Discipleship

[December 17, 2010]   --"One day, as he was teaching the people in the temple and telling the good news, the chief priests and the scribes came with the elders and said to him, 'Tell us, by what authority are you doing these things? Who is it who gave you this authority?'"-Luke 20: 1-3

The question of discipleship, the question of how we will live our lives in relation to Jesus, is ultimately a question of authority. When Jesus arrived in Jerusalem and began teaching, he taught with power and authority, and while many of the people were interested in what he had to say, the leadership, especially the temple leadership, had many questions. Not least of which was, "who gave you the authority to do this?" It is a good question. What made Jesus think he could walk into the temple and start acting like he owned the place? Who was he to kick out money changers and denounce the leaders of the temple? In order for the leaders to accept him, they had to accept his answer to their questions about his authority, an answer they would eventually reject.

For us, the question is the same. What gives Jesus the right to come into our lives and start bossing us around in our own minds and hearts? Who is he to tell us to sell our possessions, or remain faithful to our spouse, or live with humility? How we answer these questions in our own lives is based on authority. Do we really believe he is who he and the Gospels claim him to be? Is he really the Son of God, the Messiah? If we answer yes, then we have to admit that he has total authority over our lives. If we answer no, then we are free to do what we please, but we run the risk of being on the wrong side of history, as the temple leadership was so long ago. Ultimately, it is not enough to say we believe in Jesus unless we hand over authority in our lives to him as well. When we proclaim him Messiah, we also proclaim him as Lord over our lives. The two go hand in hand. So, I ask you, does Jesus have authority, real authority, in your life?

Prayer: Holy God, help me to acknowledge Jesus as Lord of my life. Help me to allow his teachings and presence to shape the ways I live. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

 [Phil Blackburn, First Presbyterian Church]