Know Who You're Talking To

Picture Credit Unknown / Quote: hhcomings

To catch the force of what Luke recorded regarding Jesus’ authority, it will serve well to explore the look of two basic words which can get muddled in our thinking. The words are:  Power and Authority. They are siblings; but they are not twins.

Power (dunamis) speaks of the actual strength to do a task. Jesus used it in Matthew 28:19-20 and in Acts 1:8. He has the actual strength and resources to accomplish what he promised.

Authority (exoucia) speaks of the legal and or ethical right to promise, command, expect, and do things.

Power exercised without authority is insubordination. Authority to act without the power to act is useless.

It is the word authority in the context of Jesus' acts of power which is important to Luke's narrative. Exoucia combines the word for “out” and a form of the verb “to be.” To my ear it says, “out-being,” and has to do with what we sometimes call our jurisdiction. It begins with “personal space;” but it grows to include that which causes certain people to adjust themselves to your priorities when you are present in person or simply in their mind. It is the influence of your existence, your presence, or your memory to affect the choices of others.

Luke used “authority” first in the account of Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness. Satan claimed authority to offer him the kingdoms of the world. Jesus rejected the propaganda and, thereafter demonstrated his authentic authority in action and word.

Consider the power demonstrations (dunamis) of his authority (exousia) in the flow of events.

• He demonstrated authority over demons. (Notice - the people used both words - authority / power - in their reaction to this event.
• He demonstrated authority over physical ailments – fever, leprosy, paralysis, a malformed hand, a military officer’s servant.
• He demonstrated authority over a school of fish.
• He demonstrated authority over death.

With the possible exception of the fish event, do you see any correlation between these and the identity of his footprint in the lists we have mentioned? 
We never escape the issue of authority; and it is vital to know who's who in the authority structures of our lives. There are too many not-so funny-stories about mouthy workers discovering that they were talking to their boss... for the last time. The issue is deadly if we fail to understand the authority invested in Jesus Christ. In the next devotional I hope to show you two events Jesus used to make the connection between his footprint and his authority. His miracles were not for show, they were for recognition.

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