 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.

1Co 5:7 Purge out therefore the old leaven, that ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened. For even Christ our passover is sacrificed for us:

1Co 5:8 Therefore let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.

Jesus and those with Him could only stay a few days in Capernaum because it was a long walk up hill all the way to Jerusalem.

The Temple that sat on top of Mount Zion is believed to have covered 30 acres.

The Temple itself was a small ornate building near the center but there were several courtyards each courtyard was separated by its own wall.

There was the courtyard of the priests and only priest could enter there. Only the High Priest could enter into the Holy of Holies and that only once each year.

There was the courtyard of the Israelites and only Jewish men could enter there.

There was the courtyard of women for Jewish women only but on certain occasions could these women worship with the men.

There was the courtyard of the Gentiles, which was the greatest court of all others in size and was intended for Gentiles who were converted to Judaism. These converted Gentiles could be put to death if they tried to enter into the other courtyards.

Remember the Apostle Paul was accused of bringing a Gentile into the place of the priest when He first went back to Jerusalem after his conversion to Christianity.

It was bad enough that oxen and sheep were found on the Temple grounds to be purchased for sacrifice. The people were to bring the best that they owned.

It was bad enough that there were money-changers who converted any money and revenue to Temple money for a profit. It was illegal for the Jews to charge ursury to another Jew in any way.

These things were bad enough but the priest, even the High Priest, shared in the profits of these things, including the High Priests who could have been the only one who sanctioned these things.

The Temple grounds had become like a carnival side show and King Herod loved it because even he was made richer when he collected the taxes.

The Temple brought in much revenue to Jerusalem.

We must understand that the Temple and the Church are to be for the glory of God and not for such things as these!

It was the priest who were rewarded as they collected their reward for allowing these merchants upon the Temple grounds.

They had made merchandise out of God's people!

The court of the Gentiles had been turned into an open market, a mall, a bazaar.

You know what is so sad? Many a so-churches have done the same thing today!

We hear of Coffee shops and donut shops and God forbid a tavern where even the preacher says he can preach much better after a couple of beers.

These high-ranking Jewish priests had forgotten what the House of the Lord was all about!

The House of God is set for the worship of Jehovah God, the Lord Jesus Christ, in Spirit and Truth, a place for believers to gather to worship in the truth of God and fellowship in the Lord!

*****Joh 2:15 And when he had made a scourge of small cords, he drove them all out of the temple, and the sheep, and the oxen; and poured out the changers' money, and overthrew the tables;

Joh 2:16 And said unto them that sold doves, Take these things hence; make not my Father's house an house of merchandise.

How do we abuse the House of God?

1) We forget God's holiness while forgetting our duty to reverence God! It is not only our duty to gather in the House of God, but it is our privilege to worship in God's House.

2) We forget what worship is all about.

3) We misuse the facilities and the buildings of God's house.

4) We allow "questionable", non-worship activities in the House of God.

All these things have no purpose in God's House!

The House of God must be about worship of the Lord and the hospital for lost souls. Every activity at the church must keep these two things in mind!

1) Jesus chased out all those who were buying and selling.

2) Jesus threw over the tables of the moneychangers.

3) Jesus threw over the chairs of the dove dealers.

2Co 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

2Co 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ;

2Co 10:6 And having in a readiness to revenge all disobedience, when your obedience is fulfilled.

Jesus called God "My Father" and Jesus called the Temple "My Father's House".

Once a place of worship is dedicated to the Lord it belongs to Him!

Every place that is made for the worship of Jehovah God then becomes a House that God built!

The Church is not to be a place for buying or selling. The Church is not to become a bazaar. The Church is not a place for commercial profit. The Church is not a place for stealing or cheating or going against the written Word of God.

The Church is to be a place set aside to worship and that worship directed at Jehovah God, the Lord Jesus Christ or it is not even a Church.

The Church is to be a place to train disciples to send out to make more disciples.

The activities that take place at the Church should be about these two things!

Psa 27:3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident.

Psa 27:4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple.

Psa 27:5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.

Psa 27:6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD.

The disciples of the Lord did not ever forget this day when the Lord cleaned out the House of God!

These disciples remembered what was written in the Scriptures!

*****Joh 2:17 And his disciples remembered that it was written, The zeal of thine house hath eaten me up.

Psa 69:9 For the zeal of thine house hath eaten me up; and the reproaches of them that reproached thee are fallen upon me.

