OUR AUTHORITATIVE LORD IS ALL-POWERFUL. Part 2

Our lord had healed a paralysed man, and then had forgiven his sin, which caused the miserly scribes to accuse our Lord of blasphemy. (Matthew 9:3) Then He questioned them, ‘Whether is it easier to say, ‘Your sins are forgiven, demanding His death on the cross, or ‘Arise, and walk’, demanding his resurrection power?
Then the commanding truth, ’That you may know that the Son of man on earth has power ( the right and might ) to forgive sins. ‘ Scripture does not tell the cause of this man’s paralysis: was it inherited; acquired like poliomyelitis; a stroke from a ruptured blood vessel or thrombosis; but the Lord would provide on the cross our forgiveness and open the way to heaven’s perfection and resurrection? Therefore, He alone had the right and might to do so. We adore Him for His power. ‘The multitude marvelled and glorified God who had given such power to men.’
In Luke 4, our Lord taught in the synagogue on the Sabbath days. ’They were astonished at His doctrine, for His word was with power’ (authority) (v32).
Then the spirit of a man with an unclean or demonic spirit confronted our Lord, rightly calling Him, ’Jesus of Nazareth’ and ’the Holy one of Israel.’ Our Lord silenced this intruder, and dismissed him from the man. ’They were all amazed, saying, ’What a word is this! With authority (majestic liberty) and power (strength) He commanded the unclean spirit to depart from him.’ (v36) Let us ascribe such glorious attributes to our beloved Lord.
While the high priests shamefully rejected their Messiah, and Pilate timidly handed Him over to the murderous crowds, Our Lord stated,’ No man takes My life from Me. But I lay it down of Myself. I have power (jurisdiction) to lay it down, and I have power (rule) to take it again. I have received this commandment from my Father.’ (John 10:18) The sacrifice of our Lord was essential to the eternal redemption plan; hence our Lord’s total control, even in the most hostile situation. Our dear Lord presided over our eternal salvation, even in Calvary’s harsh hour. So He rules in our lives, and in our nations, He holds perfect jurisdiction.
When our Lord prepared to rise to heaven, he made the sublime statement, ‘All power (infinite prerogative) is given unto Me in heaven and earth.’(Matthew 28:18) The Lord Jesus alone had this unlimited power for he had conquered evil, had accomplished our great salvation, and had risen from the grave; and the ‘ticket tape’ parade around the heavenly throne awaited HIM. His disciples urgently needed comfort, for they faced persecution, with all, excepting John, becoming martyrs for their Lord. Persecuted peoples love this majestic truth: saints in China, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Eritrea welcome this mighty assurance.

Before our Lord Jesus went to the cross, He prayed the High Priestly prayer in John 17; where he said, ‘As You have given Him power (absolute sway) over all flesh, that He should give eternal life to as many as You have given Him’ (v2) When Christ was born of the virgin Mary, he ministered as the Son of man, perfect, and sinless. Thus he holds absolute power over all mankind. This mysterious gospel draws men and women of every race by the magnetism of His sacrificial love to their Saviour. That’s why Wycliffe Bible Translators strive to give all peoples their own bible in their mother tongue: and Language Recordings continue with their 6,000 languages on tape or CD. They must know about our beloved Lord.
Our Lord pours his divine strength into His disciples, for He promised,’ I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.’ (Philippians 4:1) Our Lord endues us with power from on high. Oh, how many have cried in their extremity or weakness only to be reinforced with Christ-empowerment. Our Lord is the reservoir of spiritual strength, overflowing into our lives. Do you draw freely from HIM? Heavy floods in South Australia ensured that our water conservation is full; and are overflowing. Our supply of strength will never be diminished from our King.
The writer to the Hebrews spoke of ’A merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make reconciliation for the sins of the people. For in that He himself has suffered being tempted, He is able to succour them that are tempted.’ (2:17) Infinitely higher than men’s priestly role, our beloved Lord is gentle with sinners, and freely reconciles such rebels. Being perfect Man, as born of Mary, He is freely able to give victory over temptation. The most common usage of ‘succour’ is to provide blood for those who have suffered acute haemorrhage. Christ’s life-blood was shed for our sins- the perfect basis for rescuing us and giving complete healing.

Our Lord’s power in changing our body of disgrace is seen in Philippians 3:21,
‘The Lord Jesus Christ shall change our vile body ( of shame and humiliation ) that it may be fashioned like to his glorious body, according to the working whereby HE is able even to subdue all things to Himself.’ The working is our Lord’s endowment,
His power is expressed in His ability to conquer all things to himself. The child of God rests in the unlimited, unsurpassable strength of our dear Lord. Are you?

Paul told of the ‘thorn in the flesh, the messenger of satan to buffet him, lest he be exalted above measure. For this thing he sought the Lord three times that it might depart from him.’ (2 Corinthians 12:9) Then the Lord replied, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness. ‘Then he shouted his response, ‘Most gladly will I glory in my infirmities, that the power (unlimited resources) of Christ may rest upon me.’ This is one of the mountain peaks of scripture, a strong, hidden resource to God’s servants in extreme circumstances. Most missionary biographies tell of the gold-mine of truth in this precious promise.

Robert Murray McCheyne, great Scottish bible teacher, battled with tuberculosis. The Lord allowed this thorn in the flesh, a consuming weakness, but his risen Lord empowered his rich ministry. At 29 years, the Lord called Him to glory, leaving a legacy of treasured, precious truths.
Do the power and authority of Christ rest on you?