March 9, 2014
Morning Service

Luke 20:1-8.

 

This morning we continue with Jesus’ last trip into Jerusalem before His death, burial, and resurrection. We have had meetings in the past on His last week, the Passion Week, from the Gospel of Mark. These are very sensitive times, since He knows He doesn’t have long to be with His friends.  You think about it, as we continue on toward Calvary.

 

This morning we are ready for chapter 20:1-8; 

Luk 20:1-8  And it came to pass, that on one of those days, as he taught the people in the temple, and preached the gospel, the chief priests and the scribes came upon him with the elders,  (2)  And spake unto him, saying, Tell us, by what authority doest thou these things? or who is he that gave thee this authority? 

·         This is not an unreasonable question.

·         The Jews operated from the O.T. law of Moses, in which God told them what to do.  The authority that they were used to was handed down from generation to generation, and it was written in their laws. This was the rule of law at this time. Jesus did not fit in.

·         After being in bondage to the Egyptians for 430 years (Ex. 12:40), God sent Moses and Aaron to deliver them.  He told Moses that he would be a God to the people of Egypt, and that Aaron would be like a Prophet. This was the authority from God.  And just as it was in Jesus’ case, Moses was confirmed with miracles.

·         Israel had become a huge nation while in bondage in Egypt. 70 members from the family of Jacob went down into Egypt (Gen. 46:26). In Stephen’s sermon in chapter 7 of the book of Acts, he mentions, threescore plus 15 souls, or 75 people. He is taking into account the 5 children born to Ephraim, and Manasseh while in Egypt. From 75 they grow to a very large group of people, some estimate around 2 million people. The number given in Ex. 12:37 is 600,000, not including children.

·         So we can see that when they became settled in the Promised Land they were going to need laws, and people to enforce and instruct the laws.

·         God gave all this to Moses to instruct the children of Israel. The Levitical tribe was to be the priestly tribe. This was the tribe of Moses, and Aaron. Moses’ father-in-law, Jethro, counseled him to distribute the authority, because it was too much for one man. So Moses began dividing the responsibilities.

·         So in the days of Jesus, there was a governing body, called the Sanhedrin. This was made up of different men of different beliefs, yet they governed in one accord. The Romans were the rulers, but allowed the Jews to have their own governing religious body.

·         These are the ones that are asking the question, “Where do you get Your authority for doing what you are doing?”  Under the law, they were the authority.

 

So now Jesus is coming on the scene doing miracles, and proclaiming the kingdom of God, and as we know, many believed in Him, and became His followers, or disciples.

   

(3)  And he answered and said unto them, I will also ask you one thing; and answer me:  (4)  The baptism of John, was it from heaven, or of men? 

·         And what Jesus is asking them is, did John baptize in the authority of God, or was it man-made?

(5)  And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say, Why then believed ye him not?  (6)  But and if we say, Of men; all the people will stone us: for they be persuaded that John was a prophet.  (7)  And they answered, that they could not tell whence it was.  (8)  And Jesus said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.

 

So let us look at this question this morning and consider, “Where do we get the authority to do what we do?”

 

1.       First of all, we believe the Bible is the inspired Word of God. Without this belief, or guideline, people have been led to believe all kinds of things.

·         It first of all tells us of how God chose a people for Himself, and has dealt with them down through the ages. 

·         It tells of the history of these people; their failures, and their victories.

·         Then it explains that after 400 years of not hearing from God, He sends a messenger, John the Baptist.  John’s message was explained as the forerunner of the coming Messiah.

·         The Bible introduces us to Jesus of Nazareth.  It builds our faith that this Jesus is the very Son of God, and speaks in all authority from God Almighty.

·         It tells us how that God told in the beginning that one day there would come a time when He would change the structure of His dealings with man. The Bible tells us that this will be done through His Son Jesus.

·         Jesus knew His destiny all along, so He chose 12 men to carry on His work after He would be called back to Heaven and sit on the right hand of His Father.  These men were called Apostles, one that has been sent.

·         Upon Jesus leaving, after His resurrection, He tells them, “All power is given unto Me in heaven, and in earth, go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world.”

·         Now these men wrote letters, called Gospels. They tell what they remember about living with, and serving Jesus. This is how they teach us today, along with Jesus’ own words.

·         Dr. Luke, who’s Gospel we are studying from, tells us in the book of Acts the history of the early church, and it’s activities.

·         In this Book of Acts, we meet Saul of Tarsus, who the Lord Jesus appears to on the road to Damascus, while Saul is persecuting the church, and Jesus calls him to a life of servitude, changing his name to Paul.  Jesus uses him to write 2/3 of our N.T. So since we believe that the Bible is the inspired Word of God, we believe everything that the Apostle Paul writes in his letters to the churches.

Now to answer that question today, from the Pharisees, and Sadducees, we would reply as this, “Just as the Apostle Paul met Jesus on the road to Damascus, I met Him at Evangel Tabernacle, Fern Valley Rd. Louisville Ky. He placed within my heart a fervent desire to preach His Word, the Bible. Through the power of a changed life, I came to believe that the Gospel the Apostle Paul taught is the true revealed Word of God, and we do our best, from a clear conscience to teach that Gospel. Paul said, Gal 1:8  But though we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel unto you than that which we have preached unto you, let him be accursed.

            We have accepted the challenge from the Apostle Peter when he said, “1Pe 5:1-4  The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:  (2)  Feed the flock of God which is among you, taking the oversight thereof, not by constraint, but willingly; not for filthy lucre, but of a ready mind;  (3)  Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.  (4)  And when the chief Shepherd shall appear, ye shall receive a crown of glory that fadeth not away.

            We have not intended to start another denomination, but to continue what was started on the Day of Pentacost, in Acts 2 of the Bible. To strengthen, and encourage the Church that Jesus said He would build in Matthew 16. WHEN WE SPEAK HIS WORDS, IN HIS NAME, WE ARE SPEAKING THE AUTHORITY OF GOD.

OUR AUTHORITY IS, AND ALWAYS WILL BE, THE LORD JESUS CHRIST, THE LORD OF GLORY.