Psa 119:138 Thy testimonies that thou hast commanded are righteous and very faithful.

Psa 119:139 My zeal hath consumed me, because mine enemies have forgotten thy words.

Psa 119:140 Thy word is very pure: therefore thy servant loveth it.

Psa 119:141 I am small and despised: yet do not I forget thy precepts.

Psa 119:142 Thy righteousness is an everlasting righteousness, and thy law is the truth.

These disciples remembered what was written in the Scriptures, which showed that they were familiar with the Psalms, the song book of Jews!

They also realized that these Psalms were written of the Messiah.

If we are to be like Jesus Christ (Christian) then we to are to possess such zeal as He showed here in this passage for the House of God!

For instance, how can we expect our lost family members to come to Christ if we do not put forth a great effort, a great zeal, for their salvation and for the truth.

In fact our Pastor has a great zeal to reach the lost but not many members of our church are willing to go house to house to reach out to them. I am guilty of this myself!

Jesus Christ had a great zeal for the House of God, but He did not destroy those things in the Temple, He just stopped what was going on because the House of God has no place for these things.

As is always the case, those who made a profit off of the sales of these things were the true deceivers.

It is most always true that if a crime has been committed we only need to follow the money trail to find those who are the more guilty.

*****Joh 2:18 Then answered the Jews and said unto him, What sign shewest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things?

Joh 2:19 Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.

Jesus the Messiah had every right to do these things at a place set aside for worship of Jehovah God! This was His house!

These people who had witnessed these things then, showed they belonged to Satan as they tempted the Lord to show them some miracle for proof that He was the Messiah.

The Apostle Peter said that there is not greater proof than the written Word of God.

2Pe 1:15 Moreover I will endeavour that ye may be able after my decease to have these things always in remembrance.

2Pe 1:16 For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.

2Pe 1:17 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.

2Pe 1:18 And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

As it is today, the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ is still the stumbling block of the Jewish people.

Jesus knew all these things, so He simply said "when this body I have taken is murdered then, I will raise again in 3 days and this would be the only sign that they needed.

Act 10:39 And we are witnesses of all things which he did both in the land of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they slew and hanged on a tree:

Act 10:40 Him God raised up the third day, and shewed him openly;

Act 10:41 Not to all the people, but unto witnesses chosen before of God, even to us, who did eat and drink with him after he rose from the dead.

Act 10:42 And he commanded us to preach unto the people, and to testify that it is he which was ordained of God to be the Judge of quick and dead.

These who were probably Temple priests, representing the High Priest were ignorant of the truth of the Messiah, they would not accept this answer, nor would they have accepted a miracle had Jesus caused one to happen.

The Lord decided they did not deserve any other answer at all!

We are never to enter into discussions about the truth of the Scriptures. What God has said is the truth, period!

We do not have to answer the world because of their unbelief. They make this choice themselves and they had already decided that they could not be proven wrong.

There is very little doubt that Jesus was pointing to His own body when He said these things because the disciples clearly understood what He was speaking of.

*****Joh 2:20 Then said the Jews, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou rear it up in three days?

We know that the Temple of Solomon had been destroyed by Nebuchadnezzar. We also know that those Jews who had returned from Babylon had rebuilt the Temple but not in the same splendor of that of Solomon because they were too poor.

Ezr 3:12 But many of the priests and Levites and chief of the fathers, who were ancient men, that had seen the first house, when the foundation of this house was laid before their eyes, wept with a loud voice; and many shouted aloud for joy:

Ezr 3:13 So that the people could not discern the noise of the shout of joy from the noise of the weeping of the people: for the people shouted with a loud shout, and the noise was heard afar off.

King Herod had taken it upon himself to transform that Temple into a grand structure but only succeeded in making the Temple a worldly structure that God would later cause to be destroyed.

The work on the Temple had been going on for 46 years and this work would continue for 36 more years until it was within 6 or 7 years of the time when Titus completely destroyed the Temple again in 70AD.

Why did Jesus weep when returning to Jerusalem for the last time before He went to the Cross?

Luk 19:41 And when he was come near, he beheld the city, and wept over it,

Luk 19:42 Saying, If thou hadst known, even thou, at least in this thy day, the things which belong unto thy peace! but now they are hid from thine eyes.

Luk 19:43 For the days shall come upon thee, that thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee round, and keep thee in on every side,

Luk 19:44 And shall lay thee even with the ground, and thy children within thee; and they shall not leave in thee one stone upon another; because thou knewest not the time of thy visitation.

We can trust the Lord to know the future of all things!

*****Joh 2:21 But he spake of the temple of his body.

Joh 2:22 When therefore he was risen from the dead, his disciples remembered that he had said this unto them; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said.

The goal of our Father in Heaven was to provide an even newer Temple, a Temple that would last forever, a Temple built without the hands of man. This would be a new meeting place for God to meet with us, up close and personal.

For all those who would believe, the Holy Spirit would be the first to move in and we all would become the greatest Temple ever built.

Act 11:16 Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

Tit 3:4 But after that the kindness and love of God our Saviour toward man appeared,

Tit 3:5 Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

Tit 3:6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

Tit 3:7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

We should also understand that it was this same statement that was twisted into a lie and used against Him, when Jesus was tried for insurrection.

Mat 26:61 And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

This was also the same statement that was used to taunt Jesus when He was on the cross.

Mat 27:40 And saying, Thou that destroyest the temple, and buildest it in three days, save thyself. If thou be the Son of God, come down from the cross.

The Jews never considered that Jesus was offering them eternal salvation and they rejected all His Words!

Rom_4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

Rom_5:16 And not as it was by one that sinned, so is the gift: for the judgment was by one to condemnation, but the free gift is of many offences unto justification.

There were many who were at the Temple that knew the Lord because of the miracles He had done in the many places He had traveled.

*****Joh 2:23 Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, in the feast day, many believed in his name, when they saw the miracles which he did.

Even at the Temple during this Passover there were some who believed that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah. They had the same belief that we have today.

There were also some at the Temple who had seen the Lord perform the many miracles and they only believed Him for this reason which is not good enough to get into God's New Heaven.

Heb 10:38 Now the just shall live by faith: but if any man draw back, my soul shall have no pleasure in him.

Heb 10:39 But we are not of them who draw back unto perdition; but of them that believe to the saving of the soul.

The Lord Jesus Christ was truly full of power, in fact extraordinary power, explosive power and it is this belief that could get them saved.

1Co 1:22 For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom:

1Co 1:23 But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness;

1Co 1:24 But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God.

There were also those who just believed just because they had witnessed all the things that Jesus had done.

Joh 10:37 If I do not the works of my Father, believe me not.

Joh 10:38 But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.

We should also understand that the Lord knows exactly what is in the mind of every human being and our Lord is not a deceiver but always of the truth.

*****Joh 2:24 But Jesus did not commit himself unto them, because he knew all men,

Joh 2:25 And needed not that any should testify of man: for he knew what was in man.

To many of that day, their faith just did not go far enough.

What are the 2 commandments of the Lord that have real meaning?

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

These are the guide lines for our faith and these 2 things must be real!

The Holy Spirit will not move into our bodies unless we possess this love.

Even today Jesus Christ knows everything about everybody.

We simply cannot fool God!

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

If we will believe that Jesus Christ is exactly who He says He is, then by the "Grace" of God, we can be saved from a sinners Hell and rewarded by being adopted into the family of God!

Amen

Let's Pray!

The Authority Jesus Christ Is Certain

The Certainty Of Christ's Authority

Book of Luke 6:1-19


What is authority? Authority can be said to be "legal power".

Mat 7:28  And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:
Mat 7:29  For he taught them as one having authority, and not as the scribes.

The Scribes, which many of them were also Pharisees, for the most part, just read the Scriptures. They taught in a cold and lifeless manner.

They did not have the power of the Holy Spirit!

They taught more about themselves, in their own name, by their own interpretation and by their own authority!

Jesus taught as the Lawgiver.

120 times Jesus used the words "I say unto You" because He had the authority of Heaven and not of men!

Jesus had direct authority and all the power of the Holy Spirit!

Let's begin:

Luk 6:1  And it came to pass on the second sabbath after the first, that he went through the corn fields; and his disciples plucked the ears of corn, and did eat, rubbing them in their hands.
Luk 6:2  And certain of the Pharisees said unto them, Why do ye that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days?

When people speak about religion, they speak of form and ritual, rules and regulations, ceremonies and services.

What does God say?

2Ti 3:1  This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.

2Ti 3:5  Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.

Placing religion above mankind and above the needs of mankind is exactly what the religionists do today!

This is exactly what these Scribes and the Pharisees and even the Sadducees did at the time of Jesus.

True Christianity is knowing that God is meeting the needs of His creation!

***Meeting man's needs is much more important than religion and ritual!

***Doing good and saving life are much more important than religion and ritual!

Jesus came to seek and to save and these things remain the most important things for the Church!

The events of these Scriptures took place on two different Sabbaths.

Luke begins with "real needs" are more important than "religion and rituals".

The disciples that followed Jesus were hungry that morning because they had not eaten since the previous day.

As they were passing a corn field they began to pluck and eat some of the corn.

There was no law against this, for it was permitted by the Laws of Moses to eat some of the corn as they passed by.

Deu 23:25  When thou comest into the standing corn of thy neighbour, then thou mayest pluck the ears with thine hand; but thou shalt not move a sickle unto thy neighbour's standing corn.

Their crime, according to the Pharisees, was rubbing the corn in their hands to remove the husk and silks.

This was twisting the Word of God into a man-made false thing.

BUT, Working on the Sabbath day was a serious offence to these orthodox Jews.

Law after law had been written to govern activities on the Sabbath.

In fact many a person were condemned and actually lost theirs lives for breaking the laws of the Sabbath during the time of the Pharisees.

We should consider that God gave the seventh day, the Sabbath, as a day of rest during creation week.

Our good health demands that we have a day of rest!

To the Jews, it was the Laws of Moses that had kept them together throughout these centuries and all the Law was important to them!

The Temple and the Sabbath became the glue that held that nation together and made them a distinct people from all other people as they remain even in our day.

This is one of the reasons that Jesus was so greatly opposed by the Jewish religious leaders of that day and by all the false religions of today.

When we allow religion and ritual, ceremony and position, and security to become more important than the basic needs of human life, which begin with a personal relationship with God, compassion for all others, true worship and the mercy of God, then we have a false understanding of what God is saying!

Jesus Christ shows the entire world that human needs are far more important to God than religion and religious rules!

We should still consider:

1) We must not ignore the Word of God nor the worship of God but there are some needs that require an immediate solution.

Heb 10:25  Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

2) Jesus Christ is the Lord of the Sabbath and every other day of the week, and it is He who decides when a need supersedes religious ceremony and He gives us these examples.

Mat 20:25  But Jesus called them unto him, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them.
Mat 20:26  But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister;
Mat 20:27  And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant:
Mat 20:28  Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

These Pharisees that approached Jesus this day were probably Scribes because of that word "certain".

Many Scribes were also Pharisees but not all Pharisees were Scribes. Some Scribes were also called Lawyers.

Most of these Scribes were committed to the Jewish Faith.

These Scribes had two primary functions:

1) The Scribes made copies of the written Word of God, at that time only the Old Testament.

They were meticulous to keep count of every letter in every word!

They clearly understood that God had given them the Scriptures and those words were the greatest things in the life of the Jewish nation!

To the Jews the Word of God was considered the most precious possession in all the world.

This holds true today for every believer!

The Word of God is the most important thing that we can possess!

2) The Scribes, studied, classified, and taught, the moral law.

It was in this function where the Oral Law began to take it's place.

There was at one time so many oral rules and regulations that they were contained in 50 volumes and these Jews began to place the oral Law above the written Law of God.

Mat 12:10  And, behold, there was a man which had his hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him.
Mat 12:11  And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift it out?
Mat 12:12  How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days.

The Scribes began to feel that it was they who produced the oral Law and it was they who had God's final Word.

This is thinking with the exalted mind of man.

This is the way most every false religion has had it's beginnings!

There are to many today who feel like it is their own interpretation of the Word of God that is correct and all others are wrong but that's not what God says.

Rom 3:4  God forbid: yea, "let God be true, but every man a liar"; as it is written, That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings, and mightest overcome when thou art judged.

2Pe 1:20  Knowing this first, "that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation".
2Pe 1:21  For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

Mat 5:18  For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, "one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled".

Rev 22:18  For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, "If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book":
Rev 22:19  And "if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book".

God says what He means and God means what He says and God has never given us the freedom to change the Scriptures He has given to us!

Christ Jesus answered them with a simple question!

*****Luk 6:3  And Jesus answering them said, Have ye not read so much as this, what David did, when himself was an hungred, and they which were with him;
Luk 6:4  How he went into the house of God, and did take and eat the shewbread, and gave also to them that were with him; which it is not lawful to eat but for the priests alone?
Luk 6:5  And he said unto them, That the Son of man is Lord also of the sabbath.

It is real important that we read and study the Word of God "ourselves", so we can know when we are hearing the truth from those who preach and teach!

The "shewbread" in the Temple and in the Tabernacle symbolized the "Presence of God" who is the "Bread of Life"!

There were 12 loaves brought into the House of God and taken to the Holy Place by the Priests and placed on a table before the Lord.

This was intended as a "Thanksgiving Offering" expressing appreciation and praise to God for providing food for the people.

This bread symbolized the everlasting covenant between God and His people.

The bread was to changed every week and the old loaves became food for the priests.

There was great respect for King David for he had brought peace to all of Israel by defeating all her enemies.

The intent of the Words of Jesus was that no ceremonial law was to ever over ride the general principle of God providing for His people!

And Matthew made this thing even more clear, with that actual words of Jesus:

Mat 12:7  But if ye had known what this meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless.

The Laws of God were never intended to be a burden!

The Laws of God are to be for our guidance and then our example of striving for perfection.

God is a God of "mercy"!

The Lord Jesus Christ must be our Lord everyday and that includes the Sabbath.

The Sabbath was the seventh day of the Jewish week and from Friday at 6 PM until Saturday at 6 PM it was to be a time of rest.

Works of necessity were always allowable on that Sabbath, after all the Sabbath was to be spent in the service and to honor the Lord of the Sabbath.

For instance, the shepherds had to work 7 days a week and the super religious despised them for this because they could not keep the oral laws they had put in place.

As Christians the seventh day is Sunday because Sunday was the day that Jesus Christ arose from the tomb and is therefore the Lord's Day!

The blessings of Jesus Christ are promised to the suffering saints who live by the Word of God and the "Gospel" of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Woe to all those who trust in the riches of this world and show contempt to God's people!

Those who were so super religious ignored the Word of God and condemned the Lord and Savior who is the fulfillment of all the Word of God that they so boasted about.

*****Luk 6:6  And it came to pass also on another sabbath, that he entered into the synagogue and taught: and there was a man whose right hand was withered.
Luk 6:7  And the scribes and Pharisees watched him, whether he would heal on the sabbath day; that they might find an accusation against him.
Luk 6:8  But he knew their thoughts, and said to the man which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in the midst. And he arose and stood forth.
Luk 6:9  Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing; Is it lawful on the sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? to save life, or to destroy it?
Luk 6:10  And looking round about upon them all, he said unto the man, Stretch forth thy hand. And he did so: and his hand was restored whole as the other.
Luk 6:11  And they were filled with madness; and communed one with another what they might do to Jesus.

Jesus first showed the religionists that "real needs" are more important than religion and rituals.

Now Jesus will show them that "doing good and saving life" are much more important that religious rituals.

The truth is a one handed man has a major disability even in our day but in that day of Jesus it was a serious disability. This man would not be able to take care of his own needs.

Those who were super religious and had placed the oral Law above the written Word of God were like hawks ready to attack, if Jesus made an attempt to heal this man's hand.

They were not watching for another miracle, they were watching that they may accuse Him of ignoring their precious "man-made oral Laws"!

Healing on the Sabbath was considered to be work!

Our God is "omniscient", knowing all things, but He did not need that power to know what those religionists were doing this day!

Jesus was causing them to be honest in their conclusions and be willing to understand the truth of God!

To do good and save a life will always supersede religious rituals!

That's what salvation is all about, doing good and saving lives!

Why preach the Word of God if salvation is of so little importance!

Salvation is the ultimate healing, the ultimate saving of life!

As it was on this day that this man stood before the Lord:

2Co 6:2  (For he saith, I have heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have I succoured thee: behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation.)

In fact there is no better day to do good than on a day of worship!

If we refuse to help those in need, when we are able, no matter the day, then we are doing evil.

Rom 13:10  Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.

And as religionists do, they became very mad, they were filled with madness!

We must consider that the nation of Israel was based upon the Word of God.

The Ten Commandments and the Books of Moses were the laws of Israel from their beginning.

It was these religionists who were causing these things to change and not the things that Jesus did.

America was founded on the principles of the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ and it is the Liberals and the Religionists who are changing everything we stand for and not the Word of God.

Extreme legalism and extreme devotion, were the two major traits of the Pharisees and most of the Scribes.

Those Sadducees were even more liberal than the Pharisees were legalistic!

These traits, when attached to someone with a self-centered heart will lead to abuse!

Legalism takes away from the "Mercy" and the "Forgiveness" of God.

God detests a "holier than thou are" attitude!

Pride is also a hindrance to every Christian!

There is no such thing as perfect obedience to the Word of God and any of us can easily become hypocritical!

Personal achievements do not influence the hand of God and nor does seeking recognition!

We must walk the talk. We cannot teach one thing and practice another thing in our lives!

And, God does not need our permission to work in someone's life!

Doing good and saving lives is what God intends for us all to do!

God is still in the life saving business!

Mic 6:7  Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams, or with ten thousands of rivers of oil? shall I give my firstborn for my transgression, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?
Mic 6:8  He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the LORD require of thee, "but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God"?

What is the will of God?

It is the will of God that we all be more like His Son Jesus!

Luk 19:10  For the Son of man is come to seek and to save that which was lost.

If what we do makes the Liberals and the Pharisees of today mad, then we should also be like Jesus in this and continue on in the work of the Lord.

So what if they get mad, they will always be this way!

*****Luk 6:12  And it came to pass in those days, that he went out into a mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God.

Jesus was the perfect Son of God, so we must remember Jesus did not have to pray for forgiveness. In reality Jesus was always praying for His people, the lost and the saved!

It is a fact the God uses people to get His message of salvation into this world!

It does not matter about their size, their shape, their color, or their nationality, God is no respecter of persons!

So how does God choose His people?

1) Jesus chose His people after prayerful consideration!

Here we see that Jesus continued all night in prayer.

Most of the time we can count the time we pray all day in minutes and we are usually making requests for ourselves and then for the people we know.

We forget that prayer is also a great means of developing our personal relationship with the Lord!

God wants to hear from us, everything about our day!

We pray for the arm of God and forget to pray for the face of God!

When we climb in our closet and get alone with God it is then that we can just talk as friends talk.

Mat 6:6  But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly.

All other times as we go about our daily task, if we are aware of God's constant presence, we will be talking to Him rather than talking to ourselves!

1Th 5:17  Pray without ceasing.

Thinking of and talking to God is fellowship prayer and any improvement in our relationship with the Lord is always beneficial.

But we also need that consecrated closet prayer.

We need some time alone with God!

It was time for Jesus to pick those who would be the first messengers of the New Testament church and Jesus needed much closet prayer!

*****Luk 6:13  And when it was day, he called unto him his disciples: and of them he chose twelve, whom also he named apostles;
Luk 6:14  Simon, (whom he also named Peter,) and Andrew his brother, James and John, Philip and Bartholomew,
Luk 6:15  Matthew and Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called Zelotes,
Luk 6:16  And Judas the brother of James, and Judas Iscariot, which also was the traitor.

Our Lord Jesus prepared all night for the decisions He made on this day!

A great example for us all!

Jesus had to be willing to choose those His Father had chosen!

Joh 17:12  While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: "those that thou gavest me I have kept", and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.

Did Jesus pray long and hard before He chose Judas, sure He did!

Joh 6:70  Jesus answered them, Have not I chosen you twelve, and one of you is a devil?

There many disciples following Jesus at that time.

The term "Disciple" means "to learn", "a learner", and it always means a pupil of someone else!

In the day of Jesus, a disciple would attach themselves to a teacher and follow that teacher wherever they went.

They not only learned from what that teacher taught but they learned from that teacher's life!

After the ascension of Jesus back to Heaven, the disciples are all those who confess Jesus as the Messiah!

Act 11:26  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

Jesus Christ chose twelve men in which 11 of those would be Apostles.

The term "Apostle" means a disciple "who is sent".

An Apostle was a man chosen directly by the Lord Jesus and under the control of the Holy Spirit.

Jesus even said He was an Apostle sent by His Father:

Joh 17:3  And this is life eternal, that they might know thee the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent.

Jesus is called the Apostle and High Priest of our profession of faith, which is Christianity!

Heb 3:1  Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

There may have been others that were called apostles but there is a distinct difference between these and the ones that Jesus chose.

There were 12 Apostles chosen specifically by the Lord.

There were 12 Apostles trained by the Lord.

There were 12 Apostles that saw Jesus after His resurrection.

There were 12 Apostles that were to carry forth the message of Jesus Christ which came from His own mouth.

The Apostles are the foundation of the Church with Jesus being the Head Cornerstone!

When we stray from the teachings of the Apostles we stray from the "Gospel of Jesus Christ".

Act 2:42  And they continued stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers.
Act 2:43  And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles.
Act 2:44  And all that believed were together, and had all things common;

What was the Apostles statement of faith?

A belief in God the Father Almighty, and in Jesus Christ His only Son, our Lord, who was born of the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary; crucified under Pontius Pilate, and buried; the third day He arose from the dead; He ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of the Father, from thence He shall come to judge the quick and the dead. And in the Holy Ghost; the holy Church; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; the life everlasting.

To vary from this statement is to distance yourself from the Church of the Living God!

To believe these things is to acknowledge Jesus as God and to know that there is only one God and He is the God of the Bible and all religions simply do not worship the same God!

My God is Jesus and I am an ambassador for Christ!

I am a Christian only if I try to be like Jesus Christ!

And, It should not astound me that my Lord will choose some people for a special calling!

It should also not astound me that my Lord will choose people with very diverse personalities!

Many of the Apostles were fishermen but at least three were also businessmen. Peter James and John.

One  was probably a rich man, Matthew.

One was a political Zealot and would have been an enemy of Matthew, Simon Zelotes.

It was the zealot's goal to overthrow the Roman government and all Jews who worked with them, and Matthew was a tax collector.

One was deeply religious, Nathanael, his name meaning "gift of God" and also called Bartholomew.

All the Apostles were given to edify the Church:

Eph 4:11  And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;
Eph 4:12  For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

The twelve that were chosen that day who were still called disciples were these.

1) Simon who is also called Peter, Simon Peter, and Cephas.

Simon Barjona or Simon son of John. Fisherman and Business man.

2) Andrew, the younger brother of Peter who spent most of his time in the background but whenever we see him, he is always bringing someone to Jesus.

3) James the son of Zebedee, fisherman and business man but also bold and full of energy. James was the first Apostle to die for the Lord.

4) John, younger brother of James, fisherman, business man, he said he was the disciple that Jesus loved and the only apostle who died of old age.

5) Philip lived in the same city of Peter and Andrew, Bethsaida. Philip"s best response when asked if Jesus was the real Messiah, was "come and see" for yourself.

6) Bartholomew also called Nathanael, "the Israelite with no guile". Nathanael was from Cana and tradition says it was Nathanael who was the bridegroom at the wedding of Cana.

7) Matthew, son of Alphaeus. The Tax collector and also a rich man. He was also called Levi and hated by the Jews and called Matthew the publican which meant to the Jews that he was a worthless man.

8) Thomas, sometimes called Didymus which signifies he had a twin. Thomas is often seen as the doubter.

9) James, son of Alphaeus but not considered to be the brother of Matthew. Probably a cousin or at least a kinsman of the Lord Jesus.

Called James the less probably because he was short.

Some believe that Mary had another sister named Mary or Miriam and it was she that was married to this Alphaeus.

The Bible also says that Mary herself had a son named James and a son named Joses and one named Jude and a son named Simon, along with some other children.

10) Simon called Zelotes. Also called Simon the Canaanite. Before he was called by the Lord he was a member of a fanatical sect of religionists, that we may even say was a terrorist in our day.

11) Judas the brother of James the Less. Also called Lebbeus, whose surname was Thaddeus.

12) Judas Iscariot, the traitor. Judas the man from Kerioth, also had a father named Simon.

Jesus chose men from all walks of life and a lot can be said about Judas Iscariot but the main thing we see is that God will give everyone a chance to repent even when He knows they will not.

No one that faces the Lord on Judgment Day, can say they did not get a fair chance.

Everyone that ended up in Hell and that will end up there, had to stumble over Jesus Christ to get there!

Rom 1:19  Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20  For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Rom 1:21  Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

There will be no excuses accepted on Judgement Day!

Questions?

Let's Pray!