And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at His doctrine, for He taught them as One having authority, and not as the scribes. Matthew 7:28,29
There were times during my short career in customer service when the person calling in about a problem with their printer was not happy with what I had to tell them. One woman in particular was angry when I refused to replace her ink cartridge, because she had refilled the cartridge three times, contrary to the instructions for non-refillable cartridges. Upon my refusal to replace the cartridge, her next demand was to talk with my supervisor. So I connected her to my boss. She was like so many others who don’t want to talk to anybody but the person in charge. For example, salespeople never want to talk to anybody but the person who has the authority to place an order. The people who were listening to the Sermon on the Mount had, without realizing it, reached the top rung of the chain of authority. They were listening to the One who was in charge of everything. We have the same privilege today as we gather in His name, under His auspices, and in His very presence.
The disciples were amazed when He stilled the wind and waves of Galilee. But all nature was subject to His authority. The people were astonished when He brought Lazarus forth from the grave. But all sickness and even death are subject to His authority. In today’s text and during so many times during His ministry, people were astonished at His teaching. But all of Scripture is from Him, about Him, and for Him. His authority is absolute, and His control is complete. And yet we recall His subjection to His earthly parents, His acceptance of baptism at John’s hand, His obedience to His Father’s will, His adherence to the Scriptures, His moving in harmony with the prophecies, His allowing soldiers with staves to bind Him, His submitting to the false trials of the Jews and of Pilate, His committing of Himself to the old rugged cross of Golgotha, and finally, His yielding of His life to the king of terrors. Nothing moves us so deeply today as to realize how the One in authority stooped to total submission.
We also rejoice today to know that the One Who yielded up His life on the cross had power to take it up again. His releasing of His authority was temporary, and for our sakes. But now, He is again in authority. His is a dominion and power than can and will never cease nor wane. And into His presence we humbly come today. We thank Him and bless Him today for His submission to the wrath that our sins deserved. And we worship and adore Him today for His eternal authority in which He has drawn us to Himself. -Jim MacIntosh