Welcome, friends, to another
broadcast of Morsels for Zion's Poor. The scribes and Pharisees
considered themselves as men of authority because of their
learning and appointments to office. They were the epitome
of religious men who took pride in their titles and position.
Yet they had no respect for the Lord Jesus, for he did not come
among them as one approved by them, nor waiting for their endorsement. Rather, he was approved by God,
and thus they despised him. His authority was demonstrated
by word and deed, whereas they could only speak and teach such
things as they learned from other men. The Lord manifested his
work of grace in a Roman centurion, remarking that he had not found
so great a faith in all of Israel, as was displayed by this despised
Gentile soldier. The centurion answered and said,
Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldst come under my roof,
but speak the word only, and my servant shall be healed. For
I am a man under authority, having soldiers under me, and I say
to this man, go, and he goeth, and to another, come, and he
cometh, and to my servant, do this, and he doeth it. In contrast
to the centurion's testimony, the scribes and Pharisees considered
themselves as men to be greatly esteemed and having power over
the very life of this one who stood before them. The Greek
word exousia, which is translated here as authority, is also quite
often translated in the King James Version as power. This
word has reference to the strength, jurisdiction, and right of one
to rule. The Lord Jesus Christ is that
one who has, by his own admission, been given this authority. And
Jesus came and spoke unto them, saying, All power is given unto
me in heaven and in earth. The Father declared this in Psalm
2, 6, Yet have I set my King upon my holy hill of Zion. And
the writer of Hebrews confirms it, saying, God, who at sundry
times and in divers manners spake in times past unto the fathers
by the prophets, hath in these last days spoken unto us by his
Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he
made the worlds. It is interesting to note that
the term all power is also used one time in the scriptures to
denote the working of Satan. Even him whose coming is after
the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders. Yet the Greek word dunamis, which
is translated there as power, is not the same as that used
to describe the all power of Christ. Dunamis simply means
conferred ability and not authority or the right of dominion. Satan
is God's devil, and he uses him according to the good pleasure
of his will. In this particular instance, he uses him to confound
and deceive those who despise the authority of Christ. And
for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they
should believe a lie, that they all might be damned who believe
not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. We see Christ
exercise his authority, taking dominion over the disease of
the leper who came humbly seeking his mercy. This leper was given
eyes to behold him who has all authority, as he worshipped at
his feet. In such physical healing, he
demonstrated not only his power over such disease, but also his
authority to forgive sin. As the psalmist says, who forgiveth
all thine iniquities, who healeth all thy diseases. The Lord pointed
out this very truth to those who questioned His authority,
as He healed the man with the palsy, but that ye may know that
the Son of Man hath power, that is, authority, on earth to forgive
sins. He demonstrated His absolute
authority over the kingdom of darkness, as Matthew tells us,
When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were
possessed with devils, and he cast out the spirits with his
word, and healed all that were sick, that it might be fulfilled
which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, himself took
our infirmities and bare our sicknesses. The father of lies
has been given limited ability to wound even the sons of God.
Yet all of this is done in order that Christ's authority might
be manifested, along with his mercy and tender care of those
whom he loves. For we have a high priest who
can be touched with the feeling of our infirmities, and he was
in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. We see that he even has authority
over the will of men, as he calls his disciples. But Jesus said
unto him, Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead. And
when he was entered into a ship, his disciples followed him. Is
this not what the psalmist said, Thy people shall be willing in
the day of thy power? The Lord declared the same when
he said, My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow
me. All that the Father giveth me
shall come to me, and him that cometh to me I will in no wise
cast out. Do you rejoice in his authority? For a free CD containing 15 of
these radio broadcasts, send an email to forthepoor at windstream.net